Evening star., 1921-07-03

can't hand it much. but it was served
in funny crockery bowls. and the
bread looked like an overgrown pan
cake. and the muddy black coffee
came in dinky little brass cups. so
there was novelty if not nOurishment.
And as a finishing touch the Mullah
person lugSed over something that
looked like a young baseburner coA
stove and touched a match to it:
plains Barry, UNIV hiding three flexible
tubes and passing them around.
Have a few puffs:"
iii try anything once" says I.
"Pah" says Inez. after one Whit.
At which Mr.. Mullah. who'd been
lingering near and had caught the re-
mark. proceeds tV improve on his act
by letting on to be furious: Dog
of an Unbeliever" he yells. rs it so
thou would mock the sacred rites of
hospitality? By Allah, but it shall
not be-
Hey" asks Inez.
Smoke, daughter of the hated
B:aour." he tells her. Smoke ere the
curse of the Mad Mullah descends
upon yOu!'
He's standing over her threatening.
his dull eyes leering from his painted
face. and lean finger pointing to the
pipe tube. Two girls who had come in
with another party and were squat
ting on cushions nearby started gig
coming in from the kitchen with, a
tray of food stops to grin.
How foolish!" says Inez. waving
him away.
What" shouts the mullah. "Sacri-
lege in the tent! Smoke, woman, The
1oh hnr
with that he jams the mouthpiece be-
tween her lips.
"Oh. say now"' protests Barry.
"Silence: dog" says the other.
Smoke she must"
He. certainly did look fierce in the
outlandish rig and it was hard to
tell whether he was just play acting
or what. Almost any girl would have
been scared stiff by that time. But
not Inez. What she can't see she
might be afraid Of. but nothing else.
"You get fresh. eh?" says 1nez.
Huh
A ND the next thing this Mullah
~ party knows she has reached up.
grabbed him by the neck. pulled him
down across her knees, and is laying
on the spanks like a cranky school
maam who's had her picture drawn
on the blackboard. They weren't any
love pats. either. Inez was brought
up on a farm with four brothers and
she knows just what to do when a
male treats her rough. Also she's
been used to swinging wood ak
or a bean fail for hours at a stretch.
And she sure made the dust fly from
those red cotton bags Mr.. Mullah was
wearing for trousers.
ouch! Wowey." he screams, kick
ing and wriggling. stop her, Gwen
dolyn"
But Gwendolyn. who seems to be
the female with the revised hair,
rocks back and forth with her hands
on her hips and let's the chuckles flow
"oh. Percey!" she gurgles. You look
too funny for words"
There" says Inez, giving him one
last whack to grow on; II guess you
At which she gives him shove that
sends him rolling across the rug al
most into a dinner party group that
have been holding their breath as
they watched.
why, Inez" says I. How impetu-
GUS"
AS for Barry Platt, he has watched
this strong arm exhibition without
saving word, but he acts sort OF
awed and thoughtful.
Naturally the one who is most dls-
turbed by this little outbreak Of tenn
permanent is Percy. the Mad Mupah.
Maybe he wasn't really mad before,
but there's no doubt about it now.
After he's picked himself up and felt
to see if his bones are all whole ne
stalks tragic over to Gwendolyn. who
still shows signs of mirth.
"All right" he, growls at her: i:
ends it all. Understand?'
"Why, whatever do you mean, Per-
cey" says she. Ends WHAT"
Everything between u.s." says he.
I've stood for good deal from you
Gwendolyn, ever since you came be-
tween me and Birdie Collins. You
queered an act that I'd always been
able to book for big time in the best
houses. That sketch of mine had
been a knockout for two seasons un-
place. After that-nothing but can
celed contracts. And then you buff
faloed me into this. fool enterprise
Bah! 1t was bad enough having to
eat leftover spaghetti. three times g
day and watching you behave kitten;
young bank clerks. But when you
ring in female Dempsey and let heel
nearly kill me, that is the final touch
I'm through. Gwendolyn:
"Really?' says she. seems 10 me
I've heard you say something like
that before. Percey dear?"
Don't Percey-dear me-" he snaps
"Tll show you"
And he tears off the green turban
slamming it on the floor and jumping
on it peevish. Next he sheds the
spangled jacket, and as he throws
that into a corner he dashes toward
"Inez." says I. I'm afraid you've
busted up the show"
"I no care" says Inez.
"Still." says I. perhaps we'd better
register a word or two of sympathy
with the lady manager. Eth. Barry"
"Oh, I don't know" says Barry
"She doesn't seem to be much wor-
RED. Perhaps Percey is only pulling
an old bluff"
"If he is" says I. 'he's making II
thorough. See?"
For here comes the ex-Mullah car
rying a battered kit bag with the end
of a necktie and part of a collar
sticking from one corner. He has
washed of most of the makeup and
has made a quick change to citizens
clothes.
percy" gasps Gwendolyn. where
where are you going?"
ITO find -Birdjen-says- : II know