Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-08-21

da." He felt very tragic as be waved
an adieu. cooked his hat rakishly over
one ear. picked up his bag and UNI
brella and left the house.
Going downtown in the car his spirits
lifted wonderfully. He felt as If be
we're on the eve of some ADJ enture-
Leaving his bag and umbrella in the
check room of a hotel. Henry POTTER
ate his breakfast and then set forth to
look for a job. He had scanned the
morning paper while be ate and there
were several places where he might
apply for a position as bookkeeper.
At 4 O'Clock that afternoon Mr.. Potl-
fer acknowledged to himself that 1t
was useless to look further that day.
He had been too late or too old or too
something for every job that be ap-
piled for that day, and late afternoon
found him wondering whether he
should brave Mrs. Potifer's ridicule
and go home in spite OF his threats of
the morning or whether be should
really remain downtown and stay at
the hotel until another day promised
better luck.
He decided to take a trolley ride, and
while he cooled of from the heat of
the days exertions he could decide
what to do.
The trolley car whirled him into the
green country and through pretty vii
lagos. At the end Of the line he got off
and went for a walk along a babbling
brook that reminded him Of his boy
hood days on the farm.
And on the banks of the brook Mr..
POTTER found adventure waiting for
him and a steady job lurking in the
background. although he didn't know
that until afterward.
A pretty girl In a pink sunbonnet
was struggling with a tall. dark. vii
famous looking man, who held her
slender hands in his big ones.
"Unhand me, villain" shrieked the
girl just as Mr.. POTTER came running
upon the scene. his heavy gold headed
cane poised for action.
Never" cried the man angrily as he
dragged her toward the path that led
across an open field, beyond which APP
peared the red roof of a farmhouse.
what are you doing here, old Buttin-
Get out of the way. You're spelling
this"
II intend to spoil it, roared Henry
POTTER valiantly. Let the lady GO,
you rascal"
The lady laughed Historically. the
villain swore Justify as Mr.. Potifer's
cane circled around the mans head
and finally fell on his shoulders.
Suddenly the mar grasped the girls
hand and shouted:
BEAT it and leave the old meddler
behind. Well get the sack for this"
Whereupon the couple few along the
path into the field and across the field.
with Mr.. Henry POTTER in hot pursuit.
his gray c~oattails flying. his fat face
dripping with perspiration and his
mouth wide open like a gasping fish's.
And there fell into the pursuit from
behind trees and an ancient barn sew
eral policemen, who waved their sticks
and fred revolvers into the air.
MI. POTTER stopped at the first pistol
shot just as a bee winging homeward
grazed his bald head. Mr.. POTTER
thought that he had stopped a bullet
with his Uranium. and he fell to earth
and groaned.
Immediately there was a circle Of
oddly dressed people around him, most
of them laughing. some of them scold-
ing. but all of them most concerned in
the appearance of a dapper little man
who almost danced up and down as he
surveyed the recumbent form of Henry
POTTER. professional meddler.
I'D like to kill him.a aroared the lit
tie man. brandishing his ast before Mr..
Potifer's startled eyes. Man, you've
spoiled fifty feet of hlm.."
"Film?" echoed Mr.. POTTER blankly.
Eyes. flm!' mimicked the little man,
and Their be proceeded to explain to
Mr.. POTTER that he had interfered in
the making of a moving picture film
that it would cost hundreds of dollars
to make good the damage he had done
that afternoon.
Mr.. POTTER listened and stared and
looked aghast. and with each change
Of expression the actresses giggled and
the men smiled until the manager of
the company smiled too. The star
whispered for awhile in the managers
ear. and the manager slapped his knee
and cried:
Il believe you're right. Barton! IN
talk to the old duffer."
So he smiled upon the perturbed Mr..
POTTER and took him aside and made
him a proposition.
The proposition almost took Henry
Potifer's breath away.
He was to enact the part of the fat
uncle In the play. Just be himself, a
professional meddler, and it would be
all right And there was a job of keep
ing the books Of the stock company,