Arizona republican., 1911-12-09


 he leant over the garden gate. afte
 breakfast next morning. heard hin sing softly:
 Where did his colonel dig him up.
 So young. so fair, so sweet
 With his shining nose and his square
 square toes.
 Was it Mapping or Basinghall
 Street,"
 Twice he sang it to himself with an air of satisfaction. and twice the nov ing, but silent, lips of Erebus repeated it.
 Then she said, "Oh, uncle it's splen- did,"
 Sir Maurice turned sharply: You tell anyone. little pitcher, and I'll pull your long ears" he said amiably.
 Here he comes," said the unmoved Ere5us, nodding toward q figure com ing swiftly across the common.
 Three strides brought Sir Maurice to the top of the steps. I'm going he cried, and, slamming the door. he vanished.
 Captain Easter spent a barren morn ihS. NuiullS Iui iiOuSiN dl HIS Idllufe lO find the man he had made his bosom friend. The early afternoon was no less barren; but at tea time he found him at Colet House. Mrs. Dangerfield had invited her neighbors to meet her brother and Captain Easter. The Higher Mathematician. the father of Wiggins. had come. and Mrs Blenlin- sop and Mrs. Morton and the rector and his wife. and the squire. MT. Car ruthers; and Virgins had come with the Twins. Mrs. Dangeriield had taken advantage of the St. Martins summer afternoon to have tea in the garden.
 Captain Baster's heart swelled big within him: here was his chance to shine. He seized it with enthusiasm: he was the life and soul of the gather ing; when he was not being humorous he was important. telling them of his country house. his flat in town. lis race-horses, his hunters. his motor ears. his exploits at polo. cricket and golf. He patronized everybody with splendid affability. everybody except Sir Maurice: and him he addressed in tones of perfect equality. as ''Maur.co. old boy" or Maurice. old chap" pr plain Maurice" He did shine: his agreeable exertions threw him into a perspiration his nose shone especially: and they all hated him. He had re- duced them to a blank silence when he told them how he had been stoned by hulking scoundrcS the night be- fore. He paused and looked round for sympathy.
 Erebus rose from her seat and went to the gravel path: their eyes, slightly daZed. followed her: she was q relief
 'CuriOus-very curious" said the rector politely to Captain Easter.
 ErebuS chose three pebbles from the path with great care. The first pebble hit the weathercOck above the house plumb in the center: the second missed its tail by perhaps an inch: the third hit the tail full. and the weathercoCE spun round as though a vigorous gale were deyoting itself to its tail only.
 That's where l meant to hit it the first time" said Erebua with little explanatory wave of the hand: and she returned to her seat The silence that fell was oppressive: Captain Easter was gazing earnestly at Ercbus: his rovin. black eyes were fixed in an incredulous. unwinking stare That shows you the danger of jump ing to nasty conclusions" said the Higher Mathematician in his clear. agreeable voice "I made sure it was the Terror" "So did l." said the Rector The sileuce fell again. Mechanically. | Captain Easter rubbed the blue bump | on his marble brow. Erebus broke the silence: she said. ! Has anyone heard Wiggins's new | song:" At least three nasty. Uhoushtless peo- pie cried with one voice. No. Let's ! hear it,'' Come on. Virgins" cried the rec tor and the squire together. heartily. | The situation N:IS saved. Sir Maurice thought not: he knew | what was coming. knew it in the depths of his constricted heart he glared at | the piQuant, glowing face of his niece as if he wished the earth to open and | swallow her up.
 Wiggins held back a little. Then. pushed forward by the eager Terror. he stepped forward and in his clear. shrilI treble. sang. slightly out of tune: Where did his colonel dig him up, So young. so fair, so sweet, With his shining nose and his square,
 squgre toes.
 Was it Mapping or Baslnghall
 Strsct?''
 AS he sang. Wiggins looked artlessly lt Captain Easter: as he finished. everybody was looking at Captain Bas- ter's boots; his feet required them square-tOed.
 Captain Baster's face was q rich he glared round the frozen circle staring at his boots he saw the faces melt into irrepressible smiles: he looked at Sir Maurice. the man he had made his bosom friend. for an in- iignant Outburst; Sir Maurice was smiling too.
 Captain Easter snorted: then he swclled with splendid dignity. and said loudly. but thickly: "I refuse, Yes. refuse to mix in society where chil- iren are brought up as hOoligans-yes, as hooligans "
 He turned on his heel. strode to the gate, and turned and beloved, 'Hooli- yans,''
 He went through the gate. and strode violently across the common.