Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-02
CHAPTER xxx.
The Last Straw.

The Last Straw.
What was that you said about
our having an appointment at half
past severn" asked Mr.. Cupples as
the two came out of the great gate
way of the pile of flats. Have we
such an appointment"
Certainly we have" replied
Trent. "You are dining with me-
Only one thing can properly cele-
brate this occasion, and that is a
dinner for which I pay. No, no! l
asked you first. I have got right
down to the bottom of case that
must be unique, a case that has
troubled even my mind for over a
year, and if that isn't a good reason
for standing a dinner. I don't know
what is. Cupples, we will not go to
my club. This is to be festival,
and to be seen in a London club in
state of pleasurable emotion is
more than enough to shatter any
mans career. Besides that, the din
ner there is always the same, or at
least they always make it taste the
same. l know not how. The eternal
dinner at my club hath bored mil
lions of members like me, and shall
bore; but tonight let the feast be
spread in vain, so far as we are con-
cerned. We will not go where the
satraps throng the hall. We will go
to Sheppard's."
who is Sheppard" asked Mr.
Cupples mildly, as they proceeded up
Victoria street. His companion went
with an unnatural lightness, and a
policeman observing his face,
smiled indu1gently at a look Of hap
piness which he could only attribute
to alcohol.
who is sheppard?" echoed
Trent with bitter emphasis. THAT
question, if you yill pardon me for
saying so, Cupp1es, is thoroughly
characteristic of the spirit of aimless
inquiry prevailing in this restless
day. suggest our dining at Shep-
pard's and instantly YOU fold your
arms and demand, in a frenzy of in
tellectual pride. to know who Shop
pard is before you will cross the
threshold of Sheppard's. l am not
going to pander to the vices of the
modern mind. Sheppard's is a place
where one can dine. I do not know
Sheppard. 1t never occurred to me
that Sheppard existed. Probably he
is a myth of totemistic origin. All
l know is that you can get bit Of
saddle of mutton at Sheppard's that
has made many an American visitor
curse the day that Christopher Co.
lumbus was born. Taxi"
A cab rolled smoothly to the curb,
and the driver received his instruc-
ton with majestic nod.
Another reason I have for sug-
costing Sheppard's," continued
Trent, feverishly lighting cigarette,
"is that I am going to be married to
the most wonderful woman in the
world. I trust the connection of
ideas is clear"
"You are going to marry Mabel!'
cried Mr.. Cupples. "My dear
friend, what good news this is!
Shake hands, Trent; this is glor-
ious! congratulate you both from
the bottom of my heart. And may
I say-I don't want to interrupt
your flow of high spirits, which is
very natural indeed, and l remember
being just the same in similar cir
cumstances long ago-but may l
say how earnestly | have hoped for
this? Mabel has seen so much un-
happiness, yet she is surely a woman
formed in the great purpose of hui
mainly to be the best influence in
the life of good man. But I did
not know her mind as regarded
yourself Your mind I have known
for some time" Mr.. Cupples went
on, with twinkle in his eye that
would have done credit to the world
iicst of creatures. 81 saw it at once
when you were both dining at my
house, and you sat listening to Pro-
lessor Peppmuller and looking at
her. Some of us older fellows have
our wits about us still, my dear boy"
Mabel says she knew it before
that" replied Trent with a slightly
crestfallen air. "And l thought I
was acting the part of a person who
was not mad about her to the life.
Well, I never was any good at dis
sembling. I shouldn't wonder if
even old Peppmuller noticed some
thing through his double convex
lenses. But however crazy | may
have been as an undeclared sutton, |
am going to be much worse now.
Here's the place." he broke off, as
the cab rushed down a side street
and swung round corner into a
broad and populous thoroughfare.
Were there already" The cab
drew up.
Here we are" said Trent as he
paid the man and led Mr.. Cupples
into a long paneled room set with
many tables and filled with a hum Of
talk. This is the house of fulfill
ment of craving, this is the bower
with the roses about it. l see
there are three bookmakers eating
oork ~ INV fayor;to t,h1e We y;1t