T H E M A N W H 0 S H 0 T S N A P P I N G T U RT L E S 259 forces 0fEvil, I don't see how we poor humans 0 weakness can expect t0 d0 any better with a few acres 0f Hecate County, where we're at the mercy ofall the rest ofcreaåon. '' "lt 側 g ん t0 be possible," said Stryker.. "And I say it damn wel い″ be pos- sible!" "As I see it," said Clarence Latouche—again, and again unsuccessfully, offering Stryker a drink—"you're faced with a double problem. On the one h 明 4 you've got to get rid of the snappers; and, on the 0ther hand, you've got t0 keep the ducks. SO far you haven't been able t0 d0 either. Whatever measures you ね k ら you lose the ducks and you can't kill the snappers. NOW it seems t0 me, if you'll pardon my saymg so, that you've over- looked the real solution—the only and, ifyou don't mind my say- lng so, the obvious way t0 deal with the matter." 、 'l've been over the whole ground," said Stryker, growing more tense and turning slightly hostile under pressure 0f his pent-up passion, "and I doubt whether there's any method that I haven't considered with the utmost c e. ” "lt seems to me; ” said Clarence Latouche ⅲ his gentle Louisiana voice, ・新 at, going about the thing you have been, you've arrived at a ⅵれ ua 川を and that you ought to approach the problem om a totally different 明 g 厄 . lfyou d0 that, you'll find it 就 ectly simple"—Stryker seemed about protest fiercely, but Clarence continued ⅲ a vein ofmellow alco- holic explaming: "The oub 厄 is, I see it, that 叩 t0 now you've been going on the assumption that you ought tO preserve the birds at the expense ofgetting rid ofthe turtles. Why not go on 山 0 opposite assumptlon: that you ought work at cultivating 山 0 sn 叩 ? Sh00t the ducks when they come 0 聞 4 and eat them—that is, when the law permits it,"—Mr. Stryker raised a clenched fist and started up in articulate anger,—"or ifyou don't want d0 that, shoo them 0 正 Then feed 叩 the snappers onraw meat. Snappers are right good eating, t00. We make soup out 0f 'em down ⅲ my part ofthe counfry. ' Mr. stryker stood speechiess for such a long moment that CIarence was afraid, he said afterwards, that his neighborwould Ⅱ down in a fit; and he got 叩 and patted him on the shoulder and exerted all his tact and charm. "AII I can say," said Stryker, as he was gorng out the door, "is that ー can't understand your

228 K AT H E R I N E A N N E P 0 RT E R and the dark inexplicable death of love—all that she had had, and all that she had missed, were lost together, and were twice lost in this 1 lide ofremembered losses. The janitress was following her upstairs with the purse ln her hand and the same deep red fire flickering ⅲ her eyes. The janitress thrust the purse towards her while they were still a half dozen steps apart, and said: "Don't never tell on me. I musta been crazy. I get crazy ⅲ the head sometimes, I swear I do. My son can tell you. ' She tOOk the purse after a moment, and the janitress went on.• got a mece 、 MhO iS gomg on seventeen, and She'S a nice girl and I thought l'd give it to her. She needs a pretty purse. I musta been crazy; I thought maybe you wouldn't mind, you leave things around and don't seem to notlce much. ' She said: 当 missed this because it was 4 present to me om someone . Thejanitress said: "He'd get you another ifyou lost th1S one. My niece is young and needs pretty things, we oughta give the young ones a chance. She's got young men after her maybe will want t0 marry her. She ought have nice thmgs. She needs them bad right now. You're a grown woman, you've had your chance, you ought t0 know how it is!" She held the purse out to the janitress saymg: "You don't know what you're talking about. Here, take it, l've changed my mind. I really don't want it. " The janitress looked up at her with hatred and said:"l don't want it either now. My 、 niece is young and pretty, she don't need fixin' up to be pretty, she's young and pretty anyhow! I guess you need it worse than she does!" "lt wasn't really yours ⅲ the first place," she said, turning away. "You mustn't talk as ifl had stolen it 仕 om you. " "lt's not 丘 om me, it's 仕 om her you're stealing it," said the 」 anitress, and went back downstairs. She laid the purse on the table and sat down with the cup of chilled coffee, and thought: I was right not t0 be afraid of any thiefbut myself, who will end by leaving me nothing.

