Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02

put forth, SAID gravely, u here IS but one branch
Of our family with which | not wholly familiar
the descendants of the Richard Courtney who sailed
from Boston for California in IS48"
Betty's eyes ordered Dick to speak
That my grandfather Dick said Il am
his only living descendant.
You have led such roveTs life" said Smith
with just shade of suspicion in his voice. that
have never been able to trace YOU "
And I've had too many names besides my own
thought Dick but he only smiled in reply for Betty
signaled that she had line to speak.
Your grandfather, she said smiling afably
upon the male iceberg, who could not help smiling
back at her Betty could make whole audience
then she empoyed), was financially inter
ested in the ship and cargo my husbands grand
father took to Californa-you may have heard of it.
The iceberg abruptly ceased smiling; His entire
cargo profits and he had seen letters which suggested
that Bettys grandpapa in law had had rather the
worst of the bargain at the hand of the Boston part
ner. Betty seemed uncomfortably well informed.
1t time for the ice to melt Betty still
smiling; but what if she should frown?
1T is most agreeable to have relations ship
established" said Smith, under the roof of
mutual friends; but l shall be further gratifed
to establish friendship under roof. Mrs.
Smith-Courtney and | will welcome you to Fair
Harbor.''
Betty knew that she had forced this invitation by
the hint of her knowledge concerning the early
Courtney shipping venture; but there was some
thing Theatre in the language which appealed to
her. She sgnaled Dick to answer in the same char
acter With not moments hesitation that well
framed man Sa1Q, CdTeIully copying the male ice
bergs style of language, but giving Mrs Smith the
benefit of his anna BILE glance We tired of our
careless, rowing life, and when settle down, which
will probably be in this charming neighborhood we
relationship which existed between our ancestors"
Betty repaid Dicks effort with glance, thinking
she afterward confided to him. that the first old
gentleman in an eighteenth century comedy could
not have accented the speech better. She said moth
ing, however, only smiling again when Mrs. Hall
suggested that the family reunion begin then and
there over the teacups.
The reunited Courtneys sat at one table, and the
score more other casual guests seated other
the wealth OF the strangers Inherited my DEAR
from certain Richard Courtney who dug up millions
from the California gold fields Who is the wife?
Oh, a California nugget presumably, educated
abroad, where they We lived for years They make
a charming addition to our colony, will they not?
Rather.'
Smith,, said Richard, when more they dis
cussed their adventures in their apartment.
What that about his and my granddad's bust
ness?"
Why responded Betty, "Whiskers, the
searcher, found old court program which showed
that your grandfather did the turn while Smiths
grandfather attended to the box office in Boston.
The box office was shy when It came time for the
ghost to walk for grandpapa, and he put in claim
for his percentage OF the gross They were still
hearsng for the trial when grandpapa died. and
your own father didn't like the play and threw up
his part"
mento, and making SO much money that he let the
go / remember mother telling about that
when she was little on the world because there
wasn't always bread to go around with the jam
and we hadn't any of the jam
And Smiths father, who married the other grand
fathers daughter and copied the box office rece pts
which to California not, he had the dis
missed years afterward. ! had the iceberg on toast
all right and he had to melt quietly or d pour IN
gallon or two more gasolene and he'd have blown
up l saw in a second that he knew and knew that
l knew, and was standing the edge of his foot in
fear that Id spring the old gag and put his starch
on the blink His nobs and were both doing think
ing parts right then which would make screaming
hit in deaf and dumb asylum
Did Won notice the difference IN the audience 2"