The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-01-20

What do you think of the boy
now?" he chuckled.
Splendid" l answered. Best in
nings ! ever saw"
Old Morson nodded. Then he winked
at me, and said: by the way, what
about that bet?"
Instinctively my hand went to my
even took it out and balanced 1t in
my palm. Then something restrained
me. put the sovereign back, and
shook my head.
"If you don't mind, I'll wait till after
the wedding" said /, smiling. And
at that returned to my mutton.
Later on the irrepressible old man
began to talk to me again.
Pretty generous of Baker, isn't it?"
he hinted.
mo end!" said |.
The man who sat opposite to me at
my own table joined in unexpectedly.
Refreshments alone will cost a
pretty penny. Who's doing them?
Have you heard?"
Old Morson always knows every
thing.
"Oh, some new people from Murces-
teri" he said. Some people called
Sandilands or Heavilands, or some
such name. They've come from Lon
don, and bought Georges old business.
Curiously enough, they weren't keen
on having the job. They even refused.
But Bakers their landlord, and he in
sisted on them taking it. Good thing,
too. There's no one else who could
have done it."
Then the conversation languished
again. Before long we drifted off in
twos and threes to Battenhall.
The Bakers had really done the
thing extraordinarily well. The enter
tainment was above anticipation, the
illuminations were gorgeous, and, as
for the elsupper, it was dream. Be-
tween the turns everybody was look.
ing for De Haviland to congratulate
him, but he couldn't be found. Once
Kitty sent me to hunt for him, but
searched in vain. At last he turned
up with some of the Kent team. Kitty
was at the far end of the big marquee,
packed away behind a crowd of people.
| struggled through to tell her. Just
as / reached her side Papa Baker
reached it too. He was agog with
excitement.
where's Geoffrey?" he whispered
audibly. 81 must find him at once.
The Countess wants me to present
him. It's most important"
tried to catch his eye. tried to
signal to him In another second
should have succeeded, but just then
the familiar darkness of mans head
attracted his attention. He swung
round quickly and put his hand on a
passing shoulder. The owner stop
ped, wheeled and faced him. Where
are you off to, Geoffrey?" Papa Baker
almost shouted. Il want you! The
Countess wants you!"
The other faced him, surprised and
confused. Kitty stared. stared
Papa Baker stared 1t wasn't Geoffrey
De Haviland. Yet if it wasn't who
could it be?
He had the same dark, curly hair
the same dark blue eyes, the same eff
feet of neck and head, the veritablt
Greek profile. TIL sole difference la!
in his cheeks. They were pale, witt
the pallor of a man who works b!
night. The boys cheeks were bronz
ed with outdoor exercise, dull red will
health, almost to brick color Ant
the dress suit of the boys double wa
i'll fitting. 1t was also old-fashioned
He was the first to speak, after all
Looking at Papa Baker untlinchingly
he said:
81 think you've made a mistake, sir
I'm the son of the caterer. I've COM
from Murcester in charge of the re
freshments."
Papa Baker blurted out some hal
apology, muttered something abou
strange coincidence" and SCENE,
satisfied, though flabbergasted at tn
likeness. Then Il said that some
thing had happened to the boys starr
De Haviland chose that very momen
to come up. Kitty saw him, and erie
gladly:
Here's Godfrey, fatheri"
Papa Baker turned round. Tn
likeness was. even more striking for tn
sudden pallor under tie boys bronze
He gasped. Then he looked back a
the caterers son. Heavilands, as h
called himself, was trying to &c
away, but Papa Baker beckoned hiI
back. 1t was like scene
Twelfth Night" The two young me
lowered above everybody. De Hav
lands lips were close set, and his no
trils twitched. Heavilands was the pic
ture of misery. He looked much as
man might look who had accidental
killed a much-loved brother.
plucked old Baker swiftly by tn
sleeve.
For Gods sake, sir" l whispered
Ufnr Mics Kittv'c caka-dnn'f I,