Evening star., 1948-09-17
This and That
By Charles Z. TracetDell

Templeton Jones' latest dream Is 4 wonder
It was based, evidently, on four things: The
visit of stray gray cat to his home, recent
meeting of his club the Russian situation, and
a chance talk with friend.
What Freud and his successors would do with
1t is q puzzle, for 1t seems so matter Of fact,
though shot through with the usual Jonesian
imagination and love of odd characters and
scenes.
Jones says that he dreamed there was some
sort Of big meeting downtown, to which only
the elite were invited. He of course, was one
of the invited. A great many Of these fine
people were gathered at Chevy Chase Circle,
waiting for bus to take them directly down.
town.
No one waiting there was destined to arrive
at the meeting, as 1t turned out, but none Of
them knew it then, and they were all chatting
and laughing as people do in such situations.
Finally the bus came.
And what vehicle it was! A big silvery
beauty, block long, with overstuffed furniture,
table lamps, and so on. The driver was dressed
in a wonderful uniform. A few people spoke
to him, but he said nothing in reply. Every
one thought him bit surly, but thought moth
ing of 1t.
The bus roared off down Connecticut avenue
with everybody aboard Except the driver In
high spirits.
Templeton Jones noticed q beautiful lady in
the seat just behind the driver She had by her
side fine big gray cat.
Jones likes cats, but soon forgot about this
one in contemplating the splendor Of the bus
No one ever saw such bus
After the vehicle passed the two bridges, and
turned down by California street, it suddenly
stopped. The driver reversed, and then ran
the bus backward along the same route he had
just covered.
1t did not seem strange that the bus ran
into no one on its backward course north. It
must have been going at least 40 miles an hour
1t turned toward the west, after it had crossed
the bridge, and went into a strange part of
town.
1t was residential section, with big houses,
but no one seemed to be around
Where are you going?" Jones asked the
driver, but that worthy refused to reply. He
brought the bus to a stop in front Of a great
brick building, all lit up. The passengers, amid
babble of excitement and talk, got out, and
went upstairs
There the room remarkably resembled the
bus they had just left Jones looked out the
window behind the driver who sat facing
another window.
Only one passenger knew where they were.
It was q very new development, he said, with
none of the homes yet occupied. Jones noticed
a telephone behind the driver.
Just then he saw his friend, Bill sweetley,
a former Navy man. Jones was glad to see him.
That firm jaw meant help.
This guy won't talk" scowled Sweetley.
Maybe he can't talk" whispered Jones'
Can't talk?'
Maybe he is Russian"
Jones took Sweetley aside and said: There
is nothing to do but slug this fellow, and find
out who he is
I'll do the slugging,' said Sweetley.
NO" said Jones, firmly. "You divert his
attention"
While Sweetley tried to talk to the strange
driver Templeton Jones struck him down.
They rolled him over and found papers in
Russian on him. There was a card. with the
name "Stanislaus Kalavinsh"
The man had aimed to kidnap them al. and
take them heaven knows where.
Jones called q taxicab company, and asked
for a feet of cabs and quickly. They came
The guests were loaded in, and the caravan
started Oh. while the bus driver lay bound and
gagged.
Just as they left, four sleek black cars roared
down the block. Everybody DOWN." roared
Jones. When the cabs came out Of the block,
they scattered to the four points of the city.
Jones jumped out at home, ran in, and turned
out all the lights in the house. Just then a
sleek black car roared down the block, turned
and roared back again.
Jones woke up. He still doesn't know wheth-
er he was being warned Of World War III, or
Just not to eat ice cream for supper.