The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-06-01

tho beginning. too. she nns the
eye now, and she's growing"
''Growingf@
Gray ohuel,led. "Not physically,
but mentally. psyehologieally. intel
actually
Il said she had possibilities.
''Nes. More than I gayo her cred
Il for but what they are. where
they win lead her. don't know.
I'm a foolish person. Miss Parker.
FOR l take an intense interest In
tho affairs OF other people, especial
~ my friends. My favorite dissipa'
ton Is TO share tho troubles Of those
whom / like. and right now I'm
quite as worried over Allie as her
father Is. You sec. sho has out
distanced her parents already: the
dream part Is wearing Off and her
new life Is reality, She IS con-
fronted with tho grim and appal.
ling necessity OF adapting herself
20 a completely new and hewilder-
ing set OF conditions. I'm not sure
that she will DO equal 20 H."
Il presume you mean that she -
sensitive"
"supcrscnsitivel And hmbltlousl
That's the trouble. II she were dun
and conceltcd sho could DO both
happy and contented But she's
bright. and sho lacks egousm. 20
she'll never be either. Adversely
would temper Girl Ike her. pros
pority may-spon her"
There Is a boy. too. isn't thereT'
"Oh. Buddy! Hes away az school.
He'll make hand. orwell. II he
doesn't. III beat the foollahness out
OF him. Two assumed complete re-
sponslbllity for Buddy, and hen be
a credit to me-"
There was tone In Gray's voice
when nc spoke OF tho Brlskows that
gave Barbara Parker n wholly new
insight into his character. Il was
with feeling that she knew him
and liked him better that she said
you think n lot OF those nesters
don't your"
Moro than they believe. and more
than | would have thought possible. .
no readily declared. I'm lone
some institution. There's nobody
dependent upon me; owe no bills
no gratitude, and I've Cancelled ths
obligations that others owe me,
You've no idea how unnecessary
am. II gives me a pleasing sense
OF Importance, therefore. 10 feel that
fill a place in somebody's affairs.
Wichita Falls facilities for public
entertainment reflected perhaps as
correctly as anything else the gen
eral chaos consequent upon It's swift
expansion into n city. such hotels
as had been capable OF caring FOL
transient trade or pre.pesroleum
days wero full and carried waiting
lists like exclusive clubs. roomlns
houses and private dwellings were
crowded. A new and modern fire
proof hotel was stretching skeleton
fingers OF steel skyward. but mean
while tho task OF sheltering. and
especially OF feeding three times q
day. tho hungry hordes that bulgec
tho sides OF the little city was .
difficult one. To wrest possession Of
cafe table for two at tho rush
hour was an undertaking almost rs
hazardous as jumping a minins
claim. but Calvin Gray succeeded
and eventually no and Bob foune
themselves facing each other ovci
discoiorcd tablccloth. reading 9
soiled menu card 10 perspirins
walter. II was In some ways ar
ideal retreat for n tste-a-tete. fol
the beloved orders. the rattle o.
crockery. the voice Of tho hungrl
food baitlcrs. and the clash OF theli
steel made intimate conversation
easy. Gray noted with npprova
tho case with which his dainty com
panion adapted herself TO the sur
roundings and remarked upon Il.
After four years in the Eas. 1
took me n little while 20 get use.
to e." she confessed. Tho wlchi
IN / left was a quiet town; tn
ono came homo to was n mad
house. At first tho excitemen
frightened me, for I felt as II
were being run over. tossed aside
But now that I've fallen In Will
the chase. WHY think It Is splen
did"
Just what are you doing and hov
do you do 1T" Gray wanted I,
know.
Barbara was glad TO tell hin
about her brief but evcntful expert