The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-06
By GEORGE BARR
 M'CUTCHEON
,oo|aO06l
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead
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| VnG800Do "Splendidi'' was the sudden excla ma I tfon of Drusilla's vagrant lord The 1 others looked up, interested. Say,
 everybody, Lady Agnes and have hit
 upon ripping scheme. It's greatr
 '"To better our posftion?" asked Dep bingham.
 Position? What-oh, I see. Not ex- actly. What do you say to a charity | ball, the proceeds to go to the survivors of the plague we'pe expected to have?' The princess gave a quick, involun- | tary look at Chase's face. Browne's l tall fellow countryman was nov lean ing against the rail beside her chair 1 She saw a look of surprised amuse- ment fit across his face, succeeded al-
 most instantly by a hard, dark frown of displeasure. He waited moment and then looked down at her with un- | mistakablei shame and disapproval in his eyes.
 We might just as we'll be merry I while we can," Browne was saying. 'Think of what the French did at the | time of the commune. They danced and died like ladies and gentlemen. And our own forefathers, Chase, at the time of the American Revolution-re- | member them too. They gave their
 balls and parties right under the mug xles of British cannon. And Vicksburg New Orleans, too-in the civil war! Think of lem! Why shouldn't we be as game and as gay as theyw "But they were earnest in their dis fractions" observed Deppingham, with l . glance at his wife's eager face. This ' br,v jest.'' 9& Agnes, falling into an Americanism
 readily. Tt may be a jest, but what
 odds? Something to kill time with.''
 T don't like MT. Browne" whispered Genevra suddenly. Chase did not re- ply. She waited moment and then went on. "He is not like Deppingham Do you understand?
 Lady Deppingham came over to
 them at that instant, her eyes spar king.
 "It's to be tonight she said "A fashionable charity ball-everything
 except the newspaper accounts, don't you know. Committees and all that.
 It's short notice, of course, but life
 may be short. Wen have Arab aero
 battles, Persian dances, grand march,
 electric lights erd absolutely no money to distribute. That's the way 1t usu- ally is. Now, MT. Chass. don't look so sour! Be nice, p1easeg' She put | her hand on his arm and smiled up at
 him so brightly that he could not hold out against her. She caught the touch | of disapproval in Genevra's glance, | and a sharp, quick flash of rebellion
 came into her own eyes. What is a charity baIl?" asked Ge-
 nevra after a moment. A charity ball is a function where | one set of women sit in the boxes and say nasty things about the women on | the floor, and those on the floor say
 horrid things about the women in the
 boxes. It's great fun"
 Charity is simply hallucination, | then?"
 Yes, but don't mention it aloud. MT. Britt is trying with might and
 main to prove that Bobby and have | Authorizations without end. If I hap ! pen to look depressed at breakfast
 time he jots it down-spells of depres- sion and melancholiaF do you see?
 He's dreadful man."
 | Saunders was approaching from the lower end of the balcony He ap- peared Mustered. His face was red
 and perspiring and his manner distrait.
 'Well, Saunders?" said Deppingbam
 as the lawyer stopped to clear his
 throat obsequiously.
 "I have found sufficient food. of all descriptions, sir, to last for a month | at least" said Saunders in a strained unnatural voice.
 Have a cigarette, DeppyT inter- | posed Browne. seeing that something was amiss with Saunders. In solemn l order the silver box went the rounds. Saunders spoke up, as if suddenly recollecting something. ''I have to re port, sir, that the stock of cigarettes is getting very low. They can't last
 three days at this rate, sir" | The three men stared at him. Good Lordm exclaimed Chase, who could face any peril and relish the ex- | periences if needs be, but who now | foresaw a sickening deprivation. ''You can't mean it, Saundersw "I certainly do, sir. The mint is
 1t will last"
 "By George. that is calamity" | groaned Chase. 'How is a man to QSnt W1tnCut c1garelteS! | Genevra quietly proffered the one | she had not lighted, quizzical smile in her eyes.
 "My contribution to the cause" she l said gayly. What strange creatures
 men are, You will go out and be shot
 at all day and yet She paused and
 looked at the cigarette as If 1t were
 entitled to reverence.
 I13 Cfv1 lamented the stalwart Chase. Then he took the cigarette.
 CHAPTER xxx. THE CHARITY BALL. @vHEY were rot long in finding out what had happened to | Saunders. After luncheon, o while Browne and the three ladies were completing the prepara- tions for the entertainment, Miss Pel- ham appeared before Deppingham and Chase in the formers headQuarters