The Washington times., 1932-02-02
Old Friend Brownie

most certainty is.
Old Friend Brownie
I glanced at my watch. I
hao exactly 40 minutes to
finish my column. There seems
to be an unwritten law that
pests must always annoy you
when you want least to be
: disturbed. But. somehow or
other, I managed a smile.
I'm happy you're glad to see
me-" I told him, "but I've got
q terrible confession to make.
] don't remember you"
He looked completely grieved.
That's a surprise to me-"
he muttered. MY names
Brown. Why, you and / went
to high school together. We
were great pals. Why, I was
right by your side the time
you led that strike and they
almost expelled all of us.
Look at me again. Don't you
remember your old friend,
Brownie?"
Time was flying. This was
going to be delightful. I be-
gan to grow nervous.
Eyes, yes," I cried. II re-
member now all right. Glad to
have seen you again. If you'll
drop in some time when I'm
not so busy. I'll be glad to
have a long chat with you.
Wen talk about Prof. John r.
Sims and all the rest. But
right now"
! blinked. Mr.. Brown was
laughing heartily. That wor-
ried me. Did you ever meet
q man who laughed loudly
over, nothing at all? If you do,
watch out for him.
Serves a Subpoena
"I understand, Mark" he
chuckled. "I'm a man who
always takes a hint. That's
been my motto all my life.
You're busy, eh?"
Something like that" I ad-
mitted.
He nodded.
"That's okay with me then,"
he asserted. "I'll come to the
point right away" He reached
into his pocket and drew forth
q document. Here you are"
I didn't need a lawyer to
tell me that it was a subpoena.
And in connection with a most
annoying case that had hap
pened some two years be-
fore. While visiting another
city, had occasion to visit
q doctor. He Thought it would
be very nice to charge me $50
q viSit-which, of course, l
refused to pay. Sfter accept
ing a compromise figure, he
had evidently decided that
there was a chance of getting
more. So here he was, suing
me for the balance.
"Sorry I had to do this,
Mark" said Mr.. Brown as I
examined the subpoena, but
business is business. Well. so
long"
He turned toward the door
and I leaped into action.
"Just a minute. my pal" I
cried loudly. Come back and
sit down here. Would you like
to have little drink?"
He Takes a Drink
The process server wheeled
around with the greatest Of
alacrity. He broke all existing
records for returning to a chair.
"Don't mind if I do," he
stated. Don't mind if I do"
I poured him a drink. He
swallowed it in gulp. I
poured him another. That went
just as quickly. I poured him
a third. And then I began to
talk.
Brownie" murmured softly,
"when you first stepped in
here, did you think I didn't
remember you? All, my friend,
how wrong you were! I acted
the way I did because I didn't
want to remember. And do
you want to know why,
Brownie? I'll tell yoG.
'It was because you brought
back memories that were peace
full and sweet; memories that
would hit me so hard that 1
would never be able to finish
my column. Don't you remem-
ber how wonderful everything
was when we were kids in high
school? How we talked about
our ambitions. and how you
were one of the best friends
q fellow ever had?
Remember how we both
worked for the same high
school pa9er? The Stadium.
wasn't it? And that time the
girl from Hunter wanted to-"
Then Tears 1t Up
Mr.. Brown interrupted me.
'I never worked on the
paper" he said, "and I didn't
kunw anv girls from Hunter. .