Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-05
NY way, he's a cheerful nut,
\ this Perry Platt. and l expect
. that's how he gets away with

A NY way, he's a cheerful nut,
~ this Perry Platt and l expect
~ that's how he gets away with
SO much hokum. It's that sim
pie smile of his and the innocent
stare in them Alice-blue eyes. Hon
est, he can pull off stuff that would
get anybody else all gummed up with
trouble, and come out of it with peo-
pie pattin' him on the back and askin
him to drop in for tea next Wednes-
day; no matter whether it's crashin
into the wrong house for dinner
party, or listin' one of Old Hickorys
pet stocks seven points off the market
in quarterly report.
One of the bright young bondroom
hicks. Perry is. and how the Corfu
gated Trust is ever going to struggle
through hard year with HIM as a
Handicap is what's worryin' more
than me. Ask Mr.. Piddie if you want
to hear the prologue to lodge of
sorrow. And yet. half an hour after
one of Perry's worst breaks he'll
have Piddie smotherin' Il smoker over
some smart-setty tale he's whispered
confidential in his off ear.
He's class, Perry is. No diScountin
that item. Old Park avenue family
and all that sort of thing. Knows the
season QeDutdnleS ny tnelT CuuHiily
nicknames, belongs to the same clubs
as Mr.. Robert, ana gets his name in
Abe society notes frequent by actin
as usher or best man at church we'd
dings. And there's nothing Piddie
falls harder for than that. you know.
Course, Perry's outside income amt
anything that calls for an expert ac-
countant to figure out, but he's got
one, all the same. And even if he is
generally posted for his house ac-
count at the club, and has overdue
statements from his tailor and haber-
dasher, he can still stroll into a few
5th avenue shops, pick out this or
that, and tell 'em Charge" without
battin' an eyelash- He don't stop to
figure things out. Perry; just breeZes
right ahead with his foot on the gas
pedal and trusts to luck.
That's about his program when he
gets word that he's inherited this
stun from an aunt in Washington.
Seems the old girl had married
widower for her second bet-one with
weak heart. He didn't last long,
either. but it develops that he's a
foxy old boy and. instead of 1eavin'
her his whole pile. all she gets is
the income durin' life and then it's
to go to his two daughters. Never
having been on good terms with the
ktepchildren, auntie does a little
comeback will maxim on her own.
Course. the household furniture stands
in her name, so she hunts around
for one of her relations to wish it
on when it's her turn to check out.
and the party she picks is Perry. 1
happens to be handy when he gets
the news. And first off he's kind of
disappointed.
what do you think of that, Tor
chy?" says he Furniture! Isn't
that too silly for words?"
Strikes me you amt completely
out Of luck, Perry" says 1. Might
thave been a goat ranch. or shineN
mill. or houseboat.'
"And on the other hand" goes on
Perry. "it might have been block
Of Steel preferred. or something
choosey in Anaconda Copper. or Cen
But tables and chairs and bureaus.
My word, what wretched taste. A
perfectly good aunt gone to waste,
too"
You can't keep a good man down.
though. Not for long. By the time
Perry has tucked away an economy
lunch at a one-armed joint, inhaled
his second cigarette and strolled back
to the Corrugated General offices. he
has solved the problem
he. slappin' me on the back genial.
Have your" says l. 'Then why
assault me? What is it you've got?"
An lQed nOW ~ use tHdI
ture." says Perry.
GO on. spill it," said I. "Fll bite"
but I'm not spoofng. Really" |
says he. The notion just came to |
me. It's quite simple. Pll get mar !
ried"
Huh says I. ''where'd you hear i
that was such a simple thing to do?
What about the girl?" ]
''Um-m-m. yes" says Perry. rub I
bin his chin. That's so. But I know
several very nice ones. One of them
might have me. especially if l played
up the furniture point strong. It
ought to be rather decent, some of it.
The furniture. I mean"
'Uh-huh." says l. 1T ought to be
solid gold to make the bargain even"
"Matey now. old chap, be matey."
protests Perry. II believe I'd have
been a married man long ago if 1t
hadn't been that tables and chairs
and things cost SO deuced much. But
Aara hava evarvfhinp of the sort a.