Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17

evening" continued that lady. but Mrs.
Sanderson was peculiar about it one
against it."
1ein Schroeder. pacific as usual, you
forget that Mrs. Sanderson offered to
light you fire in your bedroom"
Indeed" said Miss Myrtle sarcas-
tically, and am to retire to my room
every time wish to get warm?"
Mr.. Pollock. who liked nobody to get
uuarrelsome but himself, here broke in
with: All that idiot Brent's fault;
fancy letting his bath run over! Never
heard of such a thing! Upon my SOUL
think Mr.. Sanderson's been most pa
tient, considering the condition OF the
lounge"
That is very true" said Fraulein.
, Have se. you seen the ceiling. Mr.. Pol
Yes, and the carpet" said Mr.. Pol
lock, that's past praying for. Really,
irresponsible idiots like Brent should
not be allowed loose; they are a dam
myself that lie could have found some
thing better to do than incoming about
at the seaside at a time like this" He
folded the Times afresh and pounced
on new paragraph like a dog on
bone. by CAD. have you seen this,
Miss Myrtle?" he demanded Another
spy caught hanging round some water
works-trying to put germs in the
reservoir, I'll bet! my hat, and they
haven't shot him! Haven't even i'm
prisoned him! Discharged him with a
caution. Just like we English. senti-
mental set of IDIOTS! If I were head of
the war Office
But what Mr.. Pollock would have
done to set the nation and the army to
rights had he been in position to do
so was not to be unveiled just then, for
he was interrupted by the quick ring
of footsteps on the paved veranda. as
Il personable young man came briskty
UP to the window and raped upon it.
He was somewhat sketchily attired in
puttees and khaki riding breeches and
an old norfolk coat. He was redeemed
by sun and wind and aggressively
healthy of aspect, and above all he
looked exactly what we mean when we
say man is thoroughly English"
Fraulein came out of the feuilleton
to gaze at this apparition. Miss Myrtle
seemed to have fresh life blown into
here as she sat, and the irascible j. r.,
dropping his paper, bounded forward to
unIatch the window. the window which
had already been the cause of friction
and which he now artfully neglected to
close.
Come in, come in, Pennicuik. my
boy" he cried. He was the kind of
man who always called his fellows my
boy or "old chap. Come in nan and show fo,,v
services at the disposal of your coun-
try have you? Glad to hear it, my boy,
glad to hear it,
Mr. Percival Pennicuik. a deeper red
than usual suffusing his nice. boyish
face came in half laughing, half shy.
Miss Myrtle gave little SILVER which
had the double effect of being a slight
reproach to Mr. Pollock about the win
dow and of drawing attention to her
self She simpered Mr.. Pollock, right
" guessing what she wanted, introduced
the newcomer.
Let me introduce you. Mr.. Penni-
cuik, an old friend of mine and Molly's.
Miss Myrtle, Miss-er-Smith.
SMITH queried Fraulein, with
certain dignity that became her skinny
little person not badly: you mistake,
Mr. Pollock-my name is Schroeder"
Mr. Pollock's face rivaled the in
genuous Mr.. Pennicuik's in hue. "Oh,
ah. of course. il you prefer it, he COM
mented. Il only thought that you. be-
ing naturalized. might prefer
"I am not ashamed of my ancestry
replied the little woman, still unap-
peased.
mo no, of course. not" fiuttered Mr..
Pollock. shouldn't blame you if you
WERE though. Upon my soul shouldn't.
Pennicuik, this is Fraulein Schroeder"
How do you do?" said Fraulein, look
ing at the visitor. who had stood rather
awkwardly during this alteration. SO
you have turned soldier? That is good.
But why do you not wear uniform? If
the Germans come over Mere and cap
ture you they will shoot YOU"
There was such rush of fellows to
enlist they simply couldn't keep pace
with them" said Pennicuik. cheerily.
His besetting sin was a tendency to-
ward breeziness Il say. Mr.. Pollock,
when Molly wrote me thatryou and she
were down here she said Brent was
here, too"
All the answer vouchsafed to this by
Mr.. Pollock was groan.
But isn't he doing anything?" asked
Pennicuik, with incredulity in his
pleasant young voice.
HE certainly isn't doing anything at
present and / haven't heard if he thinks
of it," snapped Mr.. Pollock.
Evidently the eyeglassed parsonage