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Show - - "Look at that Peck turned Dowden. giggling triumphantly. "Vha d I tell you t llow do you (eel about It now?" , . ; ; "Cut where are the cabsT asked Dowden, gravely. "Polks all come," answered Mr. Peek, with complete a;uiunee, "Won't be no more cubs till they begin be-gin to go home." We plunged ahead aa far as the coiner of Peasley's feme, where Peck Mopped us again., and we diew together, to-gether, slapping our hands and stamping stamp-ing our feet. Peck was delighted thoroughly happy man; his sour giggle of exultation had become continuous, and the name Jovlul break was audible audi-ble In Orist's voice as he said to the Journal reporter and me: "Uo ahead, boys. Ult your story. We'll wait here fer you." The Journal reporter started toward to-ward the gate; he had gone, perhaps twenty feet when Simeon I'eck whistled whist-led In sharp warning. The reporter stopped short In his tracks. Beusle.v'8 front door was thrown open, and there stood Hensley himself 'n evening dress, bowing ami smiling, but not at us. for be did not Kee us. The bright hull behind him, was betu-tlful betu-tlful with evergreen streamers and wreaths, and great flowering plants In Int'S. A strntn nf (lttiwu.miutii u.iii.luiufl that her expression was a little J lately; a certain melancholy. f, but detectable, like breath on a J. Enn ,t.,,m,,a,,rib,,,ed It to Jean Val-Jenn Val-Jenn hough perhaps tonight It .night ha e been due merely to bridge. Wlmt Is Itr asked Dowden. when, oner an apology .for disturbing the came, I had drawn him out In the I motioned toward the front door. Simeon I'eck. Ue thinks he's goi something n Mr. Peasley. lie's waiting wait-ing to see you." Dowden uttered a sharp, half-coherent exclamation and stepped quick-y quick-y to the door. "I'eck !" he said, as-he Jerked It open. "Oh. I'm here!" declared that gentleman, gen-tleman, stepping Into view. "I've ome around to let you know that .vou couldn't laugh like a horse at me no more. George Dowden! So you weren't Invited, either." "Invited?" said Dowden. "Invited where?" "Over to the ball your friend Is glvhiV "What friend r "Dave Heusley. So you ain't quite good enough to dunce with his high-society high-society friends!" "What are you talking about?" I Beasley's I Christmas 1 Party I BOOTH TARKINGTON ft fit '! VI Continued. Prom the Despatch, hay?" Mr. Peck gave me greeting, as he wound knit comforter about his neck. That' good. We'd most give you up. This here's Mr. Grist, and Mr. Henry P. Cullop. and Mr. Ous Schulmeyer three men that feel the same way about Dave Bcasley that I do. That other young feller." he waved a mit-tenetl mit-tenetl hand to the fourth man "he's from the Journal. Likely you're uo 1' , qiinlnted." ' The young man rom the Journal wns unknown to tne; moreover, I was far from overjoyed at his presence In the group. "I've got you newspaper men here." continued Mr. I'eck, "because I'm goin' to show you soiuep'n' about Dave Hensley that'll open a good many folk's eyes when It's In print." "Well, what Is It?" I asked, rather sharply. "Jest hold your horses a little bit," he returned. "Grist and me knows, and so do Mr. Cullop and Mr. Schulmeyer. Schul-meyer. And I'm goin' to take them and you two reporters to look at It. All ready 7 Then come on." lie threw open the door, stooped to the gust that took him by the throat, and led the way out into the storm. "What Is he up to?" I gasped to the Journal man as we followed In a straggling line. "I don't know any more than you da" he returned. "He thinks he's got something that'll queer I'.easley. Peck's an old fool, but It's Just pos- out to us us the door opened, but there was nobody except David I'.easley In sight, which certainly seemed peculiar -for a ball ! ' "Itest of 'em Inside, riancln'," explained ex-plained Mr. I'eck. croueh'ng behind the picket-fence. "It'll be the house Is n.ore'n, half full o' low-necked wlnv lulu !" "Shi" said Grist. "Listen to Dave Ileasley." lleusley had begun to speak, and his voice, loud nml clear, sounded over the wind. "Come right In. Colonel ! he said. "I'd have sent a cab for you If you hadn't telephoned me this afternoon that your rheimintlsm was so had you didn't expect to be able to come. I'm glad you're well I'gnln. Yes. they're all here, and the Indies are getting up a dance lu the sitting-room." (It