Evening Star Newspaper, July 12, 1935, Page 20

DAILY SHORT STORY-: GENTLEMEN OF LEISURE | | BAR TAX COLLECTION BY STANLEY CORDELL. J T OCCURRED to Ira Boswell, one cold day last Jan- uary, to wonder what became of the men in Winter who slept in the warm sun in the public park in the Summer. Every July and August he had seen these men stretched out on the green grass with newspapers ‘under them or over them (as the weather demand- * ed), and ina vague sort of way he en- vied them their lazy, comfortable, unworried existence. But what became of these men when the park was swept by Wintry blasts from the Arctic? How did they keep warm? And where did they sleep? And who fed them? More questions than these flooded Ira’s mind and occupied his thoughts for an entire morning. And then an idea flashed into his brain. Why not find out? diversion. Something to do that was different. He could trace one or two of the Gentlemen of Leisure to their lairs. Possibly write an article on his findings. Yes, that was a splendid plan! He could sell the article to a local newspaper, or possibly to a magazine. Excellent! With the money he would buy the new tuxedo he had been needing for over a month. Boiling with enthusiasm, Ira hied himself to his apartment and began preparations. First he meditated further. Where would one be apt to find a Gentleman of Leisure on a cold, Wintry day? Some place where it was warm, of course. Some build- ing where the public was permitted to go and come at will. Moreover, a building where crowds were frequent. Excellent deducting. Excellent. Now, then, where would such a building be located? The downtown distr t? Right. Ira felt that he was getting close. He considered the many downtown public edifices. And at last he set- @ hard face., tled on the Municipal Building. That | to him seemed the most likely to be frequented by the gentlemen which he wished to observe. From the rear of his clothes closet, Ira brought to light an old suit. Not too old, nor too shabby, but never- theless a suit that would not dis- tinguish him, as one of the wealthy, or even the middle class. He had no desire to be conspicuous in his role of observer. Thus dressed for the part, the young man entered the Municipal Building the following morning a few minutes | after the establishment was opened to the public. It was his first visit to the place and he was quite pleas- antly surprised to find himself in a spacious and elaborately decorated marble hall. Directly ahead stairs led to the floors above. To the right and left corridors bisected walls that were flanked with batteries of doors. Also to the right and left, the doors, were wall radiators, and before the right-hand radiator stood | two men. Ira’s heart leaped. Here was early success! Here was evidence that his careful deductions had been accurate! For the two men were obviously of the Gentlemen of Leisure clan. j Neither of the pair was especially bright looking. They wore tattered overcoats and rumpled trousers and shoes with holes. Their battered hats were pulled well down, shading faces that were unaccustomed to the touch of a razor. They stood before the radiator, stolid, serious-looking, star- ing straight ahead, occasionally shift- ing from one foot to the other, less frequently passing a word from mouth corner to mouth corner. Delighted with his find, Ira saunter- ed to a position near the left-hand radiator and prepared to wait. Con- fidently he watched the front door, giv- ing the impression of expecting some one. Occasionally he stole a look at the gentlemen, wondering how long he'd have to wait before some officer “Scram, bum,” said the big man with | hat down over his eyes. between | of the building sent them on their way. Probably not more than 30 minutes. Then they'd go to another building, he imagined, then to another, and ) still another. At A noon he'd find out they did food; at f night he'd discover where they slept. He'd take notes, spend a week mak- j ing his article au- thentic. Across the way the gentlemen were watching him with what Ira thought once were hostile stares. This was & little disturbing. He knew that if they suspected, for a moment, his purpose it would be useless trying to continue with his plan. He pullgd his He lounged. He strove to make his expression blank and phlegmatic. And after awhile the gentlemen across the way seemed | to watch him with less hostility. Ira It would be an interesting | smiled to himself. He felt triumphant. Some one touched his arm. He looked up into the face of a power- fully built individual, who was eyeing him with cold accusation. The big man had a hard face and thin lips. | And as Ira stared at him the thin | lips moved. “Scram, bum,” they said. Ira’s heart skipped a beat. Good Lord! ,The unforeseen, unexpected was happening! The big man was | obviously one of the plain-clothes “dicks” who he had heard were con- stantly on duty in the Municipal Building. And the fellow had ap- | parently mistaken him for a Gentle- | man of Leisure. Actually! Heavens! | His disguise and manner had been too | perfect. He had fooled even the cops! | And now if this cop threw him out | his very purpose in coming there | would be defeated. He