Quill's Window

politely informed him that Alix Crown had retu

ou'd be interested in knowing that she's home. Got back last evening. Her Packard automobile met her at the depot up in the city. You'll kno

ly. He was still smarting under the

ome more squash, Mr.

s ear. "And an

ou, no,"

e?" she demanded. "You ain't hardly

hungry, M

too much, that's what

you'll get a sunstrok

unstruck w

n Mr. Webster. "I'm hungry, even if Court isn't. I can distinctly reme

you shaved off your chin whiskers, Charlie," s

at's changed," said Ma

u used to be, lem

owering me with attention. Now look at me. You put something like fifty pounds on me, and then you des

you looked when you fi

rady l

used to say I was the handsomest young feller she'd ever laid eyes on. U

said you looked like

ste

old Mrs. Nichols, holding her hand to

mud fence," shouted old Mr. Nic

What about

rtney joined

. It was a warm, starry night. Charlie Webster and Doc Simpson had stro

foot high," confided Mr. Pollock, with a significa

im, but she nabbed him before he could get out. Now he's got to sit in there and listen to her tell about how

of the Tavern. Miss Crown sprang lightly out of t

Good evening, Mr. Editor," was her cheery gr

le and takes the Dowd girls out ridin

he porch-rail and carefully brushing the cigar ashes off of his coa

oke in Mrs. Pollock. "I think a Packard is a won

ey abruptly; and snatching up his hat from the f

r he had been struck by its unexpected combination of English and American qualities; the sharp querulousness of the English and the melodious drawl of the American were strangely blended, and although there had been castigation in her words and manner, he took away with him the disturbing memory of a voice he was never to forget. And now he had seen the smile that even the most envious of her kind described as "heavenly." It was broad and wholesome an

rt riding costume had brought her trim figure into direct contrast with his own height and breadth, and she had looked like a slim, half-grown boy beside hi

r, filled with people. She was driving, the chauffeur sitting in the seat beside her.

ollock espied him. Waving his hand

o, Co

l turned her head for a glance in his direction. She did not, and he experienced a fresh twinge of annoyanc

k to get a good look at her, but wait till she flashes across you in broad daylight some

of fairness. Down in his heart he had said that Alix Crown was the l

amiably. He was not offe

e movies," he explained.

re. What put that

f the elevator fanned himse

by a girl from Indiana. Oh, I know what you New Yorkers think of Indiana,-and all that therein is, as the Scriptures would say. You think that nothing but boobs and corn-fed squaws come from Indiana, but if you hang around long enough you'll find you're mistaken. This state is full of girls like Alix Crown,-bright, smart, good-looking girls that have been a hell of a ways farther east than New York. Of course, there are boobs like me and Doc Simpson and Tintype Hatch who get up to Chicago once every three or four years

about anything," i

talking just the same. You were talking about Alix Crown and th

r,-are you trying

TELLING you, that's all. On the

stiffly. "Why should I expect her to ask m

llock introduce

the other

ant to present my friend from New York, Mr. Courtney Thane, the distinguished aviator, Miss Crown

aid drily. "Miss Crown was in a hurry. And I left before s

ing would keep me awake all night. Remember me saying I had a small stock hid away up i

rders. Besides, I've got some letters to write.

f a glass of whiskey." They were strolling slowly toward the Tavern. "Now you up and claim you're on the water wagon. I'd been counting on you, Court,-I certainly had. The last time I took Hatch and Doc Simpson up to my room,-that was on the Fourth of last July,-I had to sleep on the floor. Course, if I was skinny like Doc and Hatch that wouldn't have been necessary. But I can't bear sleepin' three in a bed. Doctor's o

a remarkably well-preserved old lady,-

e. Wonderful

s always had her

ent. He had to think. This was a ver

y?" he inquired,

n a steady drinker,

a gentlema

ng virtues of booze? Oh, Lordy! There's another of my best arguments knocked galley-west. It's no use. I've been playing old man Nichols for nearly fifteen years as a bright and shining light, and he turns out to be nothing but a busted flush. She's had eleven children and he's never h

is churlishness toward th

little drink, that's all,-in spite of the doctor. He's a long way off, and I daresay he'll ne

le in the centre of the room, and pulled down the window shades. Then, putting his fingers to his lips to enjoin silence, he tip-toed

suppose it was necessary tonight, because Angie Miller has got Hatch where he can't possibly escape. Long as she knows where he is, she don't do much snooping. She used to be the same way with me,-and Doc, too, for t

he room, and after lifting out two tra

e, holding the bottle up to the light. "Dollar

all you h

ched his ear

mpson and Hatch found out about it, they begin to complain about their teeth achin' too. Seemed

