The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-02-28
BY
Octavus Roy
COHEN

ana as Salve Tor his injured pride,
Mr.; Rogers labored with increasing
yea on his Dawn Dance: He enlisted
n aid Of certain friends and let it
be understood that this was to be the
most social event of the high school
year.
Tickets sold like hot cakes, and Mr..
rogers commenced to forget the many
wounds which had been inflicted upon
MIN by Coot Warning and his friends.
ne vended no tickets on credit and
cial credentials and Of inscribing names
on III yellow bits of pasteboard be-
lore accepting payment. Capital was
made of the fact that the tickets were
not transferable.
Several days before the Dawn Dance,
MI. Rogers found himself in possess
handled before in his life.
He first thought to entrust this huge
sum to his parents. But this idea was
discarded instantly. Mr.. Rogers ST.. was
particularly opposed to the idea of any
boy having much money in his pock-
ets-and Stew Meat knew that if either
they would forcibly deposit his prof
its in the bank.
Now Stew Meat believed that money
was supposed to be spent and he
proceeded to spend it. But before in
dulging various conceits which had
occurred to him in past months-and
unable to afford-he carefully laid aside
a sum of money exactly sufficient to
pay the fixed expenses of his Dawn
Dance. So much for the loot Sweaters,
SO much for the rent of Epic Peters
roadhouse, so much for the hire of his
W dinner suit and automobile for the
gala evening. He placed this money in
a canvas sack borrowed from his moth
ers ice box. Then he turned the an
clent mattress which covered his mod
est couch, made a careful incision
therein n hid the packet of money
inside the mattress.
MIR. Rogers was assuming a new i'm
Stogie Crabb found pale satisfaction in
kidding him about the fake initiation.
After all, he was now a successful man
of affairs-launched upon a n
making career. And the gala day was
close at hand.
Saturday, May IA. A heavy pail of
smoke hung over the city of Birming-
Meat was up before 7 O'Clock. There
was a smile in his eyes and tune-of
sorts-on his lips. At 7:30 he had fin
ished breakfast and wa circulating
through Darktown, checking up details
n making last minute arrangements.
The day was exhausting but pleasant.
Acquaintance of about his own age
regarded Stew Meat with w but un-
mixed with reverence. It was generally
understood that the Dawn Dance was
luckily starred and that much money
would roll into the chronically empty
pockets of Mr.. Rogers.
At S o'clock Mr.. Rogers entered his
ent was on the tiny veranda; CANE bot
toned chair tilted back. feet on the
rail, corncob pipe in mouth. Stew Meat
waved respectfully and vanished in
doors-where he plunged with vast n
thusiasm into the task of identifying
himself for the night.
New linen gayly striped, gray socks.
patent leather shoes; a rented dinner
suit which fitted him elegantly except
IN a few spots: a pleated dinner shirt,
rhinestone studs and cuff links. white
bow tle-and then, to make perfection
more perfect, a new and snowy pair of
spats.
It was $50 before Mr.. Rogers felt
n a he was raimented as impeccably
as behooved the promoter of the Dawn
dance: He made considerable use of
his mirror, practicing authoritative ges-
lures. He welcomed imaginary persons,
smiled greetings to strangers, gave mute
directions.
Then he prepared to depart. He
the covers.
Mr.: Stew Meat stepped back. His
yaunted insouciance vanished: his jaw
dropped; his boyish eyes filled with
horror.
20 whoa is mel" he moaned, and
stared again-with amazement and dis
belief-at a fine new mattress.
A new mattress! The newest mattress
Stew Meat had ever seen! A mattress
which ordinarily would have filled his
sybaritic soul with delight . . but
able.
For a half dozen awful, CHASTITY mo-
ments he stared. This wasn't the old
mattress done over. Not a chance. It
was a new one, fresh from the shop
=. and, most horrible of all, was the
thought that his old mattress had van
ished.
And 50 had the Dawn Dance expense
money!