Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-07-10
"1t was great" agreed Mr.. Apps

SOuuOller SHOOK QdQuS Will ueF anu
took up her card with something of an
air of proprietorship."
81 thought had left the key in the
excuse me-" The young hostess took
back her card from the gondolier. Il
am engaged to Captain Norman. You
don't know him? Allow me-"
PLEASED to meet you," said Henry
Apps.
"'Ow's the world using your
That's an original costume of yours.
Captain Norman" remarked the gon-
dolier. II don't know that I've ever
seen anything SO darlingly neat be-
fore.''
"Well, wot Of it?" demanded Mr..
Apps, with sudden aggressiveness;
"wots the odds to you wot like to
wear? You needn't think you're -"
Captain Norman" interposed the
young hostess, laughingly," you mustn't
overdo your part. Look here, I've put
your name down for this waltz, but If
you like Well sit it out-that is, if you
promise to keep up that diverting East
End talk. like it. Do you think you
can manage to do so?"
"Ratherr' said Mr.. Apps.
"And it is a capital makeup, Captain
Norman" she went on. "Do you know
that at first, just for one moment,
thought you were a real burglar"
Fancy that nowv' said Mr.. Apps.
He was relieved at seeing an obvious
way out Of his difficulty. "There's moth
ing like doing the thing in proper,
striteforward wy"
and" said Lady Staplehurst, with
her fan on his arm as they walked
across the room, you have got the
East End accent capitally."
"'Tain't SO dusty, is itY'
She beckoned to the gondolier.
Captain Norman and 1 are great
friends" she said in an explanatory
way. He has not been long home from
abroad. and he knows scarcely any
one"
Not a blessed SOUL" echoed Mr..
Apps.
Isn't 1t capital?'' asked Lady Staple
hurst of the gondolier, delightedly.
How much more interesting it would
be If every one would make only talk
to me in their character"
"Well, blow mew said Lady Staple
hurst, screwing her pretty mouth in her
effort to initiate the cockney's accent;
"blow me if this amt a fair takeII
mean like dah," she laughed. Its no
use, Captain Norman, can't talk as
you can"
"It's gift" said Mr.. Apps, that's
what it is"
You don't want to be introduced to
anybody here, 1 supposeT
Not me-"
you have heard Of"
She pointed In the direction of the
gondolier.
"All l want to-"
Hes really making a big name in
the house, you know. 1 watch his
career with great interest"
Thinks a jolly lot of himself,
''Oh. think lot of him, too," re-
marked Lady Staplehurst, pleasantly.
"And is that Jimmy sticking out of
your jacket pocket? This is, indeed,
realism. You don't know how it works,
1 suppose"
"Well, I've got kind of hidea," said
Mr. Apps. "Look ERE. You put this
end in and"
Mr.. Apps found himself getting quite
excited in the explanation that he gave.
1t was a new sensation to meet one
who showed an intelligent interest in
his profession, and he could not help
feeling f1attered. Looking up, he saw
the gondolier gazing at him.
He don't look 'appy, that chap" said
Mr.. Apps.
"Will you excuse me for one mo-
mentY
"Wot are you going up to-" he said,
apprehensively.
81 want to speak to him."
"Ohv' with relief Il don't mind
that"
While Lady Staplehurst was making
the gondolier resume his ordinary ex-
preston Mr.. Apps thought and thought.
The couple promenading after the
waltz looked curiously at him.
You are in the worst fix you were
ever in, Emery" said Mr.. Apps;
you're 'aving 'em ON toast, you are;
but you'll be glad to get upstairs agen.
You want them diamonds, that's wot
you want. Time means money to you,
Emery"
Lady Staplehurst hurried toward the
doorway. A murmur of amusement
went through the room as the guests
saw a new arrival in the costume of a
police constable. accompanied by a man
in plain clothes. Mr.. Apps, thinking
| over his exploits, gazing abstractedly
at his boots, regretting their want of
polish, did not see them until the plain
clothes man tapped him on the shoul-
der.
What, Apps again!' exclaimed the
| man.
''Yus," said the burglar, discontented-
ly. ''Yus, it is Apps agine, Mr.. Walker.
And vurry glad you are to see him,
I've no daht."
always pleasure to meet gentle
man like you," said Mr.. Walker, cheer
fully, as he conducted him to the door
way. 1--WE wanted to run up against
you before"
Much, commotion in the ballroom at
the diEerting little scene. General
agreement that Lady Staplehurst was
a perfect genius at entertaining.
But, loveliest," said the gondolier
confidently to aLdy Staplehurst, isn't