smiled, wet his lips. “Excuse me,” he said, trying to appear con- fident. “I was waiting for some one.” He spoke softly because he didn't | want the gentlemen across the way | to have their suspicions aroused. “Yeah?” said the big man. “Who?” | Ira gulped. “Who? Why—er—a friend.” “Ha!” The big man showed his | tecth. “Sounds good. You been here for almost an hour. What time you | supposed to meet your friend?” Ira blinked. The big man had come close to him, was bending over with a very cold and hostile look in | his orbs. Out of the corner of his eye 1ra could see that some of the pas- sersby were slowing down, staring curiously. He had visions of a scene, of being packed off to the station house, of being asked to explain his presence at.the Municipal Building, of hearing the lieutenant on duty laugh heartily, and later seeing the story in the newspapers, accompanied by his picture. He wet his lips again. He looked arcund once, glanced into the big 1 man'’s leering face, turned quickly and headed doorward. Outside a cold blast from the Arctic swept up the street, bearing particles of ice and snow. They smacked against Ira’s hot face and felt good. He became aware of a sense of relief and thanks- giving at his narrow escape. He shiv- ered, and decided suddenly he'd bet- ter go home and change from the old suit of'clothes, for more reasons than one. . . . Behind him in the great marble hall of the Municipai Building the big man shrugged his shoulders, glanc- ed triumphantly across the way to- ward the two stolid Gentlemen of Leisure, pulled down his hat and as- | sumed the post quitted by Ira in front of the radiator. No one, he was thinking, was going to snitch his reg- | ular stand—not and get away with it. | Presently the big man ceased think- ing and stared straight ahead, shift- ing occasionally from one foot to the other and less frequently passing a word from mouth corner to mouth corner with some passing Gentleman of Leisure. (Copyright. 1935.) - Wife Wins Divorce. ROCKVILLE, Md., July 12 (Spe- cial—By the terms of a decree signed by Judge Charles W. Wood- ward in the Circuit Court here, Mrs. Nellie M. Osterhoudt of Silver Spring is granted an absolute divorce from Percy James Osterhoudt of Wash- ington, is awarded custody of the couple’s only child, Joan, aged 5, and 1s allowed alimony at the rate of $25 & month. Charlotte Bans Sunday Sports. CHARLOTTE, N. C,, July 12 (#)— ‘The Charlotte City Council yesterday adopted an ordinance prohibiting com- mercialized sports on Sunday. The ordinance will prevent the Sunday games of the Piedmont League, as well as golfing. Action was taken after long agitation, in which moving pic- ture theaters, bowling alleys and simi- lar entertainment places contended they were being discriminated against. JORDAN’S 13+ « G KELVINATOR ARTHIR FPIANO COMPANY 1239. G Street « Cor. 13 NW. HOME OF THE CHICKERING PIANO It’s New, It’s Different NOT ONE PENNY Pay as Little as 15 CENTS a Day on JORDAN’S Budget Plan JORDAN THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1935. PEANUT COMPANIES Granted Temporary Injunction by Federal Judge in Process- ing Levy Fight. By the Associated Press. NORFOLK, Va., July 12.—Judge Luther B. Way, in Federal District Court here yesterday granted a prelim- nary injunction restraining the col- lector of internal revenue for Vir- ginia from collecting until further orders from the court, the 1-cent-per~ pound processing tax on peanuts. The injunction was granted on motion of the Old Dominion Peanut Co. of Norfolk, and the Franklin | Peanut Co. of Franklin, after & hear- | ing that consumed the entire morning session of the court. The two companies will be required to post bonds, in & sum to be named by Judge Way, pending the final de- cision in the case. ‘The attorneys for the two com- panies took issue with A. A. A. rulings and questioned the legality of the imposition of the tax by the A. A. A, end the right of Congress to invest in a cabinet member—the Secretary of Agriculture, in this instance—the euthority to impose any sort of tax. — Europa Stowaways Sentenced. BREMEN, Germany, July 12 (#)— Casimir Harris, 24, Pelham, N. Y., and Nathaniel Groby, 20, Newton, Mass, were sentenced today to 20 days in jail for stowing away on the S. S. Europa on her last trip from New York. They will be returned to America after their jail term is completed. Gasoline Jelly, Non-Explosive, Designed to Cut Flying Hazard By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, July 12—Increased safety in highway and airway travel was envisaged by engineers today af- ter demonstration of a solid, jelly- like gasoline called “Solene,” which would not explode. The substance was invented by Dr. Adolph Prussin. a research chemist, after 16 years of experimentation. It operated a one-cylinder engine yes- $74.75 Value! 4-Pc. Bedroom Suite Exactly as illustrated, this charming suite con- sists of Dresser, Vanity, Chest of Drawers and full size Bed. Avrtistically finished in walnut. *49 $84.75 Value! 4-Piece Moderne Suite Consists of Dresser, Vanity, chest of Drawers and a full-size Bed in a striking moderne motif. rich two-tone walnut. $99.75 Value! 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