The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-11-16

"Yep," she returned thoughtfully
sHe rather did, It's true. At least.
see how you got that impression" She
seemed 10 muse upon this, letting hei
eyes fall: then. raising them. allowed
her far-away gaze to rest upon the
house beyond the fence, and said. I'll
n an interesting old place"
and Mr.. .Bessley himself" be
gan.
ooh" she said. he isn't interesting
That's his trpuble"
"You mean his trouble not to"
She interrupted me, speaking with
sudden. surprising energy. 81 mean
he's man Of no lima -lnatlon."
"No Imagination ~ I exclaimed.
"None In the world Not one ounce
Of Imagination. Not one grain"
"Then who" cried-"or what's
simpledoria :"
"Si,uple- whatr she said. plainly
mystiRed.
"Simpledoria."
"Simpledoria? - she repeated. and
laughed. what In the world In thatf'
"You never heard Of II beforeT
"Never In my life"
you've lived next door to Mr.. Beas.
ley a long time. haven't your"
IAN my nfe."
And ! suppose you must know him
pretty we'll"
"what nsxt?" she said. smiling.
"You said he lived there all alone. 81
I went on. tentatively.
Except for an old colored couple.
his servants"
Can you tell me" I hesitated.
elias he ever been thought-well.
'quecrr"
Newer she answered. emphat.
ically. Never anything so exciting
Merely deadly and hopeiessly common.
place" She picked up the saucer. now
matter with me-"
exceedingly empty. snd set. II upon
Q shelf by the lattice door. what
was u sbout-what WAS that manner
Bimpledoriaf"
II will tell you" I said. And I ~
lated IN detail the singular perform
snce of which had been witness In
the late moonlight before that morn
inE's dawn. As I talked. we half I'M
consciously moved across the lawn to-
gether. finally seating ourselves upon
a bench beyond the rosebeds and near
the high fence. The interest my com
MI. Hon
might have surprised me had my noe
turnal experience Itself been less sur
prising She interrupted me now and
then with little. half-checked ejacula-
tions Of acute wonder. but sat for the
most part with her elbow on her knee
and her chin In her hand. her face
turned eagerly Ia mine and her lips
parted In half.breathless attention.
There was nothing "far away" about
her eyes now; they were widely and
intently alert.
When ! finished. she shook her head
slowly. ms " quite dumfounded, and
altered her position. leaning against
the back Of the bench and gazing
straight before her without speaking.
II was plain that her neighhor's ey-
traordiuary behavior had revealed a
phase of his character novel enough
TO be startling
"one explanation might he just
barely possible" said. "If II is. II is
the most remarkable case of somnam-
buliSm ON record Did you ever heag
of Mr., Bcaslcy's walking In his"
She touched me lightly but peremp-
torlly ON the arm In warning. and |
stopped. ON the other side of the
board fence IA door opened creakily.
and there sounded loud and cheerful
voice-that Of the gentleman In the
dressing gown.
"Ilerc we comet" Il said: me and
big Bin Ilammsrsley. I want to show
BIN | can jump anyways three times
as far us he cant Come on. BIN"
els that Mr.. Beasley's yOicer
asked, under my breath.
Miss Approximate nodded in afr
nation
"Could he have heard me7"
"No." she whispered. Hes Just
come out Of the house" And then 10
herself. "Who under heaven Is Bill
Ilammersley1 I never beard Of him T.
"Of course. Bill." said the voice he
yond the fence. "if you're afraid I'll
beat you too badly. you've still got
time 10 back out. did understand
you 10 kind Of him that you were con
siderable Of n jumper, hut IL Whatf
Whatd you say, Blllr" There ensued
moments complete silence. "Oh, all
right" the voice then continued. "You
say you're In this 10 win. do your
Well. som |, Bill Hammersley som
l. Who'll 90 first Mei All right
from the edge Of the walk here. Now
then One-two-threel Hat"
A sound came Ia our ears Of some
ono landing heavily - and Mt full