The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-05-20
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GREEN
FANCY
Bv GEORGE BARR
McCUTCHEON
Auiho, Of "GRAUSTARK." THE
HOLLOW OF HER HAM" ""THE
PRINCE OF CRAUSTARK." ETC.
Couyiah, By Dodd. Mead and Company. Inc.
Continued From Last Friday


suit. Joseph's coat of many colors was
no longer vision of childhood. Il
was a reality. The checks were ar
ipch square and each cube had a mar
row border of azure blue. The genera
tone was a dirty gray, due no doubt tt
age and constitution that would no
allow it to outlive it's usefulness,
"Meet Mr.. Bacon, Mr.. Barnes" in
troduced Mr.. Dillingford, going to th'
needless exertion of indicating Mr.. Ba
con with e generous sweep of his fire.,
hand. "Jur heavy leads. Mr.. Monta
que Bacon, also Of New York"
~Ham and eggs, pork tenderloln
country sausage, rump steak ara
spring chicken" said Mr.. Bacon In ,
cavernous voice, getting it over will
while the list was fresh in his mem
ory. "Fried and boiled potatoes, beans
succotash, onions, stewed tomatoes ant
-er-just moment, please. Fried
and boiled potatoes, beans"
"Ham and eggs, potatoes and cup
or two of Coffee" said Barnes, sup
pressing desire to laugh.
"And apple pie" concluded the
waiter triumphantly. II knew I'd gel
It If you gave me time. AS you may
have observed, my dear sir, am not
what you would call an experienced
waiter. As matter Of fact, +"
The bell downstairs rang violently
Mr.. Bacon departed in great haste.
While the traveller performed his alb
lutions Mr.. Dillingford, for the moment
disengaged, sat upon the edge Of the
bed and enjoyed himself. he talked,
/ "We were nine at the star" !" said he
pensively. "Grsdually we were re-
duesd to seyen, not including the man.
ager. Two Of 'em escaped before the
Shash. The low comedian and char
acter old woman. Joe Buckley and his
wife. That left the old man-t mean
Nr. Rushcroft, the star-Lyndon Rush
Croft, you know-myself and Bacon;
Tommy Gray, Miss Rushcroft, Miss
Hughes and woman named Bradley,
seven Of US. The woman named Brad
ley said her mother was dying In But.
falo, so the rest of US scraped together
all the money we had-nine dollars
and sixty cents-and did the right
thing by her. Actors are always do.
ing darn-fool things like that, Mr.
Barnes. And what do you suppose she
did? She took that money and bought
two tickets to Albany, one for herself
and another for the manager Of the
company-the lowest, meanest orner'
lest white man that ever But am
grabbing the old mans part. You
ought to her what he has to say about
Mr.. Manager. He can use words
never even heard of before. So that
leaves just the four of us here, work
ing off the two days board bill OF
Bradley and the manager, Rushcroft's
ungodly spree, and at the same time
keeping our own slate clean. Miss
Thackeray will no doubt make up your
bed in the morning. She is tempo,
Tarily a chambermaid. Cracking fine
girl, too. Are you all ready? I'll lead
YOU to the dining room. Or would you
prefer a little appetizer beforehand
The taproom is right on the way. You
mustn't call it the bar. Everybody ir
that little graveyard town down the
road would turn over completely Il
you did. Hallowed tradition, yor
know"
sI don't mind having cocktail. VIII
you join me?"
"As a matter Of fact, I'm expected
to-" confessed Mr.. Dillingford. "We'vt
been drawing quite bit Of custom tt
the taproom. The rubes like to 81
around and listen to conversation
about Broadway and Bunker Hill ant
Old Point Comfort and other places
and then 60 home and tell the neigh
bors that they know quite a numbe
of stage people. Human nature,
guess. Listenl Hear that? Rush
croft reciting 'Gunga DIM You can
hear the thunder for the noise he
making"
The descended the stairs and en-
tered the taproom, where dozen me-
were seated. around the tables, all o
them with pewter mugs in front o
them. Standing at the top table-tha
iss to say, the one farthest remoVe
from the door and commanding the al
tention Of every creature in the roor
was the imposing figure of Lyndo
Rushcroft. He was reching. In a 81
norous voice and with tremendous fel
vor, the famous Kipling poem. .
genial smile wiped the tragic EXPIRE:
sion from his face. He advanced upo
Barnes and the beaming Mr.. Dillint
ford, his hand extended.
my dear fellow" he exclaimed n
soundingly, show are you?" Cordis
ity bocmed in his voice. II heard 20
had arrived. Welcome-thricefold we
Engraved Cards and Invitations
MI. prooe ond Ranner ca