Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
ct

make into garage beside the hotel Formerly
In his day, the building had been used as a
livery barn. There used to be pictures of ia
NOUS trotting and pacing horses on the walls
OF the little Office at the front Old Dave
Grey. who owned race horses of his own, ran
the livery barn then, and John occasionally
hired q rig there. He hired o rig and took
Lillian for ride into the country along moon
Lit roads BY lonely farmhouse dog barked
Sometimes they drove along a little dirt road
lined with elders and stopped the horse. How
still everything was! What q queer feeling they
had! They couldn't talk. Sometimes they
sat In silence thus, very near each other, for
q long, long time. Once they got out of the
buggy, having tied the horse to the fence, and
walked in newly cut bayfield,. The cut hay
lay all about in little cocks.
A T the hotel. John ate his dinner in silence
There wasn't even a travelling salesman in
the dining room, and presently the proprietor's
wife came and stood by his table to talk with
him. They had good many tourists, but
this just happened to be a quiet day. Dull
days came that way in the hotel business The
woman's husband was a travelling man and had
bought the hotel to give his wife something
to keep her interested while he was on the
road. He was away from home so much!
They had come to Caxton from Pittsburgh
At 7:45 John went out for walk on Main
street and almost at once he met Tom Bal
lard, who at once recognized him, a fact that
pleased Tom He Dragged about it. "Once
see face I never forget. Well! Welt"
When John was %, Tom must have been about
10. His father was the leading doctor of the
town. He took John in tow, walked back
with him toward the hotel. He kept exclaim-
ing: i knew you at once. You haven't changed
much, really"
Tom was in his turn doctor and there
was about him something-right away John
guessed what it was. They went up into
johns room, and John. having in his bag a
bottle OF whiskey, poured Tom drink, which
me took somewhat too eagerly, John thought.
There was talk. After Tom had taken the
drink he sat on the edge of the bed still hold
ing the bottle John had passed to him. Her.
man was running dray now. He had mar
ried Kit Small and had five kids Joe was
working for the International Harvester Co
L don't know whether he's in town now
or not. He's trouble shooter a swell me-
chanlc, good fellow" Tom said. They drank
again.
AS for Lillian, mentioned with an air IF
pemg casual by John, he, John, knew of course
mat she had been married and divorced There
was some sort OF trouble about another man
Her husband married again later. and now
she lived with her mother, her father, the shore
merchant, having died. Tom spoke somewhat
guardedy, as though protecting a friend.
guess she's all right now going STRAIGHT
and ALL Good thing she never had any kids
She's little nervous and queer; has lost her
looks a good deal"
The two men went downstairs and. WALKING
along Main street, got into a car belonging
to the doctor.
III take you for little ride" Tom said:
but as he was about to pull away from the
curb where the car had been MARKED no 4urnod
and smiled at his passenger. I'VE ought 70
celebrate little, account of your coming back