Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-06-03
The Water Bearer

seemed annulled. MIRA Baxter drew
the line at having her son appear a
the fashionable resorts where she wal
stopping. That was tacit under
standing between them. Doubtless
the widow objected to having q TWEEN
ty-slx-year-0ld child inject himself
into her realm OF arrested maturity
She had deliberately set back hel
clock OF life The presence OF Ted cor
rected Time with too obvious hand
Caleb reached the apartment little
after noon and found his friend still
in bed. Baxter surveyed him with .
grin that turned into q yawn.
mice time for yOu TO be coming
home" he challenged where's your
New England consciencef Stopping
out all night Give an account of
yourself. you reprObate. Never preach
to me again. You're degenerating. Cal,
my son. Have a gin hxzi was out
to the Beach last night With peach.
With two speaches. Ia fact. and an
other caballero. The party gathers
again this evening and l'm fiat. What
time Is lit think I'll get up. Wen
have lunch at the club. Cox Is In town,
The man I've wanted you to meet
One Of the Big Siege GUS Of the
coast"
Baxter RECALLED Caleb with an &C
count OF the trip OF the night before
along the beach, visiting every boule
ward resort. The peach" It appeared
was a blond. stenographer who was a
thoroughbred sport and a winner"
BY which Caleb facility understood
that the young lady had acquiesced
in every suggestion or Bakers with.
out demur. Caleb broke the tale to
make his own change OF clothes. to
shave and take his BATH Baxter Jr-
dered luncheon at the club over the
telephone, to be ready In half an hour,
then switched to the garage for his
car to be brought round In twenty
minutes.
While they waited he rounded on
Caleb and demanded a statement Of
what he had been up to.
Caleb told his story. He saw no
reason why he should conceal any
thing and yet he had some reluctance
to describe his visit at 81 NidO In de-
tail. He did not fancy that Baxter
would see-Or would have seen-ths
place and its people In the same light
that he did. His reservations betrayed
him. Baxter seized upon the mention
of the girl with a whoop and quizzed
him to the limit.
"You sly fox" he cried. "A beauty |
with chestnut tresses, riding like
centaur after borzois, chasing coyote
and catching Caleb Warnerl She
has you on the hip. Caleb. Romance
has blossomed In your sterile Massa.
soul. Sir Galahad and the
Princess OF the Hidden valleyl ItN
a moving picture.
i've heard of the Clintons," he rat.
lied on. "Seen the girl. too, at the
log show, though / don't remember
he chestnut locks. Next time you go
l=hshing, my wandering gallant, 60
With you"
Here's your car" said Caleb dryiy.
cooking out of the window.
Baxter gave him a bantering look
md dropped the subject
The club known as The Altruists IL
ituated downtown, an institution
rown from an early membership Of
writer's and artists, with two big
ooms and free-and-easy privileges, to
lfiuence and influence.
II was full Of good-natured men
harlng a camaraderle that was new
o Caleb's conception OF club life. And
nth them all Baxter was hail-feIlow.
dlning-room steward
ought him out and informed him that
inch would be on the table in ten
iinutes.
EVEN look around a bit" said Bax. :
pr. "And ! must get you a card. q
alter wen have you up for member. J
nip" He led the way to great room 2
18th a gilded ceiling and many tables 4
nd coy corners beneath II. The walls !
ere covered with cartoons drawn by
lie artists of the club, commemorat.
g past and current events, carlcatur. =
lg the bright lights among them.
aA1et hVuoSu " SeSty One IN tho
'om, It seemed, and Il was well filled. :
here was general afr Of badinage. =
e members reminded Caleb OF grown.
, boys in recess from school.
They worked their way through to -
lounge for cigarettes and Baxter =
United out celebrities.
AS they settled themselves at the ,,
aces reserved fer them, Baxter fndl. y
ted group Of men ut a round table y
Il far from them. -