Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-26


claret the unknown who had supplied
the feast must have been most es-
timable man. A man of UNDER
standing and parts. a man not to
be deluded by specious wine lists, a
generous warmth hearted and full
blooded soul--and here he was.
A step sounded on the verandah,
the window was pushed open and
man of forty years or so, we'll dressed,
tall, thin, dark and saturnine, stood
before the feaster.
He showed no surprise. Removing
his hat he bowed.
Jones half rose.
'.Hello," said he confusedly, with
his mouth full-then he subsidized into
his chair.
II must apologize for being late"
said the tall man, placing his hat on
a chair, rubbing his long hands to-
gether and moving to the vacant seat.
Il was unavoidably detained. But
I'm glad you did not wait supper"
He took his seat, spread his napkin
on his knees and poured himself out
q glass of claret. His eyes We're fixed
on the sovereign lying upon the CLOTH
He had noted 1t from the first. Jones
picked 1t UP and put it in his pocket
Then. as II in reply to question:: Il
will have a wing, please"
Jones cut wing of the fowl placed
1t in the extra plate which he had
pldCeu on one sue Oh inc tdDlS anu
presented 1t. The other cut himself
some bread, helped himself to salad
salt and pepper and started eating,
absolutely as though nothing un-
usual had occurred or was occurring.
For half minute or SO neither
spoke. Then Jones said
Look here" said he, 1T want to
make some explanations"
Explanations" said the long man;
what about2"
Jones laughed
THAT sovereign which put on the
table and which have put back in
my pocket. / must apologize. Had I
gone away before you returned that
would have been left behind to show
that your room had been entered
by some cad who had committed an
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. you will be-
lleve that"
The long man bowed.
But" went on Jones, "by O. man
who was driven by circumstances to
ton"
The other had suddenly remembered
the ham and had risen and was help
ing himself. his pince-nez. which he
wore on a ribbon and evidently
only for reading purposes, dangling
against his waistcoat buttons.
by circumstance" said he, 'that is
interesting. Circumstance Is the
master dramatist--are you interested
in the drama?"
"Interested!" said Jones. "why. 7
am drama. reckon I'm the big
gest drama ever written, and that's
why am here tonight"
"Ah," said the other, this is becom-
Ing more Interesting still or promising.
to become, for I warn you, lainly,
that what may appear of intense in
terest to the individual Is generally of
little interest to the general Now a
man may, let's say commit some little
act that the thing we call justice
disapproves Of, and eluding Justice
finds himself pressed by circumstance
into queer and dramatic positions.
those positions though of momentary
and Intense interest to the man in
question would be of the vaguest in
terest to the man in the stalls or the
girls eating buns in the gallery, un-
loss they We're connected by that
thread of-what shall we call it
that is the backbone of the thing we
call story"
"oh. justice isn't bothering after
me-" said Jones. Then vague rec
objections began to stir in his mind.
that long glabrous face. the set of
that Jaw. that forehead. that hair,
why. you're Mr.. Kellerman, aren't
your said he.
The other bowed.
Good heavens said Jones. IT ought
~ nave NDo"H YOU. j We seen your
picture often enough in the States,
ana your cinema plays-haVen't read
your books, for I'm not a reading man
but I've been fair crazy over your
cinema plays"
Kellerman bowed.
Help yourself to some cheese" said
he, ITS good. I get it from Fortnum
and Masons. When I stepped into
this room and saw you here. for the
first moment / was going to kick
fun with you and freeze you out So
you're an American? You are well
come. But just tell me this. Why
did you come in, and how?"
II came in because L am being
chased" said Jones. IT'S not the
law: l reckon I'm an honest citizen
lin purpose. anyhow, and as to how
] came In, / wanted crust of bread
and rang at your hall door"
Servants don't sleep here" said
Kellerman. Cook shores. bungalow
like q fiddle for conveying sounds,
come here for sleep and rest. They
sleep at a cottage down the road"
"So?" said Jones. well. getting no
reply / looked in at the window, saw
the supper and came In"
That's just the sort of thing that
might occur in a photo play said
Kellerman. when l saw you. as /
stepped in. sitting quietly at supper
the situation struck me at once"
You call that a situation" said
Jones. IT'S bald to some of the sit
nations ] have been in for the last
God knows how long"
you interest me-" said Iiellerman,
4, lat, 1T a1,n tli liz