The Bozeman courier., 1926-09-17

The electric light streamed on her from
the unshaded burner above. She lay in a
desOlate little heap, as If she had been too
weary or disconSolate to undreSs. Her
hair was soft and thick and curly and
her mouth sweet in repOse. Kenneth had
/ never seen a woman except his mother,
really asleep, as he remembered. His
mother had. always been surrounded by
halo OF curl papers. 1t seemed to him
that he was looking at something very sad
at first, and then it changed from sadness
into something less definable. Only a min
/ ute he stayed-then his habitual caution
/ he doing alone in young girls room
at this time of night? Or at least on the
threshold of the room? His retreat was an
act for farce comedy. He lifted his feet
high in withdrawal but unnecessarily so
| for the girl did not stir and no doors
creaked along the hall.
Again in his room Kenneth breathed in
relief, and reflected that he had been in
discreet. But the picture Of the girl stayed
| with him as he tried to compose himself
flor sleep. She looked so lonely and aban-
dOned, asleep desOlately with her red hat
on the floor and the quiet pagan statue
not to sleep that Way-and with the light
on. The light might be left on all night.
Whether the irregular light or the neglect
ed girl kept him restless was doubtful.
But they stayed in his mind, harrassing 1t.
For some reason he took an extra look
at himself in the mirror above his orderly
n.
failed to exhilarate him. His eyes, .eX-
aggerated a little by his glasses, we're not
inspiring. He looked like an average man,
average weight, with the average amount OF
dull brown hair on the top OF his head.
|, Once or twice a year Kenneth gazed at his
reflection in the glass appraisingly, and
then went back with renewed zeal to his
e making money. He had used to look al
! himself when he was in college more FIRE.
iquently and more discouragedly. No girl
had ever glanced at him with interest as he
/ walked across the campus, and then he haC
e not the secret comfort Of an amazing banl
D account.
E Now he had ceased to care whether
I girls saw him or not. In fact, he had be
! come wary Of sudden friendly invitation
to dinner by men whose fortunes were In
: tertwined with his own. He had gone Il
] some Of the dinners and met some OF tn
3 daughters. They had been pleasant t
Z him, occasionally dOquettish, but they
: hadn't liked him he knew. They didn'
like him any more than the men VIII
q cOurted his favor and his ready none.
I liked him. But he had the whip Of read,
: money and he always meant to have II
: = Those early years on the farm, which ha
0 killed his mother first and then his father
had taught him that the inner secret OF SAT
!, existence was ready money.
Kenneth had fought his way through th
d university SnEougn every course Sc. relaeh eI n
:, classrooms, shabby, intense BcareerOW {
y a spectacled boy, and learned the theory {
- high finance. Then he had come 20 On
p city to work in a bank among men VIII
q knew nothing Of theory but much G
% practice. The bank was his labratOr.
~ ~ That was ten years ago. He had his oW
- investment house now.
- In Mrs. Davis dining room the guest
A. as Mrs. Davis said, ate at small table
M It was a pleasant room with fresh 1oV
e. ers in the little glass vases twice a wee
u little smimeographed menus on the table
- and neat mattresses IN black and whit
e. Kenneth had a table for himself, as Va
ho fitting-a table for two 80 that be coul
IN occasionally bring in a guest. But usual
IA he ate alone, bOwing gravely to the 9th
he members Of the boarding house 1ami
ov who took great pride in him, feeling
ov was quite a thing for their mutual pla
~ OF residence to shelter q young man
such orderly habits and Sc much presti
,e. and money
he The Dale girl was eating breakfa
N as he went into the dining room. S
he was sitting at one of the larger tabl
res between an elderly an and an elder
IRE woman, and sas was apparently gay, I
.0r all three were smiling ana the rest
le- the people at the table were trying
ad listen In. Kenneth shot shy CLAN
lrd at her. She looked rested. He felt In
err mate with her as he looked at her morni
IT, freshness and remembered how she h
lse Looked last night. She was brave. The
nd was 10 dQubt about that. After a
m. she had been caught In the wheels. 4