Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-04-13
nIngs.

stools In hand. Beside the. station.
Frank CHS AIl-Night lunch room
placed dish OF fried halibut and a
platter Of red chopped meat, sur
mounted with a circle of onion. on its
open air counter.
The Forty Thieves theatrical
| troupe rallied round to man.
At seven-thirty grilling arc-lights
sprang out before the Opera house
and at that same moment Mr.. Charley
Lee bounded up the front steps of a
cottage on the HILL A light burned
through crack In the blind and
through that same crack he could see
the hand-painted swinging lamp burn
ing softly.
He. knocked, then stood for a mo-
ment In the cooked attitude OF listen
ing. his head inclined, and four
knuckles poised. Knocked again and
the door swung back on silent hinges
and in the, wayering brown shadows
a small black figure peered outward.
"Lol"
Her hand flew to her breast aud lay,
there white against black.
"Who-"
"Don't you know me, kiddo? It's
me; howdy, Lo. Gee, you look so
little and black. l couldn't see you
first. Don't you know me, kiddo? It's
me-"
"Leei"
that's me-"
''If it amt Lee! Come In, Lee!"
Her voice was faint as tinkling bell.
He entered, exhaling loudly and
with great ado of rubbing his hands
together in dry wash.
"Well-well--wel !"
"I-come right in, Lee. Gee, gee
but you're sight for sore eyes. How's
things? The girls? Sit down in that
rocker, Lee. Here, femme take your
stick. I-gee, amt you a sight for
sore eyes. Gee!"
She was fiuttering and full of small
ways. Dragged the rocker bit farth
er beneath the swinging lamp; leaned
his slender cane in corner; lowered
shade. Pink, as delicate as peach
bloom, rose In her wan little face.
"Sit down, Lee. I-sure, | knew
the show was playing Adalai tonight
but-but- gee, you look right slick,
Lee. How's the show-how's the
gang?"
He seated himself rather gingerlyf
on the edge of the seat, the rocker
fitting forward with the weight of his
body, his shoes firmly planted and his
hat cooked backward.
$50 this is the home-sweet-home you
wrote the girls about, is it? Some
neat little shack! Some neat little
rest curel"
He glanced about with quick APP
praisal, then back to her rose-pink
face.
"Some little rest cure"
Tits such sight now after
after-''
Her voice died in her throat and she
glanced away from him.
He leaned forward, his own voice
carefully shrouded in croaking
whisper.
How is he, Lo? Won't he ever
walk? Is he nailed for good?"
"Oh, Lee, don't you know"
II beat it while the company was in
line for wardrobe so you wouldn't
think the gang was forgetting. We
got in just in time for makeup and
we're out for Principal on the 'leven-
seven. The girls Squealed for time to
come and see you both, but it's all
we can do to run the show off and
beat it out on the leven-seyen. Is he
nailed for good?"
Tears rained down her cheeks and
splashed to her black dress.
"Don't you know, Lee? Amt you
heard? Don't you know?"
"Know what?"
He could see her shoulders heav-
Ing.
I IA week ago today. Lee. he
he-last Monday, T."
A flash of understanding shocked
him halfway to his feet and his hand
shot to his hat refexly.
"Blinked! Aw, now whatta-whatta
you know about that? Amt l the
dub? Sure. Lo, we never heard.
Blinked! Aw-Aw, LOl Poor guyi
| Poor guy!"
He was strangely inarticulate and
they sat for moment in a lead
heavy silence.
Presently she raised her tear
daubed face.
"He was game through up-up to
the end, Lee. lit came so sudden
like The never let us know-but he
must have known-he knew all the
time-but-but he never let out a
complaint or let us know he knew.
He was the real stuff, Lee, tiff ever
a fellow was. He was! He was !"
He twirled his hat.
"He was--was the real thing. Lee,
he"
''You was. too, kiddo. Nobody can
say you didn't stick. And it wasn't
your fault, neither. AL was always a
| oraat ono fn,. Haapin or. his o.un r,rnno