Evening star., 1923-03-18

quietly conducted. The case was
called the next day before Magistrate
Wolf Tone Hanrahan, known as the
human Judge He heard the evil
dence, tested the sample, announced
his intention of coming around that
evening for some more, and honor
ably discharged Barbran.
And what about these MINI" he
inquired. gazing upon the dauntless
six.
Dangerous suspects, Yeronner,"
said Terry the cop.
They look mild as goats milk to
me-" returned the magistrate, though
now / get me eye on the rid -hidded
wan (with a friendly wink at the
Little Red Doctor, I reckonize him
as a desprit charackter that'd save
your life as soon as look at We. What
way are they dang'rous?"
when apprehended." replied Terry,
looking covertly about to see that the
reporters were within hearing dis
tance. their noses were painted
green
rs this truec'' asked the magis-
lrate OF the SIX.
"It is, your honor" they replied.
An why not" demanded the hu-
man Judge hotly. "'Tis a glorious
color! Officer. we've exceeded yer
jooty. Let 'em paint their noses amy
color they loike; but green for pref
erence. I'm tellin' ye, this Is the
land Of freedom an equality. an
livery citizen thereof is entitled to
life. liberty and the purshoot of hap
piness an a mans nose is his castle,
an don't ye forgit It Discharged.
Go an sin no more. I mane, let the
good worruk go avn
Now watch for the evening pa
pers." said young Phil Stacey exult-
antly. The Wrightery will get some
free advertising thatll crowd II for
months"
Alas for youths golden hopes! The
evening papers ignored the carefully
prepared event. One morning paper
published a paragraph, attributing the
green noses to a masquerade party.
The conspirators. gathered at the cell
lar with their war-paints on Gin case
of reporters), discussed the flasco in
embittered tones. Young Stacey ragged
against a stupid and corrupt press.
MacLachan epressed the acidulous
hope that thereafter Cyrus the Gaunt
would be content with making a fool
of himself without duplicating inno-
cent and confiding friends. The Bon
ME Lassie was not present. but sent
word (characteristically) that they
must have done it all wrong; men had
no sense, anyway. The party then
sent out for turpentine and broke up
to reassemble no more. Only Phil
Stacey, inventor of the great idea, was
still faithful to and hopeful of it.
Each evening he conscientiously
greened himself and went to eat with
Barbran.
TIME justified his faith. One eve
l. ming there dropped a plump man
who smiled sweetly at Phil. and in
troduced himself as a reporter of the
Sunday Universe. Magazine and
where was the rest of the circle? In
a furry of excitement, the pair sent
for Cyrus the Gaunt to do the talking.
Cyrus arrived, breathless and a trife
off color tthe Bonnie Lassie had un-
fortunately got a touch of bronze
scenic paint mixed with the green, so
that he smelled like an overripe
banana), and proceeded to exposition.
This" he explained, 'is a new cult
1t is based on the back-to-the-spring
idea. The well-spring of life, you
know. The-er-spring of eternal youth
and-and so forth. You understand -
II hope to- said the reporter po-
Etely. why on the nose?"
Il will explain that" returned
Cyrus. getting his second wind; "but
first let me get the central idea in
your mind. It's nature movement
readjustment Of art to nature. All
nature is green. Look about you"
Here he paused for effect. which was
unfortunate.
quite So" agreed the reporter
"The cable-car. for instance, and the
dollar bill, not to mention the croton
bug and the polar bear. But, pardon
me, 1 interrupt the flow of your elo-
quence."
You do" said Cyrus severely. "In-
animate nature 1 speak Of All in
animate nature is green. But we poor
fellow creatures have gotten away
from the universal mother-color. We
must get back to It We must learn