Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-20
THE MAN
ON THE BOX
Xxx.
By
HAROLD MAC GRATH


The Episode of the Stove Pipe.
Tn the morning Monsieur Pierre faithfully
reported to his mistress the groom extra
ordinary insolence and impudence OF the
night before. The girl struggled with ana
conquered her desire to laugh; for monsieur
was somewhat grotesque in his rage.
.Frightful, mademoiselle, most frighttui!
He call me Petaire most disrrrespectlui
way and eject me from zee Stables Can
not call heem out; he ees groom anu
knows nozzing uf zee amende hohorapie-
Mademoiselle summoned Msieu Zhames'
She desired to make the comedy compie'e
in all its phases
James, whenever you are calleo upon ~
act in the capacity of butler, you must Clear
the table after the guests leave II. Ihls 10
imperative. 1 do not wish the scullery glrl
to handle porcelain save III the LAWS.
you understand"
Yes, miss. There were no ORDERS 10 tlla'
effect last night, however" He was angry.
Monsieur Pierre pulled up ike the iau'
frog in Aesop's fables.
And listen, Pierre" she said, collapsing
the bubble of the chefs conceit, you must
give no orders to James. l Will 90 tna.'
do not wish any tale-bearing or quaI .I;r
Observe me carefully, Pierre. and sou'
James" ,,ro.
James did observe her carefully, SO care
fully, indeed. that her gaze was forced 70
wander to the Illuminated counlehanee VI
Monsieur Pierre.
"James. YOU must not look at me like
that. There is something in your eyes; 1
can't explain what it Is. but 1t somenow S
lacks the respect due me-" This command
was spoken coldly and sharply.
"Respect?" He drew back step. Il dis
respectful to you, Miss Annesley? on, you
wrong me. There cannot be anyone more
ha
cerity of his tones could not be denied. In
fact, he was almost too sincere
Nevertheless, wish you to regard what
l have said. Now. you two shake hands.
The groom and the chef shook hands l
am ashamed to say that James squeezed
Monsieur Pierre's fabby hand out of active
service for several hours that followed.
Beads Of agony sparkled on Monsieur
Pierres expansive brow as ne turneo ~
enter the kitchen.
"Shall we ride today, miss?' he askeo'
inwardly amused .
NO, shall not ride this morning.
calmly.
What did he care? Did he not possess a
rose which had known the pressure or her
lips, her warm, red lips?
'You may co. she said
James went James whistled on the way,
Would that it had been my good fortune
TO have witnessed the episode of that al
ternoon. My jehu, when he hears 1t related
these days, smiles a sickly grin. l do not
believe that he ever laughed heartily over
it. At 3 o'clock, while Warburton was
reading the morning paper, interested es-
pecially in the army news of the day, ne
heard Pierre's voice wailing.
whats the fat fool want noW! James
grumbled to William.
"Oh. he's always yelling for help. They've
coddled him so long in the family that he
acts like a ten-year-old kid. / stole kiss
and / will be shot
if he didn't start to blubber."
you stole a kiss, eh?" said James, ad-
miringly.
crazy. that was all" But Williams red
visaee belied his Indifferent tone. YOU'D
better go and see what he wants. My
hands are all harness grease"
Warburton concluded to follow William s
advice. He flung down his paper and
strobe out to the rear porch, where ne saw
Pierre gesticulating wildly.
whats the matter? What do you
Want?'-churliShly.
"Frightful Re stove pipe ees vat you
call bust!'
James laughed.
II can not rrreach eet. can not cook
till EFT ees fix: You are tall, eh?'-afably
"All right; I'll help you fix it,"
Grumbling, James went into the kitchen
mounted chair, and began banging away
at the pipe, very much after the fashion
Burners ''Culpepper Ferguson The pipe
One end slipped in and then the other slipped
out, half a dozen times. James lost pa
thence and became angry; and in his anger
he oyerreached himself. The chair slid
hack He tried to balance himself, and, in
the mad effort to maintain his perpendic-
ular position, made a frantic clutch at the
pipe Ruin and devastation! Down came
the pipe, and with it peck of greasy SCOT.
Monsieur Pierre yelled with terror and
despair. The pies on the rear end Of the
stove were lost forever. Mademoiselle Ce-
leste screamed with laughter whether at
the sight of the pies or M Sieur Thames, is
more than I can say.
James rose to his feet, the cuss words of
a corporal rumbled behind his lips. He sent
an energetic kick toward Pierre, who sue
ceeded in eluding it.
Pierre's eyes were full of tears. What
kitchen! What a Kitchen! SCOT, SCOT,
everywhere, on the floor on the tables, on
the walls. in the air!
Zee pipe!'' he burst forth; zee pipe!
You hat zee house full of gas!'
James, blinking and sneezing, boiling with
rage and chagrin, remounted the chair and
finally succeeded in joining the two lengths.
Nothing happened this time. But the door
to the forward rooms opened. and Miss An
nesley looked in upon the scene.
"Merciful heavens!" she gasped, what
has happenedT'
zee stove-pipe bust, mees." explained
Pierre.
The girl gave Warburton one look, balled
her handkerchief against her mouth and
fed This didn't add to his amiability. He
left the kitchen in downright savage
mood. He had appeared before her posi-
lively ridiculous, laughable. A woman
never can love a mar nor entertain tender
regard for him at whom she has laughed.
an. .vsrf 1,od Ia ,1O5,ad. dOUbflAaz WAS