wus at this moment that I received re-ceived upon the calf of the rl-ht leg a kick, the ecstatic violence of which I'uwuen oemam.ea, liupatlently. "1 reckon you won't he quite so strong fer Kensley." responded lvk. with a vindictive little giggle, "when you find he can use you In his business, but when It comes to entertainln' oh no. you ain't quite the boy!" "I'd appreciate your explaining." said Dowden. "It's kind of cold standing here." iVck laughed shrilly. "Then I reckon you better git your hat anil coat and come along. Can't do us no hnrm, and might be an eye-opening fer you. flrist and Ous Schulmeyer and Hunk Cullop's wnltln' out yonder at the gate. We be'n bavin' kind of a consultation at my house over soniep'n' Crist seen at P.easley's a little earlier In the evening. "What did Crist see?" "Cabs! Cabs drlvln' up to P.easley's P.eas-ley's house a whole lot of 'em. Crist was down the street a piece, and It was pretty dark, but be could see the lumps nml hear the flours slam as the people got out. P.esides, the whle place Is lit ui) from cellar to attic. Crist come on to my house and told me about It, and I begun usln' the telephone; called up all the men that count in the party found most of 'em at home, Ho. 1 ust 'em If they was Invited to this bull tonight; and led me to attribute It, and rightly, to Mr. Dowden.) "Ceutlen.en's dressing-room upstairs up-stairs to the right. Colonel." called ttcasley. as he closed the door. There was a paus.e of awed silence among us. (1 Improved It by returning the kick to Mr. Dowden. He made no acknowledgment of its reception other than to s'nk his ch'n a little deeper Into i he collar of his ulster.) "Hy the Almighty!" said Simeon Peck, hoarsely. "Who what was Dave Peasley talkln to? There wasn't nobody there!" "Cit out." Crist bade him; but hit tone was perturbed. "lie seen that reporter. He wus glvln' us the laurh." "He's crazy P exclaimed Peck, vehemently. ve-hemently. Immediately all four members of his party began to talk at rhe satne time: Sir. Schulmeyer agreeing with Cr'st. and Mr. Cullop holding with Peck 'that Peasley had surely become Insane; In-sane; while the Journal man, returning, re-turning, wus certain that he had nut been seen. Argument became wrangle; excitement over the remarkable remark-able scene we bnd witnessed, ami, perhaps, a certain sharpness partially engendered by the risk of freezing, led to some bitterness. High words were flung upon the wind. Eventually, Simeon Peck got the floor to himself for a moment. "See here, boys, there's no use glttln' mad amongs' ourselves." be vociferated. "One thing we're all agreed on : nobody here never seen no such a dnm peculiar performance as we Jest t-een In their whole lives before. be-fore. Tburfoie. ball or no hall, there's somep'n' mighty w rong about this business. Ain't that so?" They said It was. "Well. then, there's only one thing to do let's And out what It Is." "Vou bet we will." "I wouldn't send no one In there alone." Peck went on. excitedly, "with a crazy man. Pes'des I want to see what's goin' on, myself." "And so do we!" This declaration wit unanimous. "Then let's see If there ain't some way to do It. Perhaps he ain't pulled -II .l. ..I. ...!,. .1. ...... j... tin. iittiul fllili Bible he's got hold of something. Nearly Near-ly everybody has one thing, at least. , that they don't want found out. It I may be a good story. Iird, what u I night !" I I pushed ahead to the leader's side, j "See here. Mr. Peck" I began. bu . he cm me oT. I "You I'sten to me, young man! I'm flvln' you some news for your pner, ' ond I'm glttln' at It my own way. bur I'll git at It. don't you worry! I'm goln' to let some folks around here know what kind of u feller Dave Beasley really Is; yes, and' I'm goto' to show George Dowden he can't laugh at me!" "You're going to show Mr. Dowden?" I mid. "You mean you're going to , take him Hloiig with us on this expo-i expo-i dltlon. too?" "Take hlni!" Mr. Peck emitted un serld bark of laughter. "I guess he'e st Iteasley's. all right." "No he Isn't; he's nt home at Mrs. Ajerthwnite'B playing cards." "What!" "1 happen to know that he'll be there all evening." Mr. Peck smote his pnlms together. "Orlst!" he railed, over his shoulder, and his colleague struggled forward. "Listen to this: even Dowden ain't at Bensley's. Ain't the lird worklif fer VS Mlilght?" i "Why don't