Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-15
Drums and Things for Bub
Bv SeWell Ford.

~ TILL, what else could you expect
of 210-pound young hick who
wore a baby-biue tie and carried
~ a pearl-handled pocketknife in a
channels case? That's as good a pen
and ink closeup as l can give you of
this Ham. Curtis party. Well, maybe
might add that he had a cute little
rosebud mouth, ears like lima beans
and wore his mud-colored hair brushed
straight back, like the boys in the COL
lar ads.
Near as | can make out, young Mr..
Curtis is in trainin' to help his old man
run the bond business-that is, one of
these days. But he don't seem in any
grand rush to horn in on the regular 9
to schedule. No, he believes in easin'
himself into high finance gradual and
not lettin' his enthusiasm for work in
teFfefe with any important country club
dates, such as garden teas and dinner
dances. Besides, there are the young
ladies.
Trust q fat man for not overlookin'
the fair sex. Uh-huh! That may not
be the regulation dope. but it's the way
weight they carry the mushier they're
apt to be. Take Ham. Curtis as Exhibit
A. Watch him at any social function,
from an afternoon tea fight to an annual
ball, and you'll see him buzzin' around
like an overfed butterfly, first with one
town 'em of into shady. hooks and
dark corners, and gettin' over the
Romeo lines, 1 expect, at every openin'
How he gets away with it, considerin
that 44belt measure and the roll of fat
where the back Of his neck ought to be,
Is past me, but he seems to be quite 2
success.
AS for minglin' much with his fell
low males, that appears to bore Ham
more or less. You don't find him
hangin' around the billiard room
swappin' anecdotes with the other
young hicks while the Jazz orchestra
Ia zoomin' out a one-step or a fox trot
Not Ham. At the first squeal of the
saxophone he'll be out on the floor
up against his manly chest. shakin
out the shimmy steps like he was u
sparrow takin' a dust bath.
So l feel highly honored. as the
toastmaster so often says. when here
the other night Ham. follows me onto
the sos and slides into two-thirds OF
my seat.
about s that little Miss .' Candy s; who's Who's
visiting at the Bob Ellinses'e"
"Eh?" says !. Amt you held her
hand and told her the story of your
life yet? Why. you've had nearly two
whole days! Been in Jail, or what?"
he. Had a couple of dances with her
at the Country Club the other night.
And. say, she's perfectly all right
But somehow 1 didn't seem to get on
with her very WELL"
Now that's strange" says L
Couldn't you lead her out to your
fav-rite nook and spring the usual
lines?"
Ham pouts peevish. He amt much
used to being kidded, but in this case
it's plain he's made up his mind to
stand for it. because he knows I'm in
with the Ellinses and maybe can be
helpful:
Toresy say. he. 1 like s girls N1 we'll
enough. and perhaps I have played
around with them more or less; but
honestly, there's been nothing serious
until-well. until met Edith"
"Oh" says l. Got that far durin'
the second dance, did you? Her name
is Edith. is it? How'd you discover
that?"
asked her, naturally" says Ham.
II always do. It's such q sweet name.
Edith. Don't you think so?'
''Never tasted it," says I.
"Oh. you know what I meah." says
he. Seems to be so appropriate for
her. Really, I couldn't imagine her
having any other name. 1t goes so
well with her clear gray eyes, and
manner. Stunning hair she has, too.
I'm crazy about ash blondes"
Are you?" says /. smotherin' a
yawn. I was beginnin' to wonder If
I'd got to listen to this sort of thing
all the way home.
Not all of them. Of course" says
Ham. but I've always admired the
say, Tofchy; just who Is she. where
does she come from, and-and all
that?"
IT see," says I. Want to card in
dex her pedigree, Ell? Well, 1 don't
know as can supply all the details,
but I understand she comes from Bal
tmore-you must say it Bawlt'mer,
you know-and she's here with her
mother, who's an old friend of Mrs.
ing school, or mething. And her
dads president Of a steamship COM
pany. AS for her favorite flower,
or movie actress. or what opera she
likes best couldn't
mo. Of course not" breaks in Ham.
But what about this little brother
who is with themT
yes, / believe there is a brother"
says !.
Ham.
I shakes my head. Possibly" says
I. Sometimes they are and then
again. Haven't heard much about
him. In fact. rye barely seen Miss
Candy herself. What's the idea.
thor~h9 Whv M iptAroatAd in 11ttla
brotherr
Edith talked as though she was
awfully fond of him." says Ham.
"Bub, she called him; sometimes Baby
and I was wondering if
if 1 couldn't be nice to him in some
way"
Strikes me as good hunch." says
But just how?' insists Ham. TN
Whit way can one be nice to a baby
brother that one doesn't know? I
thought I'd ask you. Torchy. because
you have . youngster of your own
and ought to know what he likes"
OH says ]: ,- seoins r to Ca call eh -
oo's o,v n ,sia - ssys s me- and no
take with me that would please
"Wny, that ought to b. easy" says
I. ''Not candy. I should say. Most
Riddles like 1t we'll enough. but few
ire allowed to gorge themselves on
and gumdrops and SO on.
Nor cigarettes. nor gum. nor tickets
10 roof garden shows. You gotta be
,hoosey about what you take to
you know, Ham,"
"Oh, say!' he protests. .
well, then" says I. drop into
some toy department and load up with
anything that comes handy. First off.
! drum. Kids like anything thatll
make a noise, and. believe me, If you
show up with a drum for Bub you'll
most likely get in strong with him
right away"
Thanks. Torchy." says he. I'll