T H E M A N W H 0 S H 0 T S N A P P I N G T U RT L E S 265 study. With his highly developed awareness, he had known at once What 、 coming. This study, wh1Ch Clarence had never seen, as he went rarely t0 Stryker's house, was a disorderly and darkish place. lt was charactenstic 0f Stryker that his desk should seem lit- tered and neglected, as ifhe were not really ⅲ touch with his af- fairs; and there was dust on the b00ks ⅲ his bookcase, drably bound and unappetrzmg volumes on zoölogical and chemical subjects. Though it was daytime, the yellow-brown shades were pulled three-quarters down. On the desk and on t0P ofthe bookcase stood a number of handsome stuffed ducks that Stryker had wished t0 preserve. Stryker sat down at the desk and offered Clarence a ciga- rette. lnstead Of protesting at once that Clarence's demands 、 vere lmpossible, as he had done on previous occasions, he lis- tened with amiable patience. "l'm gomg t0 go int0 the wh01e problem and put things on a different basis as soon as business slackens up ⅲ the spring. SO l'd rather you'dwait ⅱⅡ then, ifyou don't mind. We had a hard time filling the orders even before this strike began, and now I can hardly get the work done at all. They beat up two ofmy men yesterday, and they're threatening t0 make a raid on the ね ct0 . l've had t0 have the whole place guarded. " (The breeding ponds and the factory, which were sit- uated half a mile away, had been enclosed by a wire fence. ) Clarence had forgotten the strike, and he realized that he んイ perhaps come at a rather mopportune time. 当 can't attend tO a reorgamzation," Stryker went on tO explain—'fivhich is what we've got t0 have at this point—till 0 町 labor troubles are set- tled and things have slowed up a bit. There ought t0 be more this business for both 0f ” he concluded, with a business- man's smile, "and I won't forget your co-operatlve attitude when we make a new arrangement ⅲ the spnng ・ The tension was thus relaxed, and Stryker went on tO ad- dress Clarence with something like friendly concern. "Why don't you have yourself a vacation?" he suggested. "l've no- ticed you werelooking run-down. Why don't you go South for the winter? GO to Florida or someplace like that. lt must be tough for a Southerner like you t0 spend this nasty part 0f the

210 E D I T H W H A RT 0 N thing can't wait. I hate tO ask you, but no one else ⅲ the offce knows the ins and outs ofit. ” Waythorn stood silent. He did not care a farthing for the success ofVarick's venture, but the honor Of the omce was tO be considered, and he could hardly refuse to oblige his partner. "Very well," he said, "l'll do it. " That afternoon, 叩 prised by telephone, Varick called at the omce. Waythorn, waiting in his private room, wondered what the others thought 0f it. The newsp 叩 ers, at the time of Mrs. Waythorn's marnage, had acquainted their readers with every detail Of her previous matrimonial ventures, and 、 Maythorn could fancy the clerks smiling behind Varick's back as he was ushered ⅲ . Varick bore himself admirably. He was easy without being undignified, and Waythorn was conscious 0f cutting a much less lmpressive figure. Varick had no expenence 0f business, and the ね lk prolonged itselffor nearly an hour while Waythorn set 応 r 市 with scrupulous precision the details of the proposed transaction. "l'm awfully obliged to you," Vanck said as he rose. "The fact is l'm not used t0 having much money tO look after, and I don't want t0 make an ass 0f myself—" He smiled, and Waythorn could not help noticing that there was somethlng pleasant about his smile. "lt feels uncommonly queer t0 have enough cash t0 pay one's bills. l'd have sold my soul for it a few years ago! ” Waythorn winced at the allusion. He had heard it rumored that a lack of funds had been one of the determrmng causes of the Varick separation, but it did not occur to him that Varick's words were intentional. lt seemed more likely that the desire tO keep clear of embarrassing topics had ねⅡ y drawn him into one. Waythorn did not wish tO be outdone ⅲ civility. "We'll do the best we can for you," he said. "I think this is a good thing you're ⅲ . ' 、。 Oh , l'm sure it's rmmense. lt's awfully good of you— Varick broke 0 embarrassed. "I suppose the thing's settled now—but if—

