The Washington herald., 1922-06-24

Continued from Yesterday.
promises l amt gwine do nothin'
with the one 1 got. Then the min
ute 1 an Prissilla gifts ma'ied-you
gifts back yo' nekkid pitcher. Amt
that simpler"
"Yeh." agreed Lymus disgustedly.
simple like a crap game with load
ed dice. On'y you owns the dice"
You takes my propersition or
you leaves it, Lymus."
An what about all the wuk is
Already done on that pitcherT'
You amt on'y ben wukkin' on
il two days. That amt so much to
do over ag'in."
You says! But you don't know
nothin'-or even less'n that"
Noah Lee rose ponderously. Use
Ewine. l asts you TO- the finally
la time-does you lemme may
PrissilIa wattles or does you git
murdered by Lisha Torring?"
Lymus threw his arms wide in a
gesture of surrender.
They amt much to choose,
Brother Lee. But jes' TO- the pres
cnt 1 reckons l prefers to remain
Twin"
Immediately after Noah's swag-
-crinS departure Lymus got busy.
No matter how indigo hued the fu-
ture-it was the present in which
Lymus was living. and in which he
desired to continue. He scurried
downtown to his friend-the deal
or in dusty relics. Unfortunately
that gentleman had no more gems
of art in stock. Nor had any other
store in Birmingham save one stu
do where a faded oil was on sale
for $500.
Edner was due at ; o'clock for
her daily sitting. And il behooved
Lynus to assume an artistic virtue.
even though he had IL not. So he
purchased some canvas and when
Tdner arrived he spread it on the
easel and for one hour and half
pretended to work. 1t was a hard
session for both of them. and at
its conclusion Edner again begged
for sight of the portrait.
CANT let you see it, negatived
Iyuus
Why not?"
They amt nothin' to see" he
answered truthfulIy.
He went for an airing downtown
after carefully locking the blank
canvas in his trunk. He passed
two ambulances and a hearse on
his way down. There seemed to be
an intense morbidity envelopinS
the bustling city Of Birmingham.
Then he saw Prissilla coming to-
ward him-a broad smile of greet
ing on her attractive face. In
stinctiveIy. he started forward.
out of the corner of his eye he en-
visioned the menacing figure of
Noah Lee bulking before the win
dow of the Smooth Pants Pressing
club across the street. Prissilla
swept down in force.
Honey
Lymus raised his hat stitfly.
"Evenin' Miss Wattles-"
She drew back-surprised and not
a little hurt. why, Lymus-what's
cat:n' YOU now"
Il Graves to he relieved outen yO'
company. Miss Wattles. l bids you
GOOD evenin'."
I.vmus passed on-wallowinG in
the depths of agony. Prissilla
stared after him dumbly; cut to the
gTick Then her head went back
southward. Noah Lee catacornered
tn intercept her. She greeted him
with stimulated warmth-albeit her
eyes contained more than a hint of
moisture.
That night Prissilla gave herself
10 reflections on the possible reason
for Lymus' action. There was no
answer apparent. Undoubtedly she
had offended and Prissilla
loved Lymus. Therefore she stified
her pride and indited a letter which
she dispatched by a small colored
boy. Within twenty minutes II
came hack with a cryptic answer
scrawled laboriously at the bottom:
"Dere miss wattles:
my hart is broke but it is stilI
betting.
Respectfully.
MR.. LYMUS JOHNSON"
Prissilla experienced two distinct
and entirely feminine reactions.
The first was a surge of wild in
GiGnation amounting almost to a
sense Of personal insult. Followed
a attack Of Unsuitable curiosity.
She donned her hat and coat and
sailed forth into the night. She
headed straight for the home OF
Lymus Johnson. And as she started
down the street something happened
Of which she was blithely ignorant
and Lymus even more happily
unaware.
II so happened that Mr.. Noah Lee.
Eripped by the idea that it would be
exceedingly wise to take in a crop
Of hay while the sun was shining
and doubling. too, that his preseny
strategic advantage would obtain
fer any considerable length of time
had started out to call upon Pris-
Silla-
He was crossing the street when