Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09

| that an error of five degrees in angle isn't
quite SO small il looks. I'm altogether
| alone, y know, and shall be till the end of the
| hot weather"
'Hummils the lucky man" said Lowndes.
| finging himself into long chair. HE has
\ an actual roof-torn "a to the ceiling cloth.
| but still roof-over his head. He sees one
| train daily. He can get beer and soda water
| and ice it when God is good. lie has books
pictures"-they were torn from the Graphic
| land the society of the excellent sub-con-
| tractor Jevins, besides the pleasure of receiv-
| ing us weekly"
Hummil smiled grimiy. Eyes, I'm the lucky
m.n. suppose. Jevins is luckier."
How? Not"
Eyes. Went out. Last Monday"
ZAP sep said Spurstow, quickly. limiting the
suspicion that was in everybody's mind. There
| was no cholera near Hummils section. Even
fever gives man at least weeks grace. and
| sudden death generally implied self-slaughter.
HOW JEvISs WENT OUT"
81 judge no man this weather." said Hummil
HE had a touch of the sun. / fancy. for las {
week, after you fellows had left, he came into
the veranda and told me that he was going
home to his wife in Market street, Liver
pool. that evening.
Il got the apothecury in to look at him. and
we tried to make him lie down. After hour
or two he rubbed his eyes and said he believed
he had had u ft-hoped he hadn't said ANY,
| thing rude. Jevins had a great Idea of better
| ing himself socially. He was very like Chucks
In his language"
''Well?"
"Then he went to his own bungalow and be-
gan cleaning rifle. He told the servant that
he was going after buck in the morning. Nat
| urally he fumbled with the trigger and shot
himself through the head accidentally. The
apothecary sent in report to my chief and
Jeyins is buried somewhere ont there. I'd have
wired to you. Spurstow, IL you could have done
anything"
You're queer chap" said Mottram IF
you'd killed the man yourself YOU couldn't
have been more quiet about the business"
Good Lord, what does it matter?" said
Hummil. calmly. I've got to do lot of his
overseeing work in addition to my own. I'm
the only person that suffers. Jevins is out Of
| it-by pure accident of course, but out of il.
| The apothecary was going to write a long
screed on suicide. Trust babu to drivel when
he gets a chance"
why didn't YOU let it 60 in as suicide2" said
Lowndes.
No direct proof A man hasn't MANY priv
ileges in this country. but he might at least be
allowed TO mishandle his own rifle. Besides,
some day may need man to smother up an
accident to myself. Live and let live. Die and
let die"
You take pill" said Spurstow, who had
been watching HummiPs white face narrowly.
Take a pill and don't be an That sort of
talk ID skIttes. Anyhow. suicide liz Sinking
your work. II 1 was Job ten times over
should be so interested in what was going to
happen next that L stay and watch"
''hh. I've lost that curiosity" said Hummil
oliver out OF order?" said Lowndss feel
ingly.
NO. Can't sleep. That's worse
"By Jove. it is" said Mottram. I'm that
way every now and then, and the fit has to
wear itself out. What do you take for it?''
Nothing. What's the use? L haven't had
ten minutes sleep since Friday morning."
SPECTRAL MELODY.
"Poor chap! Spurstow, you ought to attend
to this" said Mottram. Now you mention it,
your eyes rather gummy and swollen"
Spurstow, still watching Hummil, laughed
lightly. "Tll patch him up later on. Is it too
hot, do yOu think to go for ride?"
Where to-" said Lowndes. YEARLY 1--WE
shall have to go away at and tnere'll be rid
ing enough for us then. 1 hate horse when
have to use him as a necessity. Oh. heavens,
what Is there to do?'
Begin whist again at chick ponts-(a
''chick" is supposed to be eight shillings and
a gold mohur on the rub" said Spurstow
promptly.
Poker. A months paw all round for the
pool-no limit-and so rupee raises Some
body would be broken before get up" said
Lowndes.
Cant say that it would give me any pleas
ure TO break any man in this company" said
MOttram. There isn't enough excitement IN
it, and i:'s foolish" He crossed over to the
worn and battered little camp piano -wreckage
of a married household that had once held the
bungalow-and opened the case.
Its used up long ago, said Hummil 1.-The
servants have picked it to pieces"
The piano was indeed hopelessly out Of
der. but Mottram managed to bring the re-
beIllouS notes into d sort OF agreement and
there rose from the ragged keyboard some
thing that might once have been the ghost of a
popular music hall song. The men in the long
chairs turned with evident interest as Mottram
banged the more Justify.
That's good" said Lowndes. "By Jove! the
last time / heard that song was in 1879 or there
abOuts, just before l came out"
"Ah. said Spurstow, with pride. Il was
home IN 1880" And he mentioned a song Of
the streets popular at that date.
Mottram executed it indlfferently we'll
Lowndes criticised and volunteered emenda-
tons. MOttram dashed into another ditty,
| not OF the music hall character, and made
as if to rise.
sit down." said HummIi. Il didn't know
that you had any music III your composition.
Gro on playing until you can't think OF anything
more. III have that piano tuned up before
yo1 come again. Play something festive
Very simple indeed were the tunes to which
Mottram's art and the limitations OF the piano
could give effect, but the men listened with
pleasure and In the pau5es talked all together
OF what they had seen or hear when they we're
last at home. A dense dust storm sprung up
outside and swep: roaring over the house, en-
'SAOPAuS ~ al lhS CHOhluR OF ullu-
night. but MOttram continued unheeding and
the crazy tlnkle reached the ears of the lis
teners above the Tapping of the tattered cell
Ing cloth.
AND A MURDER OF HYMNS.
In the silence after the storm he glided from
the more directly personal songs of Scotland,
half humming them as he played, into the
evening hymn.
sunday" said he, nodding his head
Go on. Don't apologize for it, said Spur
stow.
Hummil laughed long and rlotously. play
| 1t by al! means. You're full of surprises to-
day. L didn't know you had such gift Of
finished sarcasm. How does that thing go!"
Mottram took up the tune.
Too slow by hali You miss the note Of
| gratitude, said Hummil. 1t ought to 20 to
the 'GrasshOppers' Polka'-ths way" And he
chanted, prestissmo-
Glory TO Thee. my God, this night
For all the Dressings of the light
| That shows we really feel our blessing. How
| does 1t go on!'-
| II in tine night seepless lie,
| My soul with sacred thoughts supply;
| May no III dreams disturb my rest
| Quicker, Mottram!"-
Or powers of darkness rue modest.
"Bah! what an old hypocrite you arer'
| Don't be all ass. said LOwndes. You are
| at full liberty TO make fun of nythiug else YOU
4 like. out leave that hymn alone. It's associated
| in my mind with the most sacred recollec-
| tons"
Summer evenings IN the country, stained
4 .ls.ka ltfrl,F