Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-12-03
CHAPTER III.

1t was with considerable trepidation
that Anne Oliver finished her own toilet
and superintendent that Of Gerry and
Phil for the momentous occasion of the
afternoon party on board the FREELY.
During the time they had been in
Sandbeach, now nearly three weeks, she
had only by degrees overcome her nerv-
Gus dread of recognition while giving
their daily entertainments on the sea
front, and indeed, had it not been for the
extraordinary success that from the
first moment had attended their some
what rash experiment, she would have
abandoned the idea at the first onset.
But with the curious good luck that
seemed to draw pence and halfpence, to
say nothing of siXpences and shillings,
and even an occasional half crown when
ever Phil offered his collecting plate at
the end of their little concerts, she felt
1t would be actually sin to quarrel.
Moreover, the two children were lay
ing up a store of health and energy
against the long, dark London winter,
besides the welcome addition to their
small funds, which would purchase extra
warm clothing, food and fire, when they
were most needed in the future.
During the first week of their stay in
Sandbeaeh they made money enough to
pay the rent of their rooms in Grannie
Burns little cottage without touching
the sovereign little Anne had so CAREFUL
ly put aside for the purpose.
The question Of securing a pitch"
where they could give their performances
was waived by the town authorities on
the condition that the Brown Holland
concert party shifted their position on
the sea front every day, not attempting
to monopolize any one particular spot;
so that item of expense was spared them.
The pianette was hired from old Mrs.
Browns daughter-in- law, who kept a
little music shop in one of the back
streets, and was glad to let them have
the instrument for three shillings a week,
while another three paid for the hire of
wall-eyed old piebald pony and vegeta-
BILE truck. Under these favorable condi-
tions the divers expenses were small,
while the money flowed in every day in
manner that fairly startled little Anne
when Phil proudly counted over the
amount of their takings each night be-
fore they went to bed, having bought
two sixpenny cash boxes-one specially
reserved for coppers and the other for
silver
| "And this time tomorrow, this very
night, indeed, there'll be gold, real gold,
in the box, Mani" exclaimed the boy ex-
ultingly as he stored away the mornings
harvest, and hid the little iapanned tins
under the bolster of Mans bed with elab-
crate care. 'How do hope Lord Ger
mayne viii give US five sovereigns-not
a cheque or a five pound note, don't
your"
Eyes, and don't you hope thereIl be
| lots of lords and ladies' on the Yacht,
Mamie dear7 Just think how lovely it
would be il a great lord were to fall in
| love with you this very day, and then
you could be married, and we could live
with you and never bother about money
any morel'' cried Gerry. "He would
say, Dear Miss Brown Holland will you
be my welded wife, and you would say,
I will, my lord, with pleasure, only nv
name isn't Brown Holland, but Annie
Oliver, and these are Gerry and Phil, nv
brother and sister"
"Oh, hold your noise, Gerry Just like
girl--always thinking about marrying"
interrupted Phil "Do let us start, Annel
If we're late perhaps the gig won't wait
for us, and then we shall lose everything
Shall l run on in front of you two with
the instruments It's a quarter to
now"
He clattered off down the steep little
wooden stairs at breakneck rate, leav.
ing his sisters to follow Gerry's tongue
ran like mill stream with excitement,
and she kept up perpetual chain of
questions on the way to the barber.
TO BE CONTINUED.