Evening star., 1921-04-24
WEE HAS A LAUGH

n About what people want and d
~ what they don't want. Also 1t
may be we'll enough to feel
sorry for folks. but when you start in
fixin' things up for 'em you're takin
q chance Still, it's being done in the
best circles.
And, il do admit it myself. we've
rot. right in our family. one OF the
Srandest little fxers in the business.
Uh-huh. Wee. Not that she's one OF
the kind to nose in on all occasions
but she sure is an easy sympathizer'
and if it comes right. without seemin
to do the goat act, she's apt to slip
over a few kind words or maybe
generous act here and there.
Yet in this case of Max Hadley's I
didn't quite see how anything could
he done. We didn't deliberately hunt
up Max with the idea of spiIlin any
sympathy. What we was a1ter was
ducks-Muscovy ducks. Maybe you
don't know that particular brand. or
maybe you're an expert But if you've
ever met one roasted just right, with
the proper kind of STUN and a
couple of slices of bacon draped across
his wishbone, and some crao apple
Jelly on the side-wel, III let you
tell 'em.
Where Wee and 1 first got acauaint-
cd with choice nourishment OF that
kind was durin' a Sunday dinner up
at the Robert Ellinses once last win
ter. Oh. yes. That's one or the ao-
vantages of being confidential pri-
yate sec an livin' in thesame suburo
with the boss AS I remember. I was
helped oftener to the duck. but Wee
was more enthusiastic in sayin' how
good it was.
Perfectly delicious" says Wee to
Mrs. Bob. Where on earth do you
fnd such things? 1 never see them in
the market"
Which was where Mr.. Robert comes
in with this sketchy description Of
Maximillian Hadley and his wild
feather farm.
ITS way out toward Montauk
Point, nearly a twohour drive from
Accommodating place enough after
you get there-just sand dunes and
beach plum bushes. miles from any
where. And this Hadley person VINO
owns it is a queer character. Started
1T four or five years ago as private
game preserve. 1 believe his scheme
was to raise all sorts of wild game
for the big New York hotels-English
pheasants. partridges, quail, canvass
back ducks and so on. Sounds rather
crazy, doesn't it? But he certainly
went into it on a big scale-fenced
in more than a hundred acres OF land.
put up elaborate buildings and bought
q lot of fancy game birds. AS a side
line he planned to entertain hunting
parties over the week ends. You
could go out there with your pet
choke bore and your particular friends.
shoot as much game as you cared to
and have it served for dinner the same
uight-all at a certain price.
UDUT somehow the enterprise failed
to work out. Either the quail de-
clined to stay where they'd been care ]
fully bred. or they refused to be hatched
to order. 1 don't know. Anyway, very
few hunting parties ever went there and
Hadley's great scheme dwindled down to !
the raising Of Muscovy ducks, which he |
sells whenever any one has energy
enough to drive out after 'em. There
was Mrs. HAdley with him for time, |
but I think she must have quit. At
least 1 saw no evidences Of her the |
last time was out. Max is still there. |
though. but he's looking rather seedy
these days. Quite good looking. well
started in. Used to drive around in a |
roadster and wear sport clothes. Now
he rides a bicycle and wears old khaki |
uniforms that he must have bought at |
some Army sale. But. then. suppose
the ducks don't mind
They taste like they'd lived salts |
ied, anyway" says I.
And afterwards. about once a week
regular. Wee would announce: You
know. Torchy, we must drive out and
get some of those ducks with the
queer name very soon.
"Uh-huh.- I'd agree. and it would
ride at that until the next time.
But then here the other day she |
comes home from a shopping trip tol
town and springs this discovery on |
me: IT was in Jacquin's looking at |
hats" says she. Il found the stunning
est little toque affair, too. just al
simple-But. Torchy! Who do You sup |
pose waited on me?' |
Mrs. Jacquin?" says I. |
She shakes her head. |
Then Jack Joaquin himself" says !. J
There isn't any such person." says |
she. mo. it was no one we really /;
know, but we've heard the name"
''Of course" says /. that narrows |
y. In Y