The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-02-10

hundred affairs, he had never yet com
mitted himself, and he lived in lodgings off
the Richmond road
To those lodgings one evening did
Thomas Tankerville repair, intent on car
rying out his beloved little scheme.
''Hilloa, old chappie, said Mr.. Alb
bot, in his pleasant, bantering way. ''To
what does yours trooly owe the honor of
this nocturnal visit?''
Thomas Tankerville took seat. Then
he gave vent to tremendous sigh.
''The fact is Sid," he said, solemnly,
s'I' m in hole
"What is it, Tommie r demanded Mr..
Abbot. Are yer short on yer cash, or
is it gurl2'
'Two gurls, replied Thomas Tanker
vile, signing again.
"Whatg whislled Mr.. Abbot 1.-TWO
at once, Tommie p
Jesse, Sid, replied Thomas Tanker
Vile
ooh, see. A double -barreled vir-
tuous attachment, so ter speak. You We
got engiged to em both-is that the diff
Guilty p
''That's abaht the size of it, Sid, an
swered Thomas Tankerville 'Listen to
me, now. Yer've heard a cove speak of
Ermyntrood Siggers p
"Arsk another, Tommie. Twasn' t
long agow yer could speak of no one else. y
''Jesso. That was when it was kise
between u.s. But now there's another
gurl on the tappy, and Ermyntrood Sig
gers is orr.
"Who's the other girl p
''Mibel Merridoo She's disy, can
tell yer. We love each other treat, and
we warn't to cit married. But Ermyn-
trood's kerridge stops the wy"
"Ah r. remarked Mr. Abbot, with a
sagacious nod.
''The question is, continued Thomas
Tankerville. ''The question is, he re-
peated, impressively, cog to get Ermyn-
trood's kerridge to move on
''And it question that takes a bit of
arnserin', shouldn't wonder" observed
Mr.. Abbot.
at do, indeed, Sid That's why I've
come to you. If you carn't find the arm
ser to the question, no man in London
can"
''Oh, come, Tommie. You overrite
my knowledge of the gurls-you do, in
deed, disclaimed Mr.. Abbott, simpering
and stroking his brilliantined whiskers.
'Tv trifed with 'em, on and off of
course, pore passay lie tom; but | don set
up to know anythink abaht EN- except as
plythings, upon my soul l down't."
''But that $ exackly where the answer
comes in replied Thomas Tankerville,
with an emphatic gesture. | want yer to
mike plything of Ermyntrood SiggersP'
tOhp' smirked Mr. Abbott, with a
knowing look. 'That's your gime, is
it 2'
'sThat's my gime Yer see, pursued
the Auditory. Thomas, "there's no oneelse
know has such wy with the gurls as
yer have, Sid, or understand better how to
lead EN- on ter think yer loves EN-, when
orl the while yer only trihin'. Now, if
yer'd just trife with Errnyntrood Sig
gers, added Tommie, persuasively, ''and
lead her on SO far as d give me sound
excuse for briking with her"
''Stay, Tommie,' interposed Mr.. Alb
bot, fattered but cautious, ''down't yer
see yer askin' cove to buy pig in
poke? I've never set optics on this Err
myntrood. '0w am ] to know she s the
sort of gurl | could bring myself to daily
with2''
'sOhl She's all right, Thomas assured
him.
''That may be. But what warnt to
knaow is this: Hes she looks and hes she
tongY' demanded Mr.. Abbot, with lord
ly twirl of his moustache. ssFor much as
I'd do to serve you, Tommie, never
could demean myself to triae with gurl
that was ugly or hadn't tong
''Her tong's o. K, and so are her
looks, said Thomas Tankerville 'sHer
figger yn't to be sneezed at neither, as
yer'l see when / introduce yer.
s'Not so fast, Tommie, replied the
prudent Mr. Abbot. ~ must have
squint at er before T m introduced, so as
can settle whether it s good enough
s'Very we'll Yer shall. tell yer
what. I've got to trot Ermyntrood out
tomorrow evening" ii prinS her along
parst here abaht nine o'clock. Yer look
out for us, on this side the Wy, and man
age to meet us. Then, while you and |
are exchingeing remarks, yer can tike
good look at the lidy.
80 be it, Tommie. Yer'll not think
me fussy, old man. But chap like me
hes to be careful abaht mikin' himself
cheap said Mr.. Abbot
Next evening the encounter was duly
effected, and Mr.. Abbott managed to take
pretty complete stock of Miss Siggers.
Tommie was, of course, unable to learn
his opinion of her at the time, but on the
following day, at dinner time, he looked
in at the hair dressers.