The best short stories of 1918, and the yearbook of the American short story
General
The best short stories of 1918, and the yearbook of the American short story
American fiction -- 20th century; Short stories -- 20th century -- Bibliography; Short stories -- 20th century -- Indexes; Short stories, American
As he spoke the president looked John over. Once or twice when Jasper
and the president had been out at lunch Jasper had spoken of the
remarkable resemblance between himself and his twin brother. But the
president told himself that he didn’t really see much resemblance. The
features of the two were alike, but John’s expression of chronic
spiritual indigestion, his unfriendly manner, and his hair—unkempt and
lifeless brown, where Jasper’s was sleekly black above a shiny bald
spot—made the president dislike John as much as he liked Jasper.
And now John was replying: “No, I do not smoke. I can’t understand how a
man can soil this temple with drugs. I suppose I ought to be glad to
hear you praise poor Jasper, but I am more concerned with his lack of
respect for the things of the spirit. He sometimes comes to see me, at
Rosebank, and I argue with him, but somehow I can’t make him see his
errors. And his flippant ways—!”
“We don’t think he’s flippant. We think he’s a pretty steady worker.”
“But his play-acting! And reading love stories! Well, I try to keep in
mind the injunction ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged.’ But I am pained
to find my own brother giving up immortal promises for mortal
amusements. Well, I’ll go and call on him. I trust that some day we
shall see you at Soul Hope Hall, in Rosebank. Good day, sir.”
Turning back to his work the president grumbled: “I’m going to tell
Jasper that the best compliment I can hand him is that he is not like
his brother.”
And on the following day, another Wednesday, when Jasper reappeared at
the bank, the president did make this jesting comparison; and Jasper
sighed: “Oh, John is really a good fellow, but he’s always gone in for
metaphysics and Oriental mysticism and Lord knows what all, till he’s
kind of lost in the fog. But he’s a lot better than I am. When I murder
my landlady—or say, when I rob the bank, chief—you go get John; and I
bet you the best lunch in town that he’ll do his best to bring me to
justice. That’s how blame square he is!”
“Square, yes—corners just sticking out! Well, when you do rob us,
Jasper, I’ll look up John. But do try to keep from robbing us as long as
you can. I’d hate to have to associate with a religious detective in a
boiled shirt!”
Both men laughed, and Jasper went back to his cage. His head continued
to hurt, he admitted. The president advised him to lay off for a week.
He didn’t want to, he said. With the new munition industries due to the
war in Europe, there was much increase in factory pay rolls, and Jasper
took charge of them.
“Better take a week off than get ill,” argued the president late that
afternoon.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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