Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-09-27
@ Elizabeth e'r4."

days to the upbuilding of the new branch
but the friends usually dined together
and on such occasional evenings as Tom
my allowed himself they went to a the
alter or saw a good picture-preferably
from Tommy's point OF view. the latter
or talked before Eliot's fire.
Nothing ~highbrow about me-" Tommy
candidly admitted. His talk was about
the upbuilding of the new branch-a
subject that obsessed him. He put his
problems before Eliot. not, obviously
with any idea OF getting help from him,
for young Davis was very sure OF him.
self, but to talk them out, N to hear
his own theories put into words. He also
listened to Eliots shop talk with more
than patience, and his comments were
clear sighted and understanding.
Then one evening, quite suddenly,
| Tommy fired O direct question at his host
as the two sat together before Eliot's fire
Say. Bill. is there anything wrong
about me?" he abruptly inquired.
Eliot stared at him.
What do o mean, wrong? OF course
there isn't anything wrong he answered
Tommy fixed him with clear and sud-
denly serious eyes.
Then why don't you swing me into
your bunch?" he crisply demanded.
"My-bunch?"
yep. The crowd you travel with. Why
don't l meet some of your other ais, and
some of the girls you know" He waited
a moment, and then, as Eliot sat In
startled silence, he went on. his fresh
young face flushing self-consciously.
You've been mighty white TO me
Don't think l don't appreciate it and all
that. But I've been wondering If there's
anything about me that-well, that
doesn't fit in. or that's got to be changed
If there is you ought to tell me about
it" he added in a rush.
Eliot felt his face burn. But frankness
like this must be met by frankness.
There's nothing n all that, old man.
he said quietly. THE truth is, If you
must have it. that 1 haven't got any
friends"
Tommy stared at him.
You haven't got any friends?" he
stupidity repeated.
Not one, except yourself" Eliot spoke
naturally now, even with a laugh. He
had discovered anew that he could al.
ways speak naturally to Tommy.
Not a harmed n except yourself" he
cheerfully reiterated. II don't think peo-
pie dislike me-" he went IN conscien.
| tiously, trying to do for this interested
himself, n analyze the thing. II sup
pose it's simply that I don't affect them
one way or the other"
Tommy showed one of his flashes O.
insight.
do they affect you one way or the
other?" he asked.
mo, 1 can't say they do. Maybe that's
it,"
You bet that's 1t. Have you tried tt
make friends with fellows and beer
turned DOWN."
sOf optrca NOT ~ r7ltN+ rN1trr v1+t1
CURLY.
Tommy nodded th~oughtfully.
Don't like that idea, do you-of hay
ing people turn you down. l bet that.
at the bottom Of the whole thing-a kin
of shyness. Even at that it's darned hare
to understand why a regular fellow Xix
you-' Realizing hat he was on deli.
cate ground Tommy checked himself anc
stared into the fire. I've got to fix that,
he muttered as If to himself.
Your getting into a. rut. Bill-get'
ting too fond Of comfort and too fussy
about tri1es-sort of thing that comes tx
folks that live alone and have no one t.
think Of but themselves. Wrapped IL
luxury, that's what you are-with thu
house valet to brush your clothes anc
all that stuff. Getting soft. Look a.
the way I live"
Eliot looked at 1t with a mental shivel
OF distaste. Tommy had one comfortles.
room on the second floor Of a lodgine
house, typical room whose sole recon-.
mendations were its neatness n the fac
hat 1T vas near his showrooms. Tommy
was Immediately neat and well dressed
he considered this latter good business
he explained. He liked we'll cooked food
too; but he obviously had no Other
standards of comfort.
IF you'd take that vacant flat acros.
the hall from me you could live properly
Eliot answered without resentment. H,
never resented anything Tommy said.
Tommy shook his red head.
N soft living for me, yet" he an
nounced. I'm a bird on the wing ant
I'll live like one. OF course, when
marry n settle down in Chicago II
have as good a house as any one, out IL
the suburbs somewhere, with porches anC
a garden and all that. I don't want II
spoil 1t beforehand with any half-wa.
business
Eliot looked at him thoughtfully. HI
had not known Tommy had so mucl
sentiment.
Copyright: 1923: BY Elizabeth Jordan
Continued next week.
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