The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-25

you doing with it in the middle Of the
night, anyway"
The little man looked about him
affected care. Leaning toward the po-
Hceman he whispered: I'm going to
marry her"
Now, then" said the policeman,
none of your nonsense" Policemen
dislike humor; it agitates their mind,
interferes with its smooth working
Where are you taking it?"
Once before" said he little man,
calmly, Il said Acton. For the second
time I say Acton. It's still Acton
And if you want to know from what
happy home I took this young lady.
I'll tell you that I bought 'er this
afternoon at Bunley's Sale Rooms,
price 10 shillings, sale price, shop
sOiled, but not as you'd notice it. And
amt the girl worth every penny of
it,"
What are you going to do with
it?" asked the policeman, discounted
by the tone that only the cutters OF
great cities can lay upon the tongue
Il told you I was going to mar
juredly. But I don't want to de-
eeive an innocent child. I'm going
TO put 'er in my winder when I get
TO Acton. Fact is, I'm a 'air-dresser
I'm going to put air on 'er, curls
She'll look that lovely"
"All right" said the policeman. sui
lenly. you can go on"
Like to give 'er a kiss?" asked
the little man, as he pulled up the
sack. The policeman did not reply,
but walked, or rather doomed away,
as is the habit Of his profession.
The little man gave me a wink:
That shut is mug for i'm. didn't 1t,
guv'nor? These cops, you know,
they're that official"
Yes, they are a bit officious," 1
said. "Still, it's their trade"
And a dirty trade it is, too" said
the little man, as he fastened the
sack over the uncanny burden. Now
I got to hoist this on my back again. &"
His short arms struggled helplessly
with his burden. So, Selling the bun
die, which was not heavy, but rather
clumsy, 1 managed to get 1t on to his
shoulder again.
Thank you, guv'nOr." he said, look
ing at me with interest, obviously not
accustomed to the assistance of men
in tails and white waistcoats. "Ex-
pect me an ind be talking now if
you 'and't 'appened along. Those
coppers, they don't mind what they
do to a pore man; ed ave wanted
to know this ere, and that ere, vast
ing 'alf the night"
Somehow we were walking along
together toward the west; 1 had my
reason for this already; the little man
talked abundantly. but from time
to time he looked up to me, puzzled,
and perhaps annoyed. Probably he
would have told me to let him alone,
If 1t had not been for my size. He
was a small man, and 1 happen to be
one of those people who cannot get
into an omnibus with their hat on.
And I am broad in proportion. I
eliminated over the little man like
a mountain; no doubt this embar-
raised him. Still, after a while, we
crossed the road. at the corner of a
street he attempted to get rid Of me,
remarking: $50 long, guv'nor," and
paused. That's where l turn off, -
he remarked.
'Indeed?' I said. You're going
out of your way. That goes north.
Acton lies west"
He flung me a malevolent glance:
well. now you mention it. that's a
funny thing. 1 got it into my cad
that I 'ad to turn off ere. Thank
you for mentioning 1t, guv'nor So
long" He went on westward. but l
followed him. His now became a
sulky mood: he refused to talk, and
SO we went for several hundred
yards. At last, however. I deter
mined to play my card. So I said:
You're a hair-dresssg. aren't you?''
Yes"
rs yours a good business?''