Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-07
CHAPTER VII.
The Matter Of q Cocktail.

The Matter OF Cocktail.
Sir Eustace Holland had no other OBJ
| ject in taking his motor car to Elgin than
| to drink a cocktail. 1t was a very special
cocktail however, to be compounded from
| a prescription which he had found. after
! a few minutes search on a forgotten leaf
| in his pocket book. He gave the barmaid
| a the hotel some trouble before he got 1t
exactly to his liking.
| He tasted the first brew, and shook his
head.
This won't do" he said. I'VE must try
| again. Sure you put everything in?'
| ''Limejuice, sugar a Glove. Angostura
| bitters. vermouth. gin. peach bitters: stick
| to the order, and swizZle briskly between
| EACH the barmaid read from the paper
| which he handed to her. Yes that's ex-
actly what l did.
so you did; l watched you Well. there's
something wrong. What's your vermouth-
| Italian or French?
French"
Then I expect that's II. 1t ought to be
Italian. Got any?'
No. sir: but / can send for some. If you
will wait
YES do"
the barmaid was interested and sympa-
thetic. handsome stranger who drove
up in a motor car and treated the COM
pounding of a cocktail as a serious thing,
was unusual: and anything that was I'M
usual was welcome as break In the mo
notony of 'split-sodas and special
Societies. Moreover. the handsome strang-
err was more than usually handsome, even
II he was faddy about his drinks. She en-
couraged the fad, therefore. sent out Tor
the Italian vermouth. and talked affaply
until it arrived. 1t was a little disappoint,
ing to find that the young man insisted
on combining the conversation to details or
the whisky trade of the district-where
the whisky came from, who sold 1t, VINO
i J,fIn hfnx
was popular, and dull things of that sort
but even statistics about such a low thing
as whisky can be given with charming
smile, and a seductive flash OF eyes ana
teeth and jingle of gold bangles against
the bottles and glasses on the counter
These statistics were so given.
The barmaid talked Of whisky on her
customers choice. and fiirted bravery on
her own 1t was, as has been remarked.
her slack time, and. as has also been re-
marked, the customer drove motor car
and was handsome.
Presently the bottle of Italian vermouth
arrived. and the cocktail was compeunded
afresh. The barmaid waited with Halter
ing sympathy for the verdict
us 1t all right this time sir?
Yes" said Eustace with satisfaction.
.it,s all right this time. 1 know my man
now.
The barmaid looked puzzled
I'm glad of that, since it seems to please
you to know him. she said with laugh
rs he friend of miner -,
Il hope not" said Eustace. smiling I
doubt whether he is respectable
'tOh, then of course l don know MN,
she answered, with a dainty toss OF her
head.
A sudden thought struck Sir Eustace;
do you know the gauger at the Hoi'ahu
Abbey distilery?'' he asked.
MIR. Black. you mean? Yes, ne comes
here sometimes Why do you ask?
"Oh," said Eustace, Il merely wondered
whether he was respectable since you say
~, Of a
ties my doubts, If 1 had them, doesn't II!
Well, next time he comes here. l want you
to make this cocktail for him. Tell him
that Sir Eustace Holland paid for 1t, ana
left message that he hoped Mr.. Black
would enjoy it"
Are you Sir Eustace Holland?'' the girl
asked quickly.
Her handsome customer frowned. He
had said more than he meant to say, ana
the girl would probably talk.
"Oh, I'm nobody" he said lightly, no.
body Of any Importance, l mean But
want you to say to Mr.. Black that Sir Eus-
tace Holland paid for the cocktail. You
understand? It's a joke, you know. that's
all. Don't mention the name to any one
else except Mr.. Black; but when you men
ton it to him. notice how he looks. VIII
you do that for me?''
Yes"
you are sure you quite underestimate he
insisted. The cocktail and the message
to Mr.. Black, and not word to anyone
else? The joke won't come off If any one
else hears you mention Sir Eustaces name.
and you'll lose the half dozen pairs of
gloves which I going to bet that you
make mistake and spoil the fun. See?'
Yes" said the girl. Il see! You may
be Sir Eustace Holland or you maynt. but
I'm not to say so-except to Mr. Black
Except, Of course, to Mr.. Black. III
call In a day or two to hear your report"
with the gloves?" said the girl, flash
ing another smile at him.
"Of course with the gloves. If you have
I don't think will.
you know.
you bet will. I've only got to keep my
mouth shout about a name"
Exactly" said Eustace. But that's
hard thing for a woman to do, I'm told,
What size. by the way?
six and a half. And suede, please
'1ll remember
He got into his car and started back to
the abbey. On the whole he was pleased
with his afternoons work. The cocktail
had settled the Identity of the man Black,
and the barmaid's prattle about the whisky
trade of Elgin had suggested possible
reason for Blacks presence at the distil-
lery. The theory was not very plausible
one; but on the assumption that Wiseman
was scoundrel, and that Black was an
other-reasonable assumptions, surely-and
that the two scoundrels were working to-
gether. the theory was just possible. Any
way, it was worth following up, and he de-
cded that he would follow 1t up at once.
He WAS at first rather annoyed with him
self for having let names slip out in his talk
with the girl and therefore he had done his
best to cover the slip by making 1t worth
her while to hold her tongue. But pres
emily he reflected that If he stayed at Hol-
land Abbey, the news that Sir Eustace Hol-
land. the bad penny of the family, had
turned up again, would soon become public
property in any case. So perhaps the girls
talk would do no great harm, after all.
But don't think she will talk" he said
to himself. And even day or two will be
of value. Cousin Harvey will hurry the ac-
ton of that side of the plot, no doubt; so
I needn't. 1 hope she won't talk"
A mile out of Elgin. Eustace stopped his
car, for he, saw Mary coming along the
road to meet him.
Where are you going?" he asked.
"Elgin. Shopping" she explained. I'm
going to melt that cheque, of course"
"Do you always walk? It's five miles
each way"
"Oh, my bicycle wants a new tire, and 1
haven't been able to afford one. Besides
l like walking"
Jump in and I'll drive you"
will you, really? I've never been in a
motor car. How jolly"
The chauffeur got out to make room for
her beside Eustace, and took his place In
the seat behind. Now, IL Sir Eustace Hol-
land really wished to keep his return 10