T H E G A R D E N PA RT Y An awkward little silence Ⅱ . Mrs. Sheridan fidgeted with her cup. Really, it was very tactless Of father. Suddenly she looked up. There on the table were all those sandwiches, cakes, puffs, all uneaten, all going t0 be wasted. She had one ofher brilliant ideas. 当 know," she said. 、、 Let's make up a basket. Let's send that poor creature some 0f this perfectly good 応 0d. At any rate, it will be the greatest treat for the children. Don't you agree? And she's sure t0 have neighbours calling in and so on. What a point t0 have it all ready prepared. Laura!" She jumped up. 。℃ et me the big basket out 0fthe stairs cupboard. " "But, mother, d0 you really think it's a good idea?" said Laura. Again, how cunous, she seemed t0 be different 仕 om them all. To take scr 叩 s om their party. WouId the poor woman re- ally like that? 、。 Of course! What's the matter with you to-day? An hour or tWO ago you were insisting on us being sympathetic, and Oh, well! Laura ran for the basket. lt was 創 1e4 it was heaped by her mother. "Take it yourself, darling," said she. "Run down just as you are. NO, wait, take the arum lilies t00. People 0f that class are SO impressed by arum lilies. " "The stems will ruin her lace frock," said practical Jose. So they would. Just ⅲ time. "Only the basket, then. And, Laura!"——her mother followed her out ofthe marquee—"don't on any account— "What, mother?" NO, better not put such ideas into the child's head! 。。 NO 市 - ing! Run along. lt was 」 ust growing dusky as Laura shut their garden gates. A big dog ran by like a shadow. The road gleamed white, and down below ⅲ the hollow the little cottages were ⅲ deep shade. HOW quiet it seemed after the afternoon. Here she was gomg down the hill t0 somewhere where a man 1 dead' and she couldn 't realize it. Why couldn 't she? She stopped a minute. And it seemed tO her that kisses, VOIces, tinkling

T H E G A R D E N PA RT Y you. lt's much t00 young for me. I have never seen you 100k such a picture. L00k at yourselfl" And she held up her hand- mlrror. "But, mother," Laura began again. She couldn't 100k at her- self; she turned aside. This time Mrs. Sheridan lost patience 」 ust as Jose had done. "You are being very absurd, Laura," she said coldly. "People like that ・ don't expect sacrifices 仕 om us. And it's not very sym- pathetic t0 spoil everybody's enJ0yment as you're doing now.' "I don't understand," said Laura, and she walked quickly out ofthe room into her own bedroom. There, quite by chance, the first thing she saw was this charming girl ⅲ the mirror, ⅲ her black hat trimmed with gold daisies, and a long black velvet ribbon. Never had she imagined she could 100k like that. ls mother right? she thought. And now she hoped her mother was right. Am I being extravagant? Perhaps it was extravagant. Just for a moment she had another glimpse ofthat poor woman and those little children, and the body being carried into the house. But it all seemed blurred, unreal, like a picture ⅲ the newspa- per. I'II remember it agaln after the party's over, she decided. And somehow that seemed quite the best plan. Lunch was over by half-past one. By half-past 0 they were all ready for the . The green-coated band had arrived and was established ⅲ a corner Ofthe tennis-court. "My dear!" trilled Kitty Maitland, "aren't they t00 like frogs for words? You ought have arranged them round the pond with the conductor ⅲ the middle on a leaf.' Laurie arrived and hailed them on his way t0 dress. At the sight ofhim Laura remembered the accident again. She wanted to tell him. IfLaune agreed with the others, then it was bound to all right. And she followed him into the hall. "Laurie' ” "HaIIo!" He was half-way upstairs, but when he turned round and saw Laura he suddenly puffed out his cheeks and goggled his eyes at her. "MY word, Laura! You d0 18k stun- ning; ” said Laurie. "What 明 absolutely topping hat! ” Laura said faintly "ls it?" and smiled 叩 at Laune' and didn't tell him after all.

