Evening star., 1914-07-19

him overheard, and after that You de-
scnbed a dog you had seen once that
could sing-and you gave limitations.
George turned bright red
There is no need of bringing up lot
Of those cheap "reminiscences he snap
ped. Il had no such excursion in mind
I meant a Sunday school excursion
Who is going?" asked the Observer,
without interest.
My wife. the children. myself and
you." replied George.
That is where you are wrong re-
Joined the Observer, fatty. Il do not
like the way you put this thing. You
mention me last. I know you, George.
I will have the lunch basket and one
child to carry. and while you are LOCATING
a shady spot I will walk mile or so to
get water, and about that time the chill
dren will commence getting lost AMI
will be giving an authentic imitation of
q retriever dog. You are going too far.
/ pass"
George leaned over and whispered The
Observer became suddenly animated.
lust for you and myself, said George,
In a slightly louder voice.
will there be plenty of claret in it!
asked the Observer.
There WILL assured George. And
will not forget dash of Jamaica rum
The Observer meditated.
Under those circumstances. "he de-
cided. finally, the court will reverse
it's decision. And, for the love of Mike,
use plenty Of ice.''
So it was that the Observer came
to go upon the first river excursion
he has attempted in several years, as
Henry Jones and others will testify.
King Solomons nursery must have
had marked resemblance to the deck
Of the river steamer when George and
Georges family and the Observer came
aboard. Three Sunday schools had
chosen this day to give over all theo-
logical differences and club on the ex-
penses- All over the boat were chill
dren. Little girls in beautiful white
dresses. starched stiff and ornamented
with ribbons Of many brilliant hues;
little boys manifestly uncomfortable in
stiff white collars and brushed, pressed
blue suits; babies clad in elaborate
long gowns as for gala occasion
all these utilized every available inch
of deck space.
suffering man. patient. earnest indi-
vidual from whom thoughts of homicide
were far removed. But before the boat
pulled out you could see that the
troubles was telling on him. He picked
his way toward the pilot house. walk
ing on tip-toe and lodging energetic
young men who had become convinced
to serve as a refuge for tag players.
He got into the pilot house and
slammed the door after him, and there
he stayed. Occasionally he would look
spread his face. 1t was his way of
telling everybody that he was glad
they were happy. even If he was suffer-
ing Then he would murmur some
thing about church picnics and would
isn't he lovely?' said Georges wife,
1atuously. You can see he loves chill
dren- Did you notice the way he
No" replied the Observer. Il did
not see him smile. I think he was
showing his teeth when Marjorie tried
to trip him up while she was chasing
that other little girl
Some men, said Georges wife, ir-
relevantly. ARE So stupid"
Everywhere about the family group
came scraps of conversation. Two pious-
looking men possessing bountiful whis-
kers Of the type which seem to be re-
served for vestrymen were leaning to-
ward each other and talking with the
simple earnestness that goes with recti-
tude
II said to him. the first man was talk
ing and paving his herbage as he did, 81
said to him, is 1t my fault that you go
throwing your money away on your fam
lily when you ought to be looking out
for your business? The trouble with you
is that you are trying to live beyond
YOUR station Then ! foreclosed on
him
You did exactly right" the second
man nodded, clasping his hands across
his ample vest Much of the hish cost
Of living is directly due to the continual
effort of people to live beyond their
means BY the way, I auctioned off that
colonial home l was telling you about
and bought 1t in. Good bargain. think. y
Cndoubtedly." assented the first man
lifting his whiskers and letting them
drop like curtain. Il have no sympa-
thy with persons who do not meet their
obligations- 1 always meet mine
The observer arose. put his pocketbook
inside his shirt. where 1t wouldn't at
tract the attention of the benevolent. be-
whiskered brothers. and started tc
amoie around. A cry stopped him.
Samantha Ammonia Jones." shriIled
the voice. You get right out of that
lifeboat or I will attend to you!"
The speaker was a thin-voiced. nervous
looking woman clad all In black Ordi.
nar1ly she was nervous. one of the kind
who are always borrowing trouble from
past Now she was frantic. She started
toward Samantha
Won't nuvver,' replied Samantha try.
ing to rock the boat There was a QUICK
scurry across the deck. a flash of BLACK
as the loving mother darted toward he,
loving child. Then there was a prett,
little obstacle race which would have
bean an adornment-if properly painted
TO any parior. 1t should have been en-.
titled: Mother and Child Playing"
samantha butted an astonished ole
gentleman who was getting ready to si
down before she was caught Then II
the confusion there came tho sound tina
told how Samantha's mother true to hel
word. was attending to Samantha. eff
fectually.