Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-24
CHAPTER III.

On day a month later-in May-Hap-
good said
Now. I'll tell you. Old Sabre-by Jove.
it's frightful. He's crashed.
Look here, it's in two PARTS. this sud
den Development Two parts morning
aud afternoon yesterday and bit today
And Of all extraordinary places to hap
pen at-BrightOn.
Yes. Brighton. was down there for
a Saturday to Monday with my Missus
Monday morning We were summing on the
pier, she and /.
We'll, all of a sudden she began. oh
what a frishtfully interesting face that
mans got"
I looked across. Old Sabre.
i went over to him. His face was
like a shout on a sunny morning. Yes.
he was pleased. I like to think how
jolly pleased the old chap was.
I got old Sabre on to a secluded
bench and started in on him. What on
earth was he doing down at Brighton.
and how were thing?
He said Things Things are
happening with me. Hapgood Not to
me. I had to get away from them for
a bit. I'm going right back tomorrow.
Fife was right-with her baby She
was glad ] should go-gIad for me.
mean. Top Of her owa misery. Hap
good. she's miserable at what she says
she's let me in for. She's always cry
ing about it, She's torn between knowing
my house is the only place where she
can have her baby. between that and see
Ing what her coming into the place has
caused. She spends her time trying to
do any little thing she can to make me
comfortable. It's pathetic. You know
Jumped at this sudden idea OF mine OF
getting away for q couple Of days
Fused over me packing up and all that
you know. Look. just to show you how
she hunts about for anything to do for
me-said my old straw hat was much too
shabby for Brighton and would I get
her some stuff. oxalic acid. and let her
clean it us for me. As a matter of fact
she made such a shocking mess Of the
hat that I hardly liked to wear it.
Couldn't hurt her feelings. though.
Chucked it into the sea when I got here
and bought this one. Make funny story
FOR her when I get back about how 1t
blew OF. That's he sort of life v,a-rs@s,,
Sether. Hapgood. give You aTofhe ex-
smSF. Just wheE had bTonqbt ba-
fnf lost st"Tfb Said Net me T Tit Had
Guessed at last that it mnust be nv
cigaret case. 1t was Shed found it
lying about and took me TO show where
she'd put it for safety-in the back of the
clock in my room. Said I was always
to look there for any little ,valuables
might miss. and wanted me to know
how she liked 20 be careful Of my things
like that FussinG over me, d'you see {?
That's the sort of life we lead 10.
gether, HapgoOd-together: but the life
I'm caught mp in. the things that are
happening with me, that I'm right in the
middle Of. that l felt I had to getaway
from for a bit-astounding. Hapgood
astounding. amazing
'HapgoOd, II I kept forty women in
different parts Of London and made no
secret Of it. nothing would be said. Peo-
pie would know / was rather a shame
less lot. my little ways would be an
open secret. but nothing would be said
I should be received everywhere. But
I'm thought to have brought one WON
an into my house and I'm banned. I'm
unspeakable.
:" DO you see. Hapgood? Do you see
The conventions are all right. moral
sound, excellent, admirable. but to save
their own face there's a blind side to
them, a shut eye side. Keep that side Of
them and you're all right. They'll let
you alone. They'll pretend they don't
see you. But come out and stand in front
of them and they'll devour you. They'll
smash and grind and devOur you. Hap
good. They're devouring me.
That's where they've got me In
their Jaws HapgoOd; and where they've
rot Effie n their jaws is just precisely
gain on blind. shut-eye side, =
'hey're rightly based they're absolutely
iust. enc can't gainsav them but to save
heir face, again, they're indomita bly,
Hind and deaf to the hideOus cruelties
their application. They mean well.
They cause the most frightful suffering.
he most frightful tragedies, but they