T H E G A R D E N PA RT Y Sadie went. 7 'NOW, Laura," said her mother quickly. 。℃ ome with me int0 the smoking-room. l've got the names somewhere on the back 0f an envelope. You'll have t0 write them out for me. Meg, go upstairs this minute and take that wet thing 0 仕 YO 町 head. Jose, run and finish dressing this instant. DO you hear me, children, or shall I have to tell your father when he comes home to- night? And—and, Jose, pacify cook if you d0 go into the kitchen, will you? l'm terrified ofher this morning. The envelope was found at last behind the dining-room clock, though how it had got there M . Sheridan could not lmagme. "One ofyou children must have stolen it out ofmy bag, be- cause I remember vividl—cream cheese and lemon-curd. Have youdone that?" "Yes. ” "Egg and—" Mrs. Sheridan held the envelope away 仕 om her. "lt 100kS like mice. lt can't be mice, can it? ” 。つ 1 ⅳ e , pet," said Laura, lookmg over her shoulder. "Yes, Of course, Olive. What a horrible combination it sounds. Egg and 01ive. They were finished at last, and Laura t00k them 0 価 tO the kitchen. She found Jose there pacifying the cook, wh0 did not ok at all temfying. have never seen such exquisite sandwiches," said Jose'S rapturous voice. "HOW many kmds did you say there were' cook? Fifteen? ” ・ "Fifteen, Miss Jose. "WeII, cook, I congratulate you. ' Cook swept up crusts with the long sandwich i 危 , and smiled broadly. 、℃ odber's has come,' announced Sadie, issurng out 0f the pantry.. She had seen the man pass the window. That meant the cream puffs had come. G0dber's were ね - mous for their cream puffs. N0b0dy ever thought 0f makrng them at home. "Bring them in and put 市 em on the ね b 厄 , my girl," ordered COOk.

A G I R L F R 0 M R E D L 10 N , P. A . 463 manding omcer gave it tO him. He steamed out—ran 0 Ⅱ it— and went down. SO he had spoken the truth. He did not ow where he was. But it proves nothmg. N0thing either way. lt may have been the only truth in all his story. And yet... He seems to have been driven out by a menacmg stare—nothmg more. " He abandoned all pretence. "Yes, I gave that course tO him. lt seemed tO me a supreme test. I believe—no, I don't believe. I don't know. At the time I was certain. They all went down; and I don't ow whether I have done stern retribution—or murder; whether I have added t0 the corpses that litter the bed ofthe unreadable sea the bod- ies 0fmen completely innocent or basely guilty. I don't know. I shall never know.' He rose. The woman on the couch got up and threw her arms round his neck. Her eyes put two gleams ⅲ the deep shadow of the room. She knew his passion for truth, his horror of deceit, his humanity. "Oh, my poor, poor "I shall never o " he repeated sternly, disengaged him- BY H. L. MENCKEN A GIRL FROM RED LION, P.A. self, pressed her hands to his lips, and went out. om 励 e ル , 施′ and Ⅳに津平 02 催 D s a Scotsman ofa generally unfriendly and retrnng character, but flourished ⅲ Baltimore ⅲ the days ofthis history. Peebles was at the hands of 明 old-time hack-driver named Peebles, who I first became aware of it, れ ot through the pages ofWilde, but nomenon 0ften observed by persons who keep their eyes open. speaks Of the tendency Of nature tO imitate art—a phe- OME 、 MHERE IN his lush, magenta prose Oscar Wilde

