Evening star., 1926-03-07

Furnishings"
Wilmer looked like the son of the
sign. From his hat to his boots he was
carefully, even gloriously. turned out
Every penny that he had earned for
months was on his back and on his
legs-save SIC. now burning with a
light fame in his pocket. 1t was an
April night.
Down the street from the seven
forty-fiVe came the great gray auto
mobile hus lately acquired by the Crit
tenden House. As it backed to the
door of this hotel across the street
Wilmer eyed it lanGuidly. Two. three,
FIVE drummers, as usual fat elderly
woman with her hat on crooked, as
usual. Nothing else. Nothing else.
Wilmer opined gloomilH. ever would
stop in this town. What he thought
was strike this burg.
Then he stretched his neck to peer
over tho top Of the bus Something
blue had paused to speak to the driver.
Blue. tripping, wllowy, bobbed. She
entered the Crittenden House.
AS If at signal from hidden bells.
Wilmer rose. changed the angle Of his
hat and sauntered into the hotel office.
The clerk was just telling her that the
dining room was still open. She disa r.
peared beyond the double wire screen
doors.
Wilmer glanced AT tho register. In
cramped hand she had written:
"Maudie Weathers. New York City.
New York City--what?' said Will
mer. He had heen of late finding CON
venient places for the use of that
what" Again he changed the angle
of his hat.
Can get some supper here.
Nike" he inquired of the clerk.
I'm take your so cents if YOU can't
pull il off any other way" replied the
clerk Mike eXpertly. and dropped an
eyelid.
Wilmer stared at him haughtily.
"Come off-our COO : gone" said he
and s-rolled to the dining room.
His seat carefully chanced to he at
the next table to that of Maudie
Wea theirs and faced her. But to Will
mer'S intense ANNOYANCE no sooner
was he seated than the fat elderly
woman. with her hat still crooked.
pumped compa city into a chair on his
left
DO YOU know this town. sir?" said
she.
Wilmer started. Hers was not the
fat. elderly tone. vague. worried.
quaverine. il WAS a poised tone. accus-
toned to consider replies. He glanced
It her sharply. Erect. detached,
eyes. "Hello'' thought Wilmer.
1T is" said he. courteously, my
rotten luck TO live here"
oh, very sorry" she murmured. AS
if she had hurt his feelings At the
same moment Wilmer saw her hand
white. Wrinkled and wearing one
magnificently set ring. Say" thought
Wilmer.
HIS eyes wandered to the other
- table. Maudie had given her
order. Ham and eggs" he heard
and in that order recognized the dis
tress signal of one who has rarely
ordered dinner at a hotel. Good
thought Wilmer.
Ham and eggs" said he to the
waitress. and stared steadily at
Maudie. She heard. she glanced. she
colored and looked down. But then
Immediately she looked up again and
away. "Oh, peach" thought Wilmer,
peach
His companion was speaking.
DO YOU happen to know she
said, about Josephus Cole who
died here recently?'
He was my uncle" said Wilmer.
Indeed" she commented and said
with a fash of unduly even teeth:
Then of course you don know any
thing about him
Only" said Wilmer, resentfully.
that he left all his money to
strange woman none of us ever heard
of"
How inconsiderate of me-" she
murmured. Il am that strange
woman
In a single instant Wilmer forgot
the one in blue who awaited her
order opposite him--hy no means, he
was now certain. unconscious of his
superior presence. In fact, she was
looking At him openly. He concen-
trated on the lady at his elbow.
Are YOU Mrs. Benjamin Block"
he exclaimed.
Il am Mrs. Benjamin Block" said
she composedly.
suffering serpents" said Wilmer
Then you've come to town to get
his money"
She lifted her eyebrows. I've COME
TO katytown." she said. Ito look over
the ground, Mrs il Cole?'
Wilmer Iosephus Cole" said VII
mer, and bowed imperCeptihly at
Maudie Weathers. who looked down
and up and away--and back again.
Il was" Mrs Benjamin Block pro
ceeded. "a nurse in the hospital
months | have never seen him since
that time. His will, | understand.
was executed that year.
Wilmer was thinking: And me
running my legs off to please him
ever since my BIRTH
Mrs. BENJAMIN Block now went
briefly into those hospital days. To
his amazement. Wilmer learned that
his uncle. in the course Of his stay
there. had given various treats TO
the other patients-fowers ice cream,
music.
Il used to read to him" said Mrs.
Block. He told me that l reminded
him Of his wife who had died.
His Wife, Wilmer stared. He
never had a Wife
He showed me her picture. Mrs.
Block elaborated. VERY pretty young
girl. Died in the South. He was
there for some time. In phosphorus
lands
Phosphorus lands was circumstan-
tial. Uncle Josephus! An uncle who
had the general appearance OF
filbert.
TOR all his absorption WSmer had
l. been timing his bread pudding
10 terminate With the cup custard OF
Maudie WeatherS. Now, however a.
she rose to leave the room-Wlth that
telItale fixity of gaze of the lll-at-
esse-he saw that he need not have
troubled. She came directly to their
table and sat down. So sudden was
her onslaught that only after she was
seated did Wilmer remember his late
~ acquired habit of springing to MS
feet. and did so. and rather foolishiF
resumed his seat.
"Excuse me-" said Maudie Weathers
with her diffidence upon her like
shadow. Il couldn't help hearing what
you've been talking about Ana IL )