The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-02-12

IN the least. 1ue IdcL ludL jake WAS
going to be married tonight seemed
to him utterly trivial. He took bus
and went straight up to Germans
hotel on the North side.
Jake seemed surprised and rather
pathetically pleased to see him. He'd
been in too much Of hurry earlier in
the day. he said, and had got every
thing done. Now he was left fiat with
nothing to do but wait for the hour,
and think. He hoped Edward would
sit down for a while and keep him
company. He offered Edward a drink,
which he declined, and cigar, which
he accepted He couldn't smoke him
self, he said; he was too nervous.
"Td be all right" he said, "if I
didn't get to thinking. That's what
gets you at time like this. It's a
solemn occasion, Patterson. A right
minded man has got to think about
things. There are a lot of things he
wishes he hadn't done. oh, well, no
use worrying about past regrets, Of
course. How long have you been mar
ried?"
"Twenty years." Edward told him.
Jake seemed rather startled. "My
Cd, but that's long time!" he said.
"You must have been just kid"
All that Edward was wildly con-
scious Of was the comfort Of the
chair he was sitting in and the sooth-
ing flavor Of his cigar. The driving
impulse that had brought him to
Jake's door seemed to have been spent
when Jake opened 1t and invited him
In. He'd almost forgotten what he
had come for. There was no need to
hurry, anyhow. He had plenty of
time.
His mind was active enough. He
perceived the irony Of his having come
from that nerve-racking scene with
Julia to Jake full Of sentimental
solemnities over his approaching mar
riage, but the perception was too weak
to carry any pain with 1t. Even the
bundle Of "reminiscences about his own
wedding day, evoked by Jake's ques-
ton and comment, had an agreeable
SAVIOR.
He said, 81 may have seemed pretty
young to the elderly Onlookers, but in
seriousness and sense Of responsibility
imagine was older than am to-
day. If you could confront me now
with that young man, think I'd be
rather overawed by him."
: Certainly, he reflected, he wouldn't
have wanted that dimly remembered
bridegroom for a witness Of the re-
cent quarrel with Julia. But even this
reflection didn't hurt.
swell, it's enough to make any man
feel serious and responsible" Jake
said. when / get thinking about it.,
I'm almost scared. She's wonderful
little girl, Patterson. She's had a
pretty hard time-had to work for her
living. Well, she'll never have to work
again; not as long as I live. sup
pose you know she's been on the
stage. She's not like the rest Of
them, though. The bright lights don't
interest her one little bit. She hates
'em. She don't care about my being
rich. either. All she wants Is a nice
little home. She talks about doing
her own cooking wants flower gar
den to dig in. Well, that's all right as
long as it's fun; but If I can help it,
she's never going to have to do an
other lick of work"
flows your insurance, Jake? Have
you got enough to protect her If any,
thing should happen to you?"
The question startled Edward al
most as much as If the voice that
asked 1t had not been his own. He'd
spoken without the slightest prelim-
mary thought and with complete dis
interestedness. But the reflective, al
most somnolent, mood Of the moment
before was completely shattered by it.
He was bewildered for an instant by
the suddenness of his awakening. but
he was most wildly and brilliantly
awake. Luckily, he had time to get
himself together, for the question had
startled Jake. too.
II haven't tended to that" he said.
"and sure ought to have. That's one
bet / overlooked. Well, it's too late
now. I'll have to take it up first thing
when we come back from our trip"
Its not too late" Edward assured
him. after a look at his watch. "There's
all the time in the world. And you'll
be a lot more comfortable on the trip
If it's settled"
He had the sensation of enjoying a
box seat at his own performance. He
admired and mildly wondered over the
readiness and skill Of the expert who
was giving Jake his choice Of con-
tracts; telling him how much this and
that kind of insurance would cost
him.
Jake's wonder knewsno bounds.
"Why, insurance" Edward explained
very casually, sis the one thing in the
world that I know anything about. I
certainly never knew anything about
mechanics"
He heard himself add, as Jake
looked up at him. "That's why I'm 60
ing to liquidate that choke business.
1t could be made right, l suppose, but
TIM nnder too great q handicap of ig-