The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-04-06

was all shaclls and the hotel up over
the grocery store makes the Briggs
house in Newark look like the Ritz"
"Higginsyille is a rotten dump, Lo.
You don't find it on any of the vaude-
vile circuits. but leave it to eXtrava-
ganza every time not to overlook a
dump. But take tOnight'S stand.
though; there just amt a prettier lit
tie town on the map than Adalai, Lo."
She sQuinted her little face into an
amazing grimace.
"Adalai."
"Neh | know a young fellow. Ben
Ceilings. started there an errand boy
in a hoX-factcry and now owns half
the town: two box factories of his own,
the opera house, half of Main street
and nearly every cottage on the hill.
Say, I'd brush the Broadway lint off
my coat tomorrow TO settle down in a
pretty little tank like that.
It's a great little town, Lo. I've
been there three times and lived once
for two weeks right with Ben Ceilings
o.
his shirt if [ asked him. that's what
he thinks Of me. Only met him on a
train once, too. He's seen some of my
wood carvings and he'd gimme a job
right in one of his box factories doing
the high class handwork any day in
the week | wanted That's the kind of
friends we are"
She pressed her finger tips to her
lips then blew at them lightly as if
she would watt him a rose petal.
Rave on, Al. Rave on"
He leaned to her with an entire
fattening Of tone. You're the only
thing in the world that l can rave
| about, Lo; you and your tantalizing
ways. Ever since l ran away from
an orphan asylum in Utica to join
show, I've had picture of a little girl
like You hung on my heart | can't see
this or any ether country, hon, without
you the biggest part of the scenery.
You're the only thing [ ever had time
to rave about in my life, Lo."
She threw him a smile that was full
of Quirks.
Me and the meadows, The
meadows you're always piping about.
Look at en- ont there. Listen to the
grass growing ~
A porter passed down the swayng
aisle, lighting lamps. A gassy turbid
| glare filled the coach, shutting out the
darkening landscape. and the windows
suddenly reflected the murky interior
"You-you sweet little kid, you.
You sweet little, soft little kitten"
She collapsed in an attitude of mock
prostration against his shoulder, her
check the quality of thick. cream
colored velvet, crushed against the
grain of his coat.
How that boy loves me!"
! He withdrew her sharply.
always Kidding Amt YOU nothing
/ but a doll; amt you got nothing but
sawdust inside of YOU? Amt you got
/ no feelings, no nothing, no hearth"
Feel it beating, way down in my
wrist"
Cant you learn that life amt just
/ one long ha, ha! Can't YOU learn that
/ when a fellows been eating out ais
heart and soul and vitals the whole
six months he's been playing in the
show with you, that it amt no laugh
ing matter? Can't you learn that,
/ girl?"
She retreated poutng to her corner,
her richly curved lips quivering.
"Yeu can't talk to me like that!
know what's eating you. You're sore
about last night. But you can't talk
to me like that
He leaned to her in immediate con
triton.
40, I didn't mean it, only some
times with your cutting up like you
didn't care you drive me crazy, that's
all. | amt said nothing to you about
last night, have /? Amt been keeping
it inside of me? Only sometimes you
drive me crazy you drive me crazy"
Lego my wrists
81 tell you when l see you cutting
up from the swing with him down
there in the wings and nearly forget
ting to hurl the bar to me, l get to
seeing things so black that-that it's
a wonder l don't miss the bar and
break my neck-break my neck"
Lego my wrists
81 tell you il makes a crazy man
out of me to see you cutting up with
him. l see black, l tell you! l get
dizzy with blackness."
Gee, the way you keep raying for
fear l won't swing that bar straight !!
Don't be afraid, little boy. l been get
ting it to you somehow for a couple
of hundred performances, amt l? Don't
be scared, Al; I'll take care Of YOU"
A slow red spread to his ears and
down into his collar, but his voice
remained carefully below the rumble
Of the train.
'You wouldn't dare talk that way to
me, Lo, if it was me instead of your
friend who was directing the show.
You know pretty well you gotta be
as careful each time you swing that
bar out to me as if you'd never done it
before. You don't want me to land
with a broken back, do you?"
Il