ist. Why don't you hav

and. "Tastes better when you drink it out of a regular glass," he explained. "Always seems sort of cowardly to me to take it with water,-almost as if you were trying to drown it so's it won't be able to bite

ught to rob you li

im this room was dry. Excuse me a second, Court. I always propose a toast before I take a drink up here. Here's to Miss Alix Crown, the finest g

face when I drink it

rtn

long before she was sent abroad,-and she's the salt of the earth. That's one thing on which Doc and Hatch and me

igious gulp, smacked his lips, and th

e drained the last drop of the fiery

eh?" observed Charl

a nod of the head, sp

has choked on a swallow of water. "Anyhow," he went on quaintly, afte

cously. "Now I know why the reds

anot

the New Yorker. "Put it back

well-known hoosier atmosphere,-and some real moonshine. Hello! There go Hatch and Angie, out for a stroll

een running the grai

to see something of Cuba, but the darned Spaniards surrendered when they heard I was on the way, so I never g

the grave at the top

st people in these parts are honourable. We wouldn't any more think of trespassin' up there than we'd think of pickin' somebody

it was the old Windom

r old David Windom confessed that he killed Alix's father and buried him on the rock, people begin to talk about seeing things again. Funny that Eddie Crown's ghost neglected to come back till after he'd been dead eighteen years or so. Ghosts ain't usually so considerate. Nobody ever claims to have seen him floating around the old Windom front yard before Mr. Windom confessed. But, by gosh, the story hadn't been printed in the newspapers for more than two days before George Heffner saw Eddie in

nakes?" said Cou

t their ghosts should come back, same as anybody else's. Far as I can make out, nobody has

n for half an hour or more, and fin

ulance in New York, took up nursing, and all that, and if the war hadn't been ended b

young and rich and beautifu

he war's over maybe she'll settle down and pay some attention to sufferin' humanity. There's one thi

that house up there? I mea

wn living, so she got a job as school teacher down here. Let's see, that was over thirty years ago. Been here ever since. Tom Strong wasn't good enough for her. Too religious. He was the feller that led the mob that wiped out Tony Zimmerman's saloon soon after I came here. I'll never forget that night. I happene

" said Courtney, looki

ying the money to her, when she claims her grandpa gave it to him and it's none of her business. Davy says he promised to pay Mr. Windom back as soon as he was able, and can't see any reason why the old man's death should cancel the obligation. Jim was telling me some time ago about the letter Alix showed him from Davy. She was so mad she actually cried. He said in so many words he didn't choose to be beholden to her, and that he was in the habit of paying his debts, and she needn't be so high and mighty about refusin' to accept the money. He said he didn't accept anything from Mr. Windom as charity,-claiming it was a loan

in France, Charlie," said Courtney, arising and stretching himself. "Well, goo

ms," said Ch

ouble in distinguishing Alix's clear, young voice, and thereupon added the following words of comfort to his faraway mother: "You will love her voice, mater dear. It's like music. So put away your prejudice and wish me luck. I've made a good start. The

I

ck house of Alix the Third. His leg was troubling him. He walked with qui

ight," he announced to Charlie Webster as they

to the knee," was Charlie's laconic rejo

eautiful "front yard" in the whole county, according to the proud and boastful denizens of Windomville. Along the bottom of the lawn ran a neatly trimmed privet hedge. There were lilac bushes in the lower corn

arding the passer-by who limped. Halfway between the house and the road stood two fine old oaks, one at either side of the lawn. Their cool, alluring shadows were like clouds upon an emerald sea. Down near the hedge a whirling garden spray cast its benevolent waters over the grateful turf, an

btle difference in its every aspect. The spray, the shadows, the lazy windmill, the flowers,-he had seen them all before, just as they were this morning. They had not changed. But now, by some strange wizardry

Thane alone was aware of this amazing transformation. It was he who felt the thrill that charged the air, who breathed in the sense-quickening spice, who heard the pipes o

Literary Society on the coming Friday night. Mrs. Maude Baggs Pollock had been at hi

life," he said, "and I know I'

being scared! Anybody who did th

armed to the teeth," he

ly danger you'll be in, Court, will come from a lot of hysterical women trying to k

Webster," snapped Mrs. Pollock. "Mr. Thane and I we

kissed by practically half the grown-up population of Windomvil

mville. "Alix Crown said last night she was coming to the meeting this

s a rule, we fellows who were over there don't feel half as well qualified to t

me of your own personal experiences. Nobody's going t

you'll promise to chloroform Charlie Webster," said he, and Ch