Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-09-04

Anybody at homer" he de-
mandod briskly
"Not a solitary living SOUL Emma
assured him. Come. in
"Heuo. Joe, You dead one. toof"
he said.
Almost" replied Brooks brighten
ing up q little En- spite OF himself IN
der the Influence of his friends good
natured smile and cheeriucss that pos
itively emanated from him Just
come upT"
Yep. and 7 reckon in about time 80
help he s1id. glancing at the crock
cry on the table.
Just in time" asseuted Emma.
whose drooping spirits also began 20
rise under The diversion caused 10y hiss
advent But first explain what YOU
mean by not coming % dinner"
Il couldn't come. really. 7 tried my
best. hut had 20 attend 20 such lot
Of business that couldn't be put OF
that ] was unable 90 get here in time
] hope won didn't wait long for me.
I'm awfuUy sorry"
"Nou hook i'll don't think" she
sccided. eco OF. get busy if you're
going to-
"Au right" he answered. taking Up
n small pile Of cups and sauccrs very
Eingeriy. Where DO these coG II
you left 60 to me. like as not I'd bc
putting q soup plate behind the door
and slip % broom into the sidebolrd."
"They go ri-ht I'm here
He stopped on the way Co the side
board and turned 90 Brooks
"Seen the latest extra. JoeT'' he Iu-
guired. "Tbe Oriuoco wasn't hardly
scratched getting out az Rio Jaueiro."
"You don't Savr
kind o. scraped over The bar. she'll
only De- day late now"
"po Dec careful with those cups. jim
sly admoulshed Emma. They're
china
Don't you suppose I know thatg~
Il mean real china" she empba-
sized.
"An china and Cinnamon look alike
60 roe. Here's the paper. Joe. Youu
find an about the Orinoco on the IN
side page"
He drew 10 from his pocket. and as
he did So one Of the cups balanced on
the saucers slipped of and smashed 20
bits ON the carpet
"Now. Jimsy. you certainly are going
60 get it, commented Joe rising and
taking the paper extended 90 him.
Smith looked appealingly at his
hostess.
"Jimsy." she chided. assuming an
expression Of mock gravity. how
could you-my very best sunday 60 20
meeting china. How could you."
Not how could how did T." he
corrected STOPPING and picking UP the
pieces. You know. Emma. I've had
butter fingers ever since Z was a little
shaver. and ] guess I always VIII
HAVEN business and everything else"
Why. how 90 you meanT'
1--WE been clumsy al my life. that's
al. Everything I've ever had 30 my
hands thar was worth much I've gen
orally let slip and fall out IN Colo
RADIO when ] was a kid around Lead
vile they used 20 say that sure
would turn out % be a sawed OF and
hammered down, good for nothing
man. So YOU see the way things have
turned out. I've broken about even
with that prophecy"
How broken evenF"
Taking their side for the book.
win the first bet and lose the second.
There amt nothing sawed on and
hammered down about me. is thereT"
y should say not" she said. with a
merry laugh. You've been pulled out
ike piece Of taffy."
Then I win. but It was in doubt
quite some time. Never really did
start 20 grow until 7 was fifteen. and
then I just eased out into nv present
altitude. But the second proposition
that good for nothing bet-I guess they
win"
Nonsense, Jimsy. How can you say
such thing? You're good for a whole
lot"
Emma" he declared solemnly.
there have been moments Of financial
stringency when that declaration seem
ed TO be open 10 doubt"
''Jimsy, you're an idiotr' she laugh
ed.
DISCOVERED he avowed. bowling
tremendously.
Brooks, who had been reading the
paper, threw It down angrily.
"D-n himw he grOwled.
"JoeT' exclaimed his wife reproach-
fully.
"D-n who?" inquired Smith.
Why, Williams" he replied.
Lots have done that" said the su-
perintendent But what's the matter
now. JoeE"
His luck" went on Brooks. The
Orinoco isn't scratched II any one
else owned a ship and she got into a
muss like that the chances are a hun
dred TO one that she'd have foundered
been complete loss"
That's right" assented Smith.
But Williams-he don't lose her. He
couldn't"
Il should think you'd be glad" re-
marked Emma. shes a brand new
ship. isn't sheT"
mo, I'm not glad" he declared fu-
riously. rising and walking about the I
room "Im tired OF him. OF his rot
ten old steamship line, OF all OF is-'
you hearf OF all OF f."
Joe, please" she protested You