Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-09-02

mouth. The duke went TO sleep in the
armchair.
At last Watkins, who for a full min
ute had been staring with puzzled
eyes at Dickie's boots and socks, arose
and said he must be going on He
shook hands all around and said he
was very happy to have met us and
hoped that, when we found ourselves
in London again, we'd do him the
honor of staying awhile with him;
we'd always find him there in the sea-
son. he said. He nodded courteously
and went out. followed by Tommy.
The duke stared at Dickie, and
Dickie at the duke; | looked at both
OF them in bewilderment. Then the
duke groaned.
We overlook Tommy at nine o'clock
that evening. He had plainly been
striving TO drown care and sorrow,
but had only succeeded in making
himself preternaturally solemn. We
found him in his room, sitting on the
bed, cross-legged, in purple and green
pajamas, smoking pipe and drinking
Scotch-and-soda
You've gone and done it, haven't
you?' he greeted us dolefully. You've
gone and spoiled my life and desolat-
ed my hearthstone, haven't you?
've-you've-- He choked.
Tommy" demanded the duke stern.
ly, did you let us in for that with
malice aforethought?
"Eh?' asked Tommy, blinking.
Did you know all the time that Bill
Watkins was real Englishman?"
Tommy laid his pipe down on the
silk counterpart and eyed us gravely.
Dickie moved the pipe to the mantel
and eXtinguished the fire. The odor
of burnt feathers was distinctly I'M
pleasant. Tommy wagged a porten-
tous finger at us.
Did know, you ask? Did | know I?
Did | know? Duke, most noble. duke,
| knew nothing; | was as a born un-
babed. ! was as a reed crying in the
wilderness or voice shaken in the
wind. | knew not, | knew knew"
He looked around for his pipe. Look
here, / thought he was like you or me
or Annie there, simple, unspoiled
American. / knew nothing; | suspect
ed nothing. i said to myself" He
stopped and eyed us affectionately.
Have drink"
1--WE don't doubt it, Tommy" an
swered the duke. But what we want
70 &c a 1ns
he was English?'
"No, duke, not until this morning.
Then l knew! Then | learned all-all
all! He lives in orange in winter
and raises F'loridas, and in spring he
sails for England. He-he is undoubt-
you for what you said bout his cou-
sin; | cannot" Tommy bowed his
head and shifted.
Whose cousin ?" demanded Dickie.
who mentioned his old cousin? Tom
my, you're drunk"
You're awful liar, Dickie," an
swered Tommy, without, however, any
resentment You insulted his cousin
Ito his face-to my face-at my
board-as my guests-as-"
Shut up" growled the duke.
What cousin are you talking about ?"
Watkins cousin; cousin of my
friend Watkins"
What's his name?"
Watkins name?"
mo, the cousins name?"
His names Muddledab, duke OF
Muddle-dubble-d | said it once;
refuse to say it gain.
Dickie sat down on the edge OF the
bed and groaned; then he laughed.
We joined him. Il said he was my
uncle giggled Dickie.
And that he was bounder,"
yelled the duke.
"And-and you said-said you never
spoke to him!"
IL never did," laughed the duke.
Presently, when we had Gained down
and Dickie had mixed three more
Scotches, the duke said:
Tommy, / consider that you have
done a despicable thing"
"Me?" murmured Tommy. "Me?"
les, 1Ou. iOu dilONtu Ouk
friend Bill Watkins to depart from our
hospitable shore in the belief that
there are three OF his countrymen in
New York who are disgraces TOTO
his native land"
Tommy chuckled behind his glass.
Don't be 'larmed," he answered
finally. Don't you be t all Harmed.
Watkins never thought you were
English, never for one mimet But he
said he was muchmused, very much.
mused."
"Oh, he did. eh?" said Dickie. And
you allowed him to go of with the I'M
preston that we were a set of three
bally idiots, eh?"
Tommy nodded blanGly.
well, all I've got to say to you.
announced the duke disgustedly, is
this: Bill Watkins is sport and
ought to be an American; and as for
you, Thomas, never ask me to help
you out again!"
'Thanksh," replied Tommy beaming
4 IL. n.