The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-11-19
When is a Cup-Up
A SHORT STORY By SEWELL FORD

the bawth room, no golf, no billiards.
But the most bitter blow of all was
having to assemble at $3.50 for a
company breakfast. Fawncy! A lot
of fried things, when all I ever take
is tea and toast and marmalade. And
it's so CHASTITY, getting up at that
hour of the morning. And facing
sausages and griddle cakes, too! But
we did it; Ell, Madge
Unjust have been narrowing" says
Picnkney. NOW you know how the
early Christian martyrs felt, Oggie.
How noble of you not to perish on
the breakfast table perhaps with your
fork spearing a sausage and second
helping of pancakes clutched in your
other hand"
"Now stop spooing!" says Oggie.
81 know what you would have done
sent your little wife down after rolls
and coffee and made her tell them
you'd been ill at night. Eth, Jerry?"
| Oh, yes, when them two get to
kiddin' each other they're almost
rough about it. I expect they pulled
some good comedy lines, too. I'll ad-
NIT that the bulk of it got past me,
but the ladies giggled more or less,
and Oggie fairly roared at some of
his own jabs, and altogether I sup
pose our table was more or less
noisy. Might have seemed so on &C
count of the other guests being so
quiet. Couldn't have been more'n a
couple of dozen besides our party,
most of 'em kind of oldish couples
who was tendin' strictly to the job of
wadin' through the menu.
We got to lookin' around and
framin' 'em up and remarkin' what
odd types they were. Specially one
pair that had been showed over into
dark corner at little table against
the wall. Course, there was plenty
of places on the lake side, where it
was bright and cheerful, but it's plain
the head waiter had shunted these
two over there on purpose, figurin'
that he wouldn't get a tip out of 'em
anyway.
The female half of the sketch is a
dumpy old girl who's dressed kind
of dowdy and old-fashioned, while
the man is a heavy-set, short-legged
gent with his hair cut round in the
back and jutty black eyebrows.
couldn't see his face very well as he
keeps it near his plate. He's just
eating and not sayin' a word.
"Sociable couple, eh?" comments
Oggie. wholly occupied with the
process of mastication."
poor old things!" says Mrs. Oggie.
Probably they're unused to eating
in public. Now I'll wager if he could
take his coat off and tuck his napkin
under his chin he'd feel much more
at home"
Suppose you suggest to him.
says Pinckney, "that we are perfectly
willing to waive the conventions
where do they come from, such
persons?" asks Oggie. "Where and
why? Surely, they can't be enjoying
themselves, can they?"
"Ask Shorty" says Pinckney.
"My guess is that they are" says
I. 81 can almost tell where they
come from, too. Them ears with the
hair tufts in 'em look sort of familiar
If I could only get better look at
his face-There, he's turnin' his
head. Why, sure! That's Alonzo T.
ellis, president of the Nut and Bolt
Works, from my own home town.
Amt it, Sadie?"
And Mrs. McCabe backs me up.
"Pm almost sure it is" says she.
| "Oh?" says Oggie. "Neighbors of
yours? trust we haven't said any
thing we"
Don't worry" says Sadie. They're
rather distant neighbors-four or
five miles, think. In fact, I've never
seen Mrs. ellis before. Where is it
I've seen him, Shortly"
eat political rallies, most likely
says I. "He's one of the kind they
fry the fat out of durin' campaigns
so they line him up with the others
at the back of the stage when the big
candidates come out to speak. Or
maybe you've seen him down at the
First National, where he'e a direc
tor"
i "That's it at the bank!" says Sadie
"But l thought I'd never noticed him
at the Yacht Club"
, mo-" says 1. 81 expect Alonzo AIM
J very chubby"
81 am truly relieved" says Oggie
| "Now perhaps may add that youl
: Mr.. Gfllis seems to have meek and
lowly spirit. Evidently he wishes 6
second plate of ice cream but hardly