The Nome nugget., 1934-09-15

He doesn't intend to be rude or contrary.
 It is just an expression which. for some unexplainable and forgotten reason, he has adopted and injected into his casual conversation. Gus says, T don't believe It," In quite the same tone and manner as other folks exclaim, "Is that soT'' or "Oh, reallyi" or Do tell"
 But despite the fact that all the above statements are true, Gus ''I don't believe 1t" Is source of an- noyance and exasperation to Lacey Rogers, who is Gus cousin and with whom he frequently associates in . social way.
 Lacey is a great story teller.
 He brides himself on being a good spinner of yarns.
 He loves to talk.
 And to make things pleasant and inducive to his storytelling incllna- tions, folks like to hear Lacey tell stofieA
 Whenever the Rogerses attend . party, Lacey Is always called upon to tell story.
 He expounds at great length.
 He h a much travelled young man and has many interesting tales to tell concerning his own experiences.
 He recites these tales in . mod est sort of way. thereby dispelling any possibility of boring his lis teners.
 Gus Williams is as interested a listener to Lacey's stories as the next man.
 And because of the fact that Gus and his wife and Lacey and his wife are very close friends, 1t naturally follows that the two couples are in attendance at many and the same parties, hence most of Lacey's stories have been heard by Gus and his wife on more than one occa- sion.
 In spite of this, however, Gus and Bertha always sit and listen at- tentively while. Lacey unfolds what to them Is a twice-told tale.
 In fact, Gus makes 1t a point to display his appreciation and inter- est by tnterrupting the story-teller at intervals with, II don't believe 1t"
 When that happens Lacey Is apt to pause, try hard not to glare or curse, walt until the ripple of laugh ter dies down, and pick up the thread of his tale at the point of interruption. But always after Gus 'I don't believe 1t" has severed the continu- ity of Lacey's theme, his tone some how lacks In enthusiasm and inter- est.
 The denouement is inclined to be fiat.
 Of course, Gus Is all unsuspect. ing of the annoyance he is causing Lacey.
 No one has ever suggested that he Is being rude.
 His whole purpose is to be con- genial and helpful.
 Hence 1t has never once occurred to him to substitute, my, my" or "dear me-" for his. T don't believe it."
 Recently Lacey reached a point where he found himself fighting a desire to leap at Gus and plant well-directed blow across his mouth, to tear his hair~and scream curses that would give full expression to the annoyance he felt.
 But Lacey is c well-mannered man and travels in correct society, hence convention and pr0priety forbid such an outburst.
 However, convention and pr6pri- ety cannot prevent Lacey from thinking, from gritting his teeth and muttering foul oaths when in the seclusion of his own bed cham Der.
 He has, also, taken to breeding about the matter.
 Of course, he realizes that the thing has become an obsession with him; that he has allowed 1t to magnify Itself and assume large proportions.
 The fact that he alone Is dis turbed by Gus "I don't believe 1t f is the one factor that restraints him from giving full leash to his feelings in the form of physical assault upon Cousin Gus.
 For Gus by no means confines his ~I don't believe it" to Lacey.
 He encourages every one with the same remark, and nobody but Lacey Is bothered by it.
 But the thing is settled now once and for all
 Last week an old friend of Lacey's. Miguel de Gomez, an ad- venturous young Mexican, with whom Lacey has shared some efcit- Ing times during recent sojOurn below the border, terminated a mo .a =