Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12

But won't he be interested in helping you
tune those engines up?" I inquired. Cant
you take him on as a mate or something of
the Shooting Starr"
who? Mushme:on?" Eddie said staring at
me. why wouldn't any more let WASHINGTON
Turpe touch those little hummers than 1 would
some camel. He can't do anything on earth
except smoke somebody elseS cigarettes all up
and call heads or tails Iight so that he always
gets into movies at other peoples expense. It's
going to be an absolutely terrible interference
with everything, and one Of the worst things
about it is the way Ends going to treat him,
because he's the girling kind that just makes
her absolutely sick, and she's already told me
not to bring him around here at ALL Well, II
he has to be kept away 1t means Ill have to
stay away with him a good DEAL and besides
that the familyn insist that I've got TO bring
him here anyhow to call, and if do she's
going to get disguised and probly quit speaking
to me again.
He was SO detected about it that couldn't
help laughing, but tried to cheer him up
little. We'll If she does she's pretty sure TO
begin again some time I told him. I've
noticed she usually does, and anyhow your
young friends visit will be only q temporary
obstruction
Temporary" Eddie said. THE last time he
visited US he only about IA years old, but
he stayed six weeks"
they whirled away somewhere. leaving me a
good deal amused over Eddie Bullfinchs troubles
and also kind of family curious to see the
cause of them, wondering little bit what this
Mushmelon boy, Mr.. Lathrop Mallowfeld Tur-
pie, looked like. 1t was about week before
found out Mrs. Massey and sitting
the porch in the bright twilight after dinner.
Clarissa wasn't home and Enid was inside
reading in the living room, when Eddie came
up the porch steps with another boy and said
nervously, Mr.. and Mrs Massey this Is my
friend Mush-I mean Mallowfeld-I mean
Mallowfield Turpie. Where's Enid?"
It's Iious and unreasonable the way we all
feel kind of an objection to people. some
times, at first sight, but those two boys hadn't
any more than reached the top Of the steps
before I was in complete sympathy with Eddie
Bulhnchs prejudices in regard to his visitor.
That Turpie boy was kind Of handsome in
pear-shaped way. I mean his face was fattish
at the base so his head looked smaller and
he had thin. blondish hair that he didn't seem
to mind having curl some around his forehead.
His complexion was pale and dampish- looking.
He had pink mouth that appeared to be too
small, 1 thought and too curving and the
expression ON it was what you might call COM
placent. That is to say. he struck me as looking
like an only child that's never had any trouble
believing all his mother has ever said to him
about himself. When he saw Mrs. Massey and
me sitting the porch and while Eddie Bull
finch was introducing him he put on one of
those stony, repellant looks, like an arstocratic
beauty suspecting insult, only more so-the way
some boys do to show strangers that the
slightest intimacy is going to be unattainable.
He didn't say anything Just allowed Mrs.
Massey and me to split slight nod between
us, then walked coldly into the house with
Eddie. From outside on the porch we couldn't
hear much that went on at first in the living
room. They were talking fairly quietly, as
sometimes young people do for little while,
except at parties. until they get better
quainted. After that the Turpie boy seemed to
be holding forth at considerable length in
treble voice, and his subject must have been
congenial to him, because finally we heard Eddie
break in, pretty near shouting, and starting
with loud, Scornful laughter.
'Whatd tell you, Enid?" he said. Didn't
tell you II you ever let him once get talking