The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-12-29

anu bCul TIC uOOIS Ills IIe
people got out. Besides, the whole
place is lit up from cellar to attic.
Grist come on to my house and told
me about 1t, and ! begun usin' the
telephone; called up all the men that
count In the party-found most Of
'em at home, too. / asst 'em If they
was invited to this ball tonight; and
not one of 'em was. They're only
In politics; they amt high society
enough to be asst 10 Mr.. Beasley's
bankruptcies But would "a
thought he'd let you in-anyways fer
the second tablet" AIR. Peck shrilled
out his acrid and exultant laugh
again. II got these fellers from the
newspapers, and all I want is to git
this here ball In print tomorrow, and
see what the boys that do the work
Mt the primaries have to say about
it-and what their wives'll say about
the man that's too heightened to have
'em in his house. I'll bet Beasley
thought he was goin' to keep these
doln's quiet; afraid the farmers might
not believe he's jest the plain man
he sets up to be--afIuid that folks
like you that amt invited might turn
against him. I'll fool him! We're
goin' to see what there is to see and
I'm gOin' to have these boys from the
newspapers write full account Of It.
l. you want to come along, expect
It'll do you power O. good"
'I'll CO." said Dowder, quickly. He
got his coat and hat from table in
the hail. and we rejoined the huddled
and shivering group at the gate.
Got my recruit, gents!" shrilled
Peck. slappIng Dowden boisterously
on the shoulders. II reckon he'll git
a change Of heart tonight"
And now, shelterlng my eyes from
the stinging wind, 1 saw what had
been too blind to see as we approached
Mrs. opportunities. Beasley's house
was Illuminated; every window, up
stairs and down, was aglOw with rosy
light. That was LUMINOSITY evident,
although the shades, or most of them,
were lowered.
Look at that!" Peck turned to
Dowden, glgglIng triumphantly. "Wha'd
tell you How do you feel about 1t
now?"
'But where are the cabs2' asked
Dowden, gravely.
"Folks all come" answered Mr..
Peck, with complete assurance.
Won't be no more cabs till they be-
gin to 60 home"
We plunged ahead as far as the
corner Of Beasley's fence, where Peck
stopped us again. and we drew to-
gether, slapplng our hands and stamp
Ing our feet. Peck was delighted-a
thoroughly happy man; his sour giggle
Of exultation had become continuous,
and the same jovial break was audi
BILE In CRISIS voice as he said to the
Journal reporter and me:
"Go ahead. boys. Git your story.
Wen walt here fer you"
The Journal reporter started to-
ward the gate; he had gone, perhaps
twenty feet when Simeon Peck whist
led In sharp warning. The reporter
stopped short in his tracks.
Beasley's front door was thrown
open, ahd. there stood Beasley himself
In evening dress, bowling and smiling,
but not at us, for he did not see us.
The bright hall behind him was beau
tiful with evergreen streamers and
wreaths, and great Towering plants in
Jars. A strain of daBce-muslc wandered
out to us rs the door opened, but there
was nobody except David Beasley In
sight. which certainly seemed peculiar
for a ball
REST Of 'em inside, dancin'," ex-
planned Mr.. Peck, crouching behind
the picket-fence. It'll be the house is
more'n half full O. low-necked VIM
mini"
SSH" said Grlst. Listen to Dave
Beasley."
Beasley had begun to speak, and his
voice, loud and clear. sounded over
the wind. "Came right in, Colonel ~.
he said. "Fd have sent a cab
for you IL you hadn't telephoned me
this afternoon that your rheumatism
was so bad you didn't expect to be
able to come. I'm glad you're well
again. Yes, they're all here, and the
ladies' are getting up dance in the
sitting-room."
Ut was at this moment that l re-
'ceiyed upon the calf of the right leg
a kick, the eestatic violence of which
led me to attribute it, and rightly, to
Mr.. Dowden.)
"Gentlemen's dressing-room up
stairs TO, the right, Colonel" called
Beasley, as he closed the door.
There was pause of awed silence
among as.
Il improved it by returning the
kick to Mr.. Dowden. He made no
acknowledgment of its reception other
than to sink his chin little deeper
into the collar Of his ulster.)
by the Almighty said simaan