yoti take Dowden with yon," I urged, "If there's anything you wiinf to show him?" "P,y Ce.ir.!re. I will!" shouted Peck. "I've got It t its where the hair's short now " "That's right." sa' I Grist. " "Cent leinen" Peck turned to the ethers "when we git to Mrs. Apperth-wulte's. Apperth-wulte's. Jest stop outside along the fence a minute. I reckcu we'll pick op a recruit." Shivering, we took tip our way ngnln In single file, stumbling through drifts that had deepened Incredibly Within the hour. The wind wa KtralL'ht against us, i.nd so stlnglngly fdiarp and so laden with the driving srnw tii!t when we reached Mrs. Ap-p. Ap-p. perllnvalte's gate (which we ap- III! llir Bliuurn in. nil im i w..... the house. Lots o' people fergit tu do that." There was but one mind In the party regarding this proposal. The next minute saw us all cautiously sneaking' sneak-ing' into the side yard, a ragged line of bent and flapping fl.'Kies. black ogalnsr the snow. Simeon Peck's expectations were fulfill! ful-fill! d more than fulfilled. Not only were all the shades of the big-three-faced bay-window of the "sitting room" lifted, but (evidently on uccoiint nf the too great generosity of a huge log-fire log-fire that blazed lu the old-fashioned chimney-place) ono of tie windows was half-raised as well. Here. In the shadow Just he.'ord the rosy oblong of light that fell upon the snow, we gathered and looked fro ly within. (TO PR rONTINl EO i "Centlemen" Peck Turned to the Oth-rs "When Wt Cit to Mrs. Ap-perthwaite's Ap-perthwaite's Just Stop Outside Along the Fence a Minute." not a one of 'em was. They're only in politics; they ain't high society enough to be ast 10 Mr. Ileasley's (hincln'-piirtles! I'm: I would 'a' thought he'd let you In anyways fer the second table!" lr. Peck shrilled out his acrid and exultant laugh sgaln. "I got these fellers from the newspapers, and all I want Is to git this here ball In print tomorrow, and see what the boys thut do the work nt the primaries have to say about It and what their wlves'll say about the man that's too high toned to have 'em In his house. I'll bet Peasley thought he was goin' to keep these (loin's quiet ; afraid the farmers might not believe he's Jest the plain man be sets up to he afraid that folks like you that ain't Invited might turn against him. I'll fool bim! We're iyln' to see what there Is to see. and I'm goin' to have these boys from the newspapers write a full uccount of It. If you want to come along, I xpect It'll do you o power o' good." Til go." said Dowitcu quickly. lie got his cout and hat from a table In the hall, and we rejoined the huddled and shivering group at the gate. Cot my recruit, gents!" shrilled iVU, slapping Dowden boisterously on the shoulders. "I reckon he'll git a chniige of licMit tonight!" And n.nv. shell ering my eyes from the stinging wind. I miw what I h.id . I, m.. i-l'inl Id see lis we uj'l'i o.icIumI r Appci-'h'i!l'e's. !'. usUVs bouse .s iiiumlmned: e'-cr.v window, up s' n Irs kimI down. wn nr.lou' "lib i'"V Tint wii" MmilJt'Hl ly evnli-Jit. i i ? 1 1 : . . i ..-! the s!:U'k or mo.-,l of them, lie lowered. proaciied from the north, riot passing Ileasley's) my eyes were so full of umart'iig tears I could see only blurred planes of light dancing vnene-ly vnene-ly In rhe darkness, Instead of brightly lighted windows. "Now." said Petit, panting and tnni'h!.' his back to the wind; "the rest of yini gentlemen wait out here. Ton iwo new8puer men. you come with me." lie ortened the gates and went In. the .Journal reporter afd I following follow-ing all three of us wiping our half-Minded half-Minded eyes. When we reached the shelter of the front porch. I took the ke from my pocket and opened the door. "I live here," I explained to Mr. reck. "All right." he said. ".Test step " " In and tll George Dowden that Sim Peek's out here and wants to see him It the door n minute. Pe quick." I went Into the library, and there lilt Dowden contemplatively playing lirldge with two of the elderly Indies mid Miss Appeithwalte. The hist-mentioned hist-mentioned person quite tools my breath away. i In honor of the I'hrlstrnns eve (I S'ltpoefii she von; ill) ewiilne dress of blnel; luce, and the only v. old for Whnl she looked lies suffered sueb misuse thut one hesitates ner It: yet that Is vtint she w us--ro;l --niol i"' lef-s ' "fiieie ia a sort i-f spli ndor i |