Evening star., 1925-03-29

4, sex, then, Semore realized that he was
affordlng her the opportunity for a
| triumph such as she had never be-
| fore experienced. The night of the
| race would be a red-letter one for
her. and he planned the regal pres
! entation OF a silver cup to her i'm
| mediately at the triumphant conclu-
| sion of the contest.
He suggested the plan to Zero and
| that gentleman sparkled with enthu-
siasm. Fine! That's a swell idea
Semore."
who you reckon is gwine win
| same?'
Ammonia"
Semore simulated surprise. "You
reckon she's gwine VIM"
| Semore-they amt no woman in
| Bummfn- han can skate as fast front
ways as she can backwards. They
aln't no mo- chance Of beatin' that
| gal in a skatin' race in Bummin' ham
| than they is of maxim a cullud man
| saddern what / is right now" He
laid gentle hand on Semore's shoul-
der. What you reckon Is eatin' that
gal?'
We'll, she was tellin' me tothei
| day that she was sick an tired Of you
Said you wasn't no good, or somethin'
Anyway, she wasn't complimentin
you none"
Zero writhed. Then, alone, he gave
| thought to the words of Mr.. Mashbl
and bit Of light penetrated.
Semore had been unnecessarily
frank in passing along the good word
and there had been an evil CLINT in
| the Mashby eye. Too, Zero hadn't
been unmindful OF the avid attention
which Semore had been paying Am
monia- 1t was possible but Zero
| shook his head determinedly He
wouldn't believe that. Still, here was
Semore promoting a skating race for
no reason in the world save to give
Ammonia chance to shine before
| tho public, and Zero know the young
lady we'll enough to realize that she
would be duly grateful to the crea- :
| tor of the opportunity.
The Niagara Falls attained the end
| Of the third month of its existence,
and that night after the rink closed
Zero Harris and Semore Mashby re-
tired to the latter's Office for the first
settlement Zero was eager and elert,
but there was about Mr.. Mashby a
peculiar difidence, which, however,
escaped tho eye OF his partner.
It's thisaway," he explained to
Zero. us has been runnin' TO three
| months Su'tractin our runnin' ex-
net earnin' on the runnin' OF the rink
| of Ave hund'ed and ten dollars. Is
that satisfactory?
Zeros eyes glistened. "Sho1y am,
Brother Mashby"
''Yo' half of that" pursued Semore,
| would be two hund'ed an ffty-five
| dollars, but you has drawed out one
hund'ed an sixty"
''Thas right. Tha's right. Brother
| Mashby-I amt 'sputin' you on that"
Zero did>a little quick figuring. $50
| you jes give me the ninety-five dol
lars which is due me, AM"
Mr.. Mashby arched his eyebrows in
Quisitively. Says which" ?"
Says you give me my balance OF
ninety-five dollars"
You amt got no sech OF a balance. -
How come not?"
Semore strove to conceal his nerv-
| BUSINESS. Fac of the matter, Mis-
| tub Harris. you not only amt got no
| ninety-five dollars comm to you, but
YOU owes me one hundred an five
| dollars cash money!"
Zero gasped. "Wha's that you is
sayin' with you mouf?"
Il says you owes me one hund' ed
| an Ave dollars
You is crazy as you looks"
| Huh! You don't know what you is
talkin' about"
"An' you amt talkin' about nothin'
| Semore-an' you is likely to forget
| that What you amt got in yo' haid
| is no brains-speechifyin' bout me
OWN you money. How come you 10
spill so much foolishment FUN be-
tween yo' lips?"
Mr.. Mashby replied with excessive
dignity. "Yo' fo'gits the rent"
The which?"
The rent"
Which rent"
The rent which Mashby & Harris
proprietors of the Niag'ra Falls Skat-
| in Rink is payin' to Semore Mashby
| fo' said rink"
Zero shook his head slowly. How
| much that is, Semore?'
Sixteen hunded dollars year
Tha.s four bundled dollars quarter
two bundled 1 pays an two hund'ed
you pays You has ninety-fve dollars
| comm to you: yo uowes two huno eo
To- rent So you amt got nothin
comm to you besides that you
owes me one hund'ed an Ave dollars
X +
MR.. Harris rose and crossed the
lV1 room. The thing was not en-
tirely clear to him, but he had a
hunch that he was being stung. He
spoke without turning. "Ev'ything
you gifts, you gifts" he summarized.
| AN evrything 1 gifts you gifts.
Looks that way" argued Sepore
genially. Fact of the matter is. ii
seems like to me you has made a bad
business deal. Looks like the best
thing you can do is to get out an fnd
you a regular job to earn that hun
d'ed an Ave dollars you owes me.
| Cause the longer you remains where
you is at the worser you gifts into
debt"
Zero's slender fingers were trem-
bling. His next remark was made In
! low, puzzled voice as though in
| tended for his own enlightenment
Il wuks hahd fo' three months an gifts
nothin' an then at the end of that
time I still has that much, less q
hund ed dollars" An idea smote him
and he whirled. How come this rent
| business amt never been mentioned
! befo'?"
| Never was due ontil now" returned
| Semore logically.
Hmm! 1t seems wrong"
| Seems amt is Now 1 tell yol
what / 10 willin' to do, Zero. Use
willin' you should assign to me all yo
right, title an interest in the Niagrs
| Falls TO one hund'ed an five dollars
| same bein' how much you owes me
goes ahaid an operates same en-
| tirely at my own espense an releases
you fun all obligation. Don't thai
sound fair?'
MN hmm! 1t soun's so awful fail
| that somethin' tells me it amt"
1.-THE longer you keeps on wukkin
| fo' the Niag'ra Falls the less you ha.
got"
| Zero's eyes narrowed. CANT quit
| now," he said positively.
| How come not?''
| "Pussonal reasons"
| Semore understood.
! Until late that night Zero walk e(