Evening star., 1937-03-21
Magazine Section

recognize either his insprational genius or his
finished craftsmanship now that they stood
between her and seat among the chosen.
During all of these outbreaks Mr.. Waters
said little; in fact he said nothing. But though
silent, he was firm. The Rock of Gibraltar
stood it's ground no less firmly. Between them
relations became tense, then strained, then
reached the point of open rupture, followed
by Mrs. Waters ultimatum: Either you
stop cutting up paper into those Internal doo-
hickeys or get out
Complete and utter silence was Mr.. Waters
reply He did not in the least wish his wife to
leave him, because he cared deeply for her.
But, on the other hand, he had no intention
of relnquishing his art. Nor could he any
longer tolerate the sabotage to which he was
daily subjected.
His first thought was for the safeguarding
of his remaining treasures. Quietly and
methodically he went over in his own mind
each place that he could think of as least
likely to be ravaged.
Finally, the ideal place occurred to him.
What could be safer than safe deposit box?
On his infrequent visits to his bank he had
always been awesomely impressed with the
mighty steel doors, the ponderous lock and the
massive walls of concrete. Surely behind
these impregnable gates, guarded by armed
and valiant men, his treasured art works
would be secure. Secure not only from the
devastating hands of his wife but from burg
lars, fire and flood.
Mr.. Waters wasted no further time in con-
<1o< Eo 40
post box was the proper thing he immedi-
ately donned his hat and coat, found his um
brella and set out for the bank.
1t may be said now that Mr.. Waters was
somewhat diffident. Therefore, it was with
some trepidation that he faced that gentleman
whose life work it was to enable people to
safeguard their treasures. However, the urban
ity of the officials, the courtesy of the attend
ants and the difference of the gray-coated,
Sam Drowned Cerberus at the vault entrance
not only dispeled his trepidation but gave
him instead feeling of importance and worth
he had never known before. He arrived back
home in a spirit of unwonted Cheerfulness en-
gendered by the knowledge that the children
of his brain and the progeny of his scissors
we're safe to posterity.
The following morning the urge to see his
works and gloat over their safety was too
strong to resist. Accordingly he went directly
to the bank from the newsstand.
He presented his key to the attendant, his
box was opened, and to his amazement he
was shown into small, we'll lighted room
furnished with table and chairs. The attend
ant snapped on desk light and departed,
ostentatiously closing the door. MIR. Waters
was all alone. This feeling of absolute privacy
and solitude delighted him. 1t was the first
time in his ffty-four years he had ever known
it. As he spread his works out on the glass
topped table before him he had an inspiration.
Why not avail himself of this heaven-sent
solitude and create more masterpieces?
As may have been noted, Mr.. Waters was
man of action No sooner had the thought
come than it was put into execution. Out
came the ever-ready scissors The paper was
at hand, fresh from the newsstand. Then,
totally oblivious to the busy, raging world
outside, Mr.. Waters gave himself up to the
pure unalloyed joys of creation.
Time ceased to exist until hunger called
him back to this hurndrum, mundane world.
Then, carefully gathering up his clippings, he
put them in his pocket, for even the lulling
security of the vault did not overcome Mrs
Waters innate Carefulness The new creation
was folded carefully and stored in the box. The