The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-05-21

TO lose your regard, Mary. !
value 1t very highly. And now
I'm going away. But / want to
90 with your best wishes. your
friendship. Won't you let me
see you later. perhaps?'
Her Chilly Reply
She listened without a change
in her aspect, and when she
spoke again her voice was chilly,
determined. II wish you all fu.
ture success, but your going to
sea Is nothing. Your manner OF
living-the way you've been carry
ing on in Appletown, your wicked
beliefs, which the whole place Is
talking about, and which you W
taken no trouble to hide, have
ended our friendship once and
for ALL
The presence of Mr.. Page
famed the smoldering fires of
resentment at her attitude. SOP
he began, coolly sarcastic; I'm
to assume that I'm already
judged and condemned and there's
nothing left now but to hang the
Jug Will LILO Oda udLu6F I4fLt
Then you've made up your mind
that I'm a naughty persona
rotter unfit to associate with
your" His dark eyes glinted and
there was a harsh, metallic tenor
in his speech.
She vouchsafed him no answer
and turned away, tugging on her
escorts arm. She seemed self
controlled, dispassionate, unaf.
fected by Anson's words, and her
very poise excited the rancor in
his heart. He stepped aside with
a grim, apparently unconcerned,
laugh. very well Miss Phillips"
he observed, stridently, tits all off.
But Ill have the last word any.
way. You despise me? Then, in
return, Ill despise you for the mar
row, intolerant Puritanism which
prompts you to act like this.
Good.by."
The Encounter
The unpleasant exchange might
have ended then and there had not
the hostility boiling in Mr.. Pages
breast broken bounds. get on
your way, you insulting rowdy,"
he growled with a menacing stare.
1nvoluntarily, perhaps he gave
Ansons valise a slight kick which
topped it over.
"Eh, what's tbat?" Campbell,
inwardly furious at the fashion in
which things had turned out,
whirled to face him. "You mind
your own business" And, flash
ing him an insolent glance, he
STOPPED down to pick up his bag
gage and depart.
Exeunts were in order, but Fate
demanded action for the audience.
Excited, perhaps, by the retort or
by a desire to acquire a heroic
status in the girls eyes, Mr.. Page,
as though prodded by the promp-
ter of destiny, abruptly dropped
book and parasol. There followed
the smack of closed knuckled upon
flesh and Campbell found himself
staggering to his knees in the
gunnter.
A Street BrawI
He was upon his feet in flash,
his eyes narrowed, his visage hard
set, his fists up. "Why don't you
hit a man in front?" he barked.
jeeringly. Mary, aghast at the
turn events had taken, conscious
that she was about to be entangled
in street brawl with people flock.
ing from all quarters to view the
proceedings, attempted to get in
between them. But Arson swung
her firmly to one side as he went
for his assailant in the manner Of
trained boxer.
Page received a blow on the
point 70 the chin that had him
staggering; he took another on the
ear that made his ear ring. Be.
fore him, the students eyes blazed
tigerishly, cool, determined and by
the manner in which Campbell's
punches were landing upon him,
the immaculate Mr.. Page knew
that he was up against a youth
with hard muscles who was ex.
pert in the science OF fighting.
Arson, on the other hand, soon
found out that his opponent,
though older and heavier, had
neither heart nor art in physical
combat, and the knowledge spur
red him to make a mess Of Mr..
Page for the sake Of humiliating
Mary and salvaging his selfcon'
ceit.
"Dern your he growly vicious
", as he drove his fist on the
others mouth. "I'll make you
pay for seeing me as a doormat,
you slick.haired tailor's dummy!
And the smack that followed the
observation almost lifted Page off
his feet.
Vainly guarding himself from
the others attacks, the older man
whirled around and backed into
the door of a blacksmith's shop.
The men at the forge and anvil
were standing by, taking in the
fracas with appreciative eyes.
Page threw them an appealing
glance. "Keep this bully away
-r' he shouted desperately.
His Decision
Arson backed him up against
tub of dirty water IN which the
smiths coloed their iron. Elm
going to dampen your ambition,
m'lad!' grunted the student men
acingly. With studied delibera.
ton, and using his two hands in
concerted push, he drove his
adversary backwards and into the
grimy fluid. With the splash
came a shout from the spectators
crowding the doorway, and An
son, not content with his work,
seized the doubled.up Page by the
collar and twisted and soused him
about in the tub until the black.
smiths Hv4o crorod him
There now!' He stood off,
painting, the perspiration pouring
down his face, his hair and
clothes awry. With jeering
smile about his eyes and lips, he
watched the others efforts to
extricate himself. ''Thatll show
L eHs.