Evening star., 1922-12-17
WHY ARE MEN SUCH FOOLS9"
IS FEMININE QUERY IN VAIL
RATHER THAN DENUNCIAIION

dignity.
"I guess a girls got right TO
stand up for her parents, even II 'heS
don't ride in no lim'sine with no-no
chow-chow dog in their laps,
But / didn't hand you no criti-
cism 1 just said it was funny for
two old people to be goin' downtown
to a movie like couple o kids.
The man had abandoned his pose of
dignity for a tone of querulous plead
ing.
II don't see where you got any call
to tell any member of my family
when they can go tn the movies,
the girl responded promptly.
"What you tryin' to put over on
me, Maybelle" the man demanded, an
ger replacing pleading in his voice.
Il amt trying to put nothin' over
on you. Mister Williams" said the
girl, haughtily. You don't interest
me to no such extent
"Oh," said Williams, and glared at
her well. what's the answer
Must you be goin'?" suggested
Maybelle in her best society manner.
SaZlnS at IL Sp"t t"o IcCt t'p'NS 'AS
young mans head.
Il must" he mimicked her. 'seein'
that I'm practically thrown OUT
He rose to his feet. Just like that,
1t happened.
0UT in the street John Williams
" hunched his shoulders to the cold
blast and wished that it had been be-
fore the days of prohibition, SO that
he might soothe his injured feelings
with drink. Il lot of drink. 1t sudden
ly dawned on him that he knew of q
place where it might still be pro-
cured, in spite of prohibition-at
price He turned squarely in his
tracks. only to turn back again and
hunch his shoulders to the winter
wind.
What's the use of payin' half a
buck a throw for rot-gut you don't
really want" he told himself. There
amt no fraiI worth maxim Il fool of
yourself over deliberate"'
His inner consciousness promptly
informed him that the last part of
the sentence was only a bluff-an at
tempt to minimize his grief. Then he
faced the issue squarely. Maybelle
had thrown him down deliberately,
cruelty; but that made her no less
precious and desirable.
Perhaps it was his fault? No. he
couldn't honestly believe that. If it
was he could ask for forgiveness.
swallow his pride; but it wasn't his
fault He hadn't meant to slam them
of anything. 1t had just seemed fun
ny that two old people should go to
the movies together, and he had said
so.
For a time his thoughts went around
in this circle, then broke from it.
He'd call up Maybelle Riker at the
lunch hour. the next day and give her
chance to apologize. He would ac-
cept any opening to go back to her.
Somewhat comforted. he entered his
boarding house, turned up the gas in
the little room which was his by right
of IS a week in advance and picked
up a book. The cover bore the in
scription, The Power Of Will"
After John Williams left the Riker
flat Maybelle wiped away six large.
angry tears and assured herself that
she was not going to cry. Whereupon
she blew her nose and decided that
she was very tired and that it was
nice to be alone. When the heads of
the family returned they found her
absorbed in reading that fashion mag
azine which asserts that its appeal is
exclusively to those whose incomes
exceed $4,000 a year.
mfr. Williams gomez" queried her
mother.
Yes" answered Maybelle. indiffer-
entity.
swell picture with one of them
morals" volunteered Mr.. Riker, wag-
gishly. He had a reputation for wit in
the express office where he worked.
"Fellers broke, an quarrels with his
girl, sos he won't have to send her
no Christmas present. Finds hum
dred-case note on the street an tries
to make up with her. She goes to re-
turn the necktie she's bought him for
Christmas, an the clerk gets crush
on her.
Fatner, now many Times nave L
got to tell you not to be always
, talkin' movie plots?" demanded Mrs.
Rfker. severely. examining her daugh-
ter out of wise eyes.
Jaw, her feller's always doin' it, an
I amt heard her complainin' none,'
objected the head of the family.
"A good reason why you shouldn't"
snapped her daughter, promptly lining
up with her mother. IT'S bad enough
to hear one Teller tell EN-"
Been scrappin' with him. hey?" sur
missed Mr.. Riker, with unusual acumen
for his sex. We'll, you want to watch
out. Christmas is only couple O.
weeks ahead" And he dived for his
own room.
X X x X
TIAD John Williams been born to
i Il the purple he would have gone to
college, specialized on the digamma
happy life. Since he came into the
world near the East river, where COL
legiate advantages are in the propor-
tion of zero in the hundred. he went
to work. The energy that might have
gone into digging up the digamma
from the dust of ages went into the
study of freight schedules, a weighing
of the speed of express versus parcel
post to remote parts of these United
States
ua rosa rapidly tO the pbSition of