The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-19
Chapter xv.-continued.

"a cold spread. suppose said
Jack. But what about some hot soup
to begin with? Griggs ask for the hot
soup. sir. Shall get two estimates
with the soup. and without TT"
And day by day the luncheon had
waxed in Importance and pomp. Now
all was settled: the host would not be
shamed by begghrly board. II was
to be done in tip-top style by Bob
Drake, OF the White Hart. at 4 shill-
ings head for $50 head certain: I. e..
ESQ down anyhow, and per capita for
Chances" thereafter Jack. OF course.
would also count hends himself. and
check Bob's counting. Jack would
also count bootleg, and guard them. and
give them out, etc. Bob was not do
ing the wine.
will you change your mind and give
them champagne after alp"
II have told you ] won't"
81 know, sir: but Griggs go on wor.
rying me about 1t. They say It's al.
ways expected. and It's always efilca-
cious. They had 1t at their Horne Bay
sale when the lots went off like hot
cakes"
How can host, Wishing his party
to be success, decline the advice OF
party experts? 1t was plain that Jack
believed in the efficacy of champagne
although lie was loath to lead his
patron into unnecessary expense.
"Of course" he said. "onc can get
good cheap brands--really cheap. and
yet quite good enough,--aN froth and
sparkle, you know. There was an eN-
,yt,, caI In, wilt To
for race neutrality-suspicious.. That was
the name--not more than forty bob a
dozen--Jodelcr."
However, it was discovered tina.
Jodeler was now extinct. This good
wine had been permitted TO vanish
from wine merchants lists; no more
was Jod,le procurabie. But another
brand. Rosencrantz, had come to the
front--evcn better than vanished Jode-
Ter. Rosencrantz, Jack found, was IN
al! respects suitable to the occasion.
Authorized By Mr.. Crunden he ordered
large quantities of Rosencrantz, and
he now always spoke OF the coming
event as champagne Day"
"Champagne Day will soon be here
now, Pricey-picey. We are going to
give them fizz and then they arc go
ing to paint the map red for us."
1t was perhaps unfortunate for Jack
l.,
ments for this great Saturday, he
should have been drawn into associa-
ton with some of his old companions.
He was compelled often TO go TO the
Wisitc Hart, strictly on business. for
Interviews with his caterer, Bob Drake;
and here in the old haunt he met the
old loating friends. Here. from Mr.
Ridgworth, Charlie Padfield, etc, he
heard all about the Merry Girls =
sv,,,, tn, hn nj
dinner. ~
The Merry Girls" Company was
about to pay its tenth return dying
visit: there would be- morning and
evening performance by this talented
troupe on the day of the sale; and
their staunch admirers had decided to
give the loved artist dinner at
the White Hart between the shows.
Miss Daisy Dolfn-that old favor
pany, but her place had been taken by
Miss Fay Flinders. who was as good,
If not better-"qulte all right" Fay
will be here, Jack: we shall all be here;
and you must come, Jack. You really
must-just to show you're alive, and
aren't quite out of your mind" But
Jack said no: he could not accept an
other engagement for Champagne Day.
Then, az Mrs. Price would have eX-
pressed IL, ne Was ONCApSh oue1NS'' - - :.
field. Ridgworth and others, putting
their stupid heads together. arrived at
the conclusion that old Jack really
wanted to come, but, poor besgar.
could not afford the treat; and with
laundering generosity they offered to
relieve him of his share in the bill.
1--WE do want you, Juck--and We'll pay
your shot for you. Well put you on
the same footing as the Merry Girls
themselves"
Jack flushed. and said: Thanks. I'll
pay my own shot Yes I'll try TO
come--and I'll stand the wine for the
lot of you. I'll send 1t in, and YOU
must arrange with Drake about cork
age"
At the moment, 1t seemed the right
thing to say and to do-the only way
Of asserting his new dignity as work
ingmar--a money~earninS man. iie
must show the old gang that he DID
not need their patronage or pity; anu
in the most lordly manner he sat down
at Miss Granger's desk in the bar par
Tor and wrote to London ordering on
his own account another three dozen
OF Rosencrantz. to be d spatched to the
White Hart. lie knew he had done
wrong afterW ards-lmmedintely after-
wards as he hurried back to his work,
he knew that It was desperately Wrons.
IT would POSTPONE by several weeks
IT wes his first false step, first break
down In his new career. Fte knew now
that he had been q silly ass, but at
tho moment 1T seemed Impossible to be
ANYTHING else.
surally, had charge Of tho Merry Girls"