Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-07
CHAPTER XVII-Continued.

VaA6 En- a Vxx@VOAsA0OOVs
Mrs Lance Gaymer suddenly came
round q corner Of the quiet square. and
crossed the road directly in front OF
Hughes hanson. Hughie dismounted
and greeted her.
why" cried Mrs. Lance, II do declare
It's Mr.. Marrable!''
She smiled upon Hushie in a manner &C
Intoxicating that the cabman coughed dis
creetly to the horse. That intelligent ami.
NAL made no comment, but turned round
and looked at the cabman.
Fancy meeting you!" she continued
archly.
Did your husband get letter from me
yesterday. Mrs. Gaymer. do you know?
asked Hughie.
No. Mrs. Gaymer was sure ne had not
The poor boy had took to his bed q week
ago, with the "hu"; SO Mrs Lance had
been conducting his correspondence Tor
him, and could therefore .vouch for the
non-arrival Of Hughes letter: She, haz'
arded the suggestion that possibly Hugnle
had written to MAZDA Vale.
Yes. Hughie had.
That's it, them said Mrs. Lance. I'VE
moved from there six weeks ago. We
live In BALKAN now"
Hughie was not sufficiently conversant
with suburban caste distinctions to fee
sure whether this was q step up or down
In the social scale, so he merely expressed
a hope that Lance was getting we'll again
81 want to come and see. him. IL
lunch with me, but I suppose that is out
of the question at present.
You're right there" said Mrs. Lance,
in distinctly guarded tones. He amt
what you'd call spry. He's not seeing
anybody
II shouldn't stay long" urged Hughie.
'Is it busness?' inquired Mrs. Gaymer
with a touch of hostility.
Yes said Hughie.
Mrs. Gaymer surveyed him curiously
To most people she would have said fatty
and untruthfully> that her husband was
unfit to see any one, for she had her own
reasons for discouraging visitors to Bal
ham just now. But she had always
cherished a weakness for Hugh Maria BILE
He treated her exactly as he treated all
women-with scrupulous courtesy
which, while it slightly bored frivolous
damsels Of his acquaintance, was appre-
ciated at Its true value by q lady whose
social status was more than a little equi.
vocal. 1t is only when one has secret
doubts about being a real lady that one
appreciates being treated as such.
"Could you come tomorrow" she said
At last.
II have to get back to Manors tonight
said Hnghie; Might | come out Ito to Bal Bal,
you come and lunch with me somewhere
now, and we can drive out there after
ward? Or must you get back to the in
valid?' he added, with just suspicion OF
hopefulness.
Mrs. Lance, however, expressed her will.
ingness to come and lunch. but insisted
on being allowed to precede Hughte to
BALKAN by at least one hour The house
was that untidy! she explained.
Accordingly, Hughie. having decided ir
would not be likely to encounter any OF
his own friends. and which would yet con
form with Mrs. Gaymer's notions Of what
was sufficiently CLASSY conveyed his
fair charge thither in a hanson; and
presently found himself engaged In thai
traditional ne plus ultra Of dissipation
the entertainment of another mans wife
to a meal in a public restaurant.
Mrs. Lance. after she desisted from hel
efforts to impress upon her host the fac'
that she was quite accustomed to this sor'
of thing, was amusing enough. She ad
dressed the waiter-an inarticulate Teu
TOMAS Johnny" and made q point OF
saying q few words to the manager wher
he passed their table. She smoked 9
cigarette after lunch. and was goot
champaign brand which he had hazilJ
recognized In the wine list as being the
sweetest and stickiest beverage ever dis
titled from goOseberries. ct was the sor'
of champagne which goes well with choco
late creams, Chorus Girls Entire he
remembered they used to call it, At any
rate it met with Mrs. Lance's undivided
approval, and Hughie realized for the frs
time that university education can aftel
all be useful to one in after life.
Suddenly Mrs. Lance inquired:
DO you know any theatrical managers
my dear boy?'
Yes. Hughie had come across one Oh
two. "Why?"
WELL said Mrs. Lance, expansively
you've always treated me like flesh and
iofa 10 N
your relations have done; so I'll tell you
After all, I've got me feelings, same
AS
What about the theatrical managers
inquired Hughie. tactfully.
"Oh, yes. Do you think You could ash
one of 'em to give me shop? The
chorus would do. I was in it before, y
said Mrs. Gaymer, candidiy.
"Why do you want to go back there?"
live got a fancy for it-thats all.
replied Mrs. Gaymer, in a thoroughly un-
convincing tone.
Hughie wondered if Lance and his wife
were beginning to tire Of each other.
II do know one or two men," he said
"who are interested in some Of the mu'
sical-comedy syndicates. Shall I try
them"
will you REILLY? You'll be a duck il
you do said Mrs. Gaymer.
After the deliverance Of this unsolicited
testimonial Hughes guest observed that
bic Dc ScltIu6 HoiiC. anu SAuehSi
having put her into a cab and paid the
driver, retired to his club, ciogged with
viscous champagne and feeling excessive
ly unwell, to wait until it should be time
for him to follow her.
To look at the double row of eligible
residences which composed Talbot street,
BALKAN, you would hardly have suspected
that any Of them would support what the
inland revenue schedule calls a male
servant" And yet, when Hughie rams
the bell Of No. 10 the door was opened
by such an appanage OF prosperity. He
was an elderly gentleman with rheumy
but humorous eye, and q nose which sug-
gested the earlier stages of elephantiasis.
He wore a dress coat of distinctly fash
ionable cut (Which, needless to say, did
not fit him) and the regulation white
shirt and collar. the latter quite two sizes
too small: but his boots and trousers ap-
parently belonged to a totally different
class of society.
Name of Marrable?" he inquired. smil-
ing benevolently upon Hughie.
Yes"
"Step in. We've been expectin' OF you
for 'alf-an-hour. Don't wipe your boots
on that mat It's worth one-and-eight.