T H E F T 225 "lt's a brrthday present," she told him, "and I like it. How's your ShOW commg?" "Oh, still hanging 0 Ⅱ , I guess. I don't go near the place. N0thing sold yet. I mean t0 keep right on the way l'm going and they can take it or leave it. l'm through with the argument. " "lt's absolutely a matter ofholding out, isn't it?" "H01ding out's the tough part.' "G00d night, Roger. " "G00d night, you should take aspirin and push yourselfinto a tub 0fh0t water, you look as though you're catching cold. ' "I will. ” With the purse under her arm she went upstairs, and on the firstlanding Bill heard her step and poked his head out with his hair tumbled and his eyes red, and he said: "For Christ's sake, come ⅲ and have a drink with me. l've had some bad news. ” "You're perfectly soppmg," said Bill, looking at her drenched feet. They had two drinks, while Bill told how the director had thrown h1S pl out after the cast had been picked over twice, and had gone through three rehearsals. "I said t0 him, 'I didn't say it was a masterpiece, I said it would make a good show. ' And he said, 'lt just doesn't アア , d0 you see? lt needs a doctor. ' SO l'm stuck, absolutely stuck," said Bill, on the edge ofweepmg again. "l've been crying," he t01d her, 。。ⅲ my cups. " And he went on t0 ask her if she realized his wife was ruming him with her extravagance. "I send her ten dollars every week ofmy unhappy li , and I don't really have t0. She threatens tojail me ifl don't, but she can't d0 it. G04 let her try it after the way she treated me! She's no right t0 alimony and she knows it. She keeps on saying she's got t0 have it for the baby and I keep on sending it because I can't bear t0 see any- body suffer,. SO l'm way behind on the piano and the victrola, both— "Well, this is a pretty rug, anyhow," she said. BiII stared at it and blew his nose. "I got it at Ricci's for ninety-five dollars," he said. "Ricci t0 me it once belonged t0 Marie Dressler, and cost fifteen hundred dollars, but there's a burnt place on it, under the divan. Can you beat that?" 、、 No , " she said. She was thinkmg about her empty purse and

T H AT E V E N I N G S U N 425 for us, we could see her apron swelling out; that was before Father told Jesus to stay away from the house. Jesus was ⅲ the kitchen, sitting behmd 市 0 stove, with his razor scar on his black face like a piece 0f dirty stnng. He said it was a water- melon that Nancy had under her dress. "lt never come 0 仕 0fyo 町 vine, though; ” Nancy said. "Offofwhat vine?" Caddy said. "I can cut down the vine it did come 0 0 Jesus said. "What makes you want to talk like that before these chillen?" Nancy said."Whyn't you go on to work?You done et. You want Mr. Jason to catch you hanging around his kitchen, talking that way before these chillen?" "Talkmg what way?" Caddy said. "What vine? ” "I can't hang around white man's kitchen," Jesus said. "But 、 vhite man can hang around mine.White man can come my house, but I can't stop him. When white man want tO come ln my house, I ain't got Ⅱ 0 house. I can't stop him, but he can't kick me outen it. He can't dO that. ' Dilsey was still sick in her cabin. Father told Jesus to stay 0 our place. DiIsey was still sick. lt was a long time. We were ⅲ the library after supper. "lsn't Nancy through in the kitchen yet?" Mother said. "lt seems t0 me thatshe has had p 厄Ⅱ oftime t0 have finished the dishes. ” "Let Quentin go and see," Father said."Go and see ifNancy is through, Quentin. Ⅱ her she can go on home. " I went to the kitchen. Nancy was through. The dishes were put away and the fire was out. Nancy was sitting ⅲ a chair, close to the co stove. She looked at me. "M0ther wants to know ifyou are through," I said. "Yes," Nancy said. She looked at me. "I done finished. " She looked at me. "What is it? ” I said. "What is it? ” 、、 I ain't nothrng but a mgger," Nancy said. "lt ain't none ofit my ⅲ t. " She looked at me, sittmg ⅲ the chair before the cold stove, the sarlor hat on her head. I went back to the library. lt was the co stove and all, when you think ofa kitchen being warm and