Evening star., 1926-04-11

Yvonne said, kidding" him. you've
sure got an appetite!
The stranger looked up. The in
cessant smile widened. wall street,
he said. Advance agent for II. r. IL.
No, your pardon. young lady. Where
did l come from? Hanged If I know" "
| Yvonne laughed and rufiied the back
of her bobbed hair But the quiet lips
of Cactus Carrie drew into turn line,
her eyes narrowed questioningly.
English, aint you?" she asked. and
| the mans attention became suddenly
| fixed upon her. His shoulders lifted
| little, and the smile and the dimples
disappeared.
'Imprimis. he was broke" he said
quoting, Thereafter left his regi-
ment-later took to drink and losing
| the balance OF his friends-joined the
people of the land That's Ari-
iona and the gentry of the rope and
spur, the genus cowboy. Only work
is so blame scarce! Sure I'm Eng
lish." He slid from the high stool
and raised the half-empty cup of
coffee. Tight little isle" he said, and
drank.
He set down the cup and searched
the pockets of his ragged corduroys,
then his worn, gray shirt. The search
revealed two nickels and dime.
That" said Yvonne Kelly, "aint
enough You owe two bits"
Again he thrust his unsteady
fingers into empty pockets. Then he
shook his head and smiled. The
shrug of helplessness that followed
stirred fierce pity in the gaunt
woman behind the counter.
Young lady" he said gently to
Yvonne, It'll have to do. Those in
significant coins are all have. L am
powerlesS-as you see. The ex--
excellent coffee and cakes are, un-
fortunately, mine for keeps"
Yvonne turned to call the ma anager,
but Carrie stopped her. She thrust
the necessary scent piece into the
girls hand The man turned his
dreamy eyes to her.
Now, why-just why" he said, did
you do that"
II don't know" said Cactus Carrie.
The ragged derelict stepped back
and bowed elaborately, to his own
imminent peril and that of the cups
on the counter.
Accept our thanks" he said ma
jestically. THE cakes were passing
good"
Then he was gone. Cactus Carrie
looked after him with somber eyes.
Wasn't he the limit" said Yvonne.
in disgust. Been drunk for a month.
I'll bet. That's an old drunk. Too
slow and settled for late stuff
Carrie did not answer. For the
rest of the day she worked to the
accompaniment of the drawing,
amused voice; a voice whose quality
re echoed within her consciousness
like music.
TWO days passed, and she saw no
more of the ragged stranger.
which was odd. considering that one
might take in the whole town at
glance. And then, at night, he came.
He dined at the lunch counter. He
handled the food. the knife and fork,
with a strange delicacy, and paid with
good American dollar. He was
rather sober this time, and the devil
may-care mood, the geniality Of his
former visit were sunk in pensive sad
ness. This time Carrie waited on him.
She watched him with hungry eyes,
and gave him 15 cents-the best of the
bargain--in the matter of change.
She and little. plain Celia were alone
on the late shift.
II thought you'd gone." she said
abruptly, as he fingered.
What made you think so?"
''I didn't see you anywhere"
isn't this the West-the Great
and Glorious:-where a mans past is
his own and no questions asked?" he
said, with a wide gesture.
Cactus Carrie blushed for the first
time in many a hard-bit year.
"Tt is." she answered frankly, "and
I'm sorry 1 seemed Just curious"
You needn't be sorry" he assured
her largely, you have right to
ask--the right Of friendliness. You