Evening star., 1923-12-16
Beauty? It Is There in Every
Gutter, If We'd Only Pick It
Up" Declared the Stranger

that no one on the road could see
Jules or the buggy. whistling, be
started to walk to the town. He did
rot like the town when he reached It.
1t was just large enough to ignore a
stranger, just small enough to be sus-
picions of him, when he thrust him.
self upon its attention. 1t was dusty,
too. and full of the smell of suppers.
1t had cut down most of its trees and
planted gilt railings and geraniums
1t was prosperous.
Peat went on until he came to a
pink brick building, where lived an
insurance agent by the name of
Means. Here Peat entered an Office,
where a man sat behind a sticky, roll
top desk. Peat said: Are you Mr
Means?"
That's me-" said Mr.. Means do
you want to be insured? Come back
At"
No." answered Peat. II don't want
to be insured. I want to ask you
what you think this is WORTH"
He stretched the Eastwood bough
across the top of the desk.
All the honey warmth of summer
had entered the office with the bough
as well as a pair OF wandering gold
busted bees. Means did not notice
these things. He was staring coldly
at Peat.
Peat said: Don't you think its
pretty enough to be worth rs cents?"
Means face flushed. I'll tell you
somethin' you amt asked" he said.
Follow this street q piece and take
the first to the right. ThatIl bring
you to the county asylum. Good
evenin'."
Good evening" said Peat cordially
He liked Means no better than the
town.
In the next hour he offered the
Eastwood bough for sale eleven times
with the same unvarying unsuccess.
At last he came to street of small
wooden houses, one Of which had been
turned into a store. The window OF
the store seemed to contain nothing
but wrapping paper But a light
burned dimly in the dusk within. He
opened the door and entered. The
Eastwood bough in his hand was now
wet with dew.
a girl was packing suit case in
the middle of the store, which was
empty. A small oil lamp with a pink
globe burned on shelf. She turned.
Peat saw dark, irregular face, eyes
brilliant as the eyes of some one il
pain. She said. curtly: This stores
closed. What do you want?"
A curious sense at that moment pos
sessed Peat that he had seen this girl
before; that she had spoken those
words TO him before: that his own
answer had been known and re-
hearsed from the beginning OF things,
when he said. smiling: II don't want
to buy; / want to SELL
"What?"
Il want to sell this
THAR" She stared at him. Why.
it's only a Eastwood bough''
Just so. Is it worth anything to
you?"
Still staring at him, she slowly took
the bough. lifting II to her face. Her
lips were cooled with the dew. Sud-
denly her eyes glimmered with tears,
though they yet remained steadfastly
on Peat's face. There was a tree in
the yard at home" she said. I'D for
gotten how sweet 1t was" From
shabby purse she shook a single
coin and held it to him. will you
take this?" she asked him, un smiling.
Its the last / got. Is it enough for
your Eastwood bough?"
TOO much-if it's the last"
You can have 1t. You better It's
my own and honest. I'll have plenty
more tomorrow-but not of that kind
Will you take it, whoever you are,
and--and go?"
X
Deaf was silent. He was aware in
every nerve that the dark, dis
mantled store housed both passion