Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-10-28

NICE OF you to say that, jose
phlne." He returned her hand
clasp. He looked his admiration.
She was certainly a remarkable
woman. How confoundedly young
she looked! He was gray; not that
it mattered, but he did feel old,
compared to her. But the time was
late. Josephine was leaving. Her
Car awaited her at the plaza in
Canal Street. John walked as far
as the car and babe her good-by.
I'VE must see each other again,
John. There is so much | would
like to talk about. Good-by."
1t was fully a week before John
met her again. This time. she was
on a shopping tour. He saw her
on Fifth Avenue. Judge Kelly had
mentioned that John would be
leaving the Engineers Club at two.
He passed Josephine on the Ave-
nue., turned and walked with her
a few blocks. "I'm going in to do
some shopping, dreadful nuisance,
John, but just have to-" He left
her entering a shop displaying
things in silk. She looked even
more beautiful than before. Moth
ing whatever had been said except
that she was back again in the old
house. "It's very comfortable,
John. So much better than a flat"
And then one day John heard
that Almon Strauss was back.
"Almon Strauss"
John caught the name above a
tumble of voices in one of those
Intermittent Gains when earnest
face-to-face takers pause almost
as one. The long assembly room
made free to every cult and clique
that cared for the privilege, was
the scene of a meeting and catholic
discussion on the evils of the time.
1t seemed that The Lemma, a So
ciety of eager intellectuals, wa
assembled there for no other pur-
pose than to talk. Professor Aud
rey Fessenden of the Bouge School
was expected to speak on Trends!
The room was crowded.
Harboard pulled John by the
arm into an alcove offering an exit
toward the door while groups con-
tinually blocked the way.
"For the love of Mike, Harboard
let us get some air" John was
fuming-the woman put him out
of tune; the snatches of this and
that rolled and goaded him; the
smoke and breaths were oppressive.
"Here, this way" and in a mo
ment John Breen stood close to
Almon Strauss. Harboard had ar
ranged the meeting.
II want to shake hands with
John ~Breen."
Harboard had managed to steer
them into a corner near the Stair.
Almon Strauss was leaning toward
John, holding his hand. What a
homely human being he was
"John l am so glad to see you.
Very glad" Almon Strauss was
short, of stocky build, almost hum
pbacked.
"Let us go upstairs. l have the
key. You know more about the
way than l." he said; suppose you
lead"
As they followed John up to
the Offices of Colfax, up the dust
covered landing and into the inner
room, a strong emotion came to
John, a sense of loss overpowering.
He switched on the light and was
agreeably surprised to find the
place in excellent order. John
had had an idea that the Bureau
must have vanished, like so much
of the past.
II had them clean up and air
the rooms" Almon Strauss ex-
planned. II expected you soon,
would have called for you, on my
return from Paris. but this is bet
ter" Along the wall the familiar
cases of drawings seemed intact.
The filing cabinets were as before,
the bookcases had not been disturb
ed. 1t seemed as if only an hour
had gone since the times when he
and Colfax worked late into the