Evening star., 1921-10-09

and lose a wheel it was his duty.
! when invited to read at Mrs. VIII
loughby Jackson's, to leave New York
| with an extra wheel. or two extra
wheels, or an extra automobile, or a
dozen extra automobiles, to hurry
him on his way if he had an accident,
so that he might arrive at 8 o'clock,
as agreed. Therefore, while Regi-
nald Barr sat on the curb and cursed
in quite unpoetic terms his chauffeur,
Mrs. Jackson glanced again and again
at her watch and became more and
more provoked.
At this most jnauspicious moment
Benny Barr. with his sample copy OF
Aunt James Cook Book" under his
arm, his hat on one side and his
cigarette clinging to one side of his
lower lip. walked up the steps cross
ed Mrs. Willoughby Jackson's veran-
da and placed his thumb firmly
against the bell button.
Instantly the door opened, and Mrs
Jackson's butler (there were but two
in Westcote) bent his head rever-
emily
James. "The ladies are quite ready
for you. They have been waiting. in
fact, sir
"Oh. stop, You don't mean it
George" said Benny. playfully. Just
crazy to see me, I supposeT
We'll, yes. sir. so you might say
Extremely impatient at least. SIR
quite worried because Of your non
arriv al"
,, HAS she now" exclaimed Benny
Poor old dame. and to think 1 have
kept her waiting! What's this, 6
tea party? Excuse mel"
LIE turned toward the door but
Jammes kindly and with great firm.
ness placed himself between Benny
| and the exit. James had his owI
idea of poets and their ways. Thi.
one should not escape if he coult
prevent it. Not until he had beer
safely delivered to Mrs. Willoughb,
! "Now. quit, Augustus" said Benny
good d-naturedly. Let me out. III
come back after the hoi polloi ha:
scooted. I can't sell a book in {
crowd like that"
Il dare say you are right, sir" sait
James, defending the door. but Mrs
jackson would be quite put out If
We'll, Bill. you can search me-!
exclaimed Benny. Maybe it is al
right, but it looks like some sort o1
a put-up job to me. Usually I dom
me out. What's the gamer
The explanation might have beer
! too much for James, but he was moi
| called upon to make 1t. Mrs: vii
loughby Jackson had heard the
! voices in the hall and advanced upor
Benny in the full splendor of he,
regalia, from lorgnette to bronze sill
| stockings.
my dear Mr. Barr" she cried
holding out her hand. II am so re-
lieved. I had begun to fear you were
"Say, now" said Benny. Just wal
| a minute. Let me get this straight
What is the joke? Who are these
DANES and for what am I supposed te
be expected for?"
"Ah! poetic eccentricities!" sale
, Mrs. Wilioughby Jackson playfully
book, so we quite understand eacf
"Oh, do WEI" said Benny. II know
this is a cooking class. Am I right? ?
"Now. please" said Mrs. Willough
by Jackson. James, will you TAX
added to Benny, Mrs. Willoughb,
Jackson, Eleanor's aunt. and now
| will Introduce you to the ladies o.
the Thursday Afternoon Club"
| "Eleanor's aunt" said Benny. t
himself. THAT doesn't sound so bad
who 1 am. Well. it will do no harm
to have gilt=edge introduction t.
some of Westcote's swellest. Mayb,
IL can pull off a few sales" and h.
entered the parlor behind Mrs. Viii
lloughby Jackson.
Ladies'" said Mrs. Jackson in hel
best club voice, this is Mr.. Bar
whom we have been awaiting will
such genuine impatience. Mr.. Barr
Mrs. Longworthy, our vice president
Miss Simms, our secretary. Mrs
!Dahlgren, our treasurer"
| Over each extended hand, as h
grasped it (they extend the hand il
Westcote, particularly to celebrated
poets), Benny bowed and uttered
"Glad to meet you"
Eleanor. hearing, came to the doc
and looked into the parlor. Sh
gasped as she saw Mrs. Willoughb.
jackson introducing some unknowl
man as MIR. Barr, the poet. She wa
| tempted to cry out, but the look o
pride on tine face of her aunt warne'
her that to heap ridicule on tina
queenly lady by Jdenou1cing this in
terloper would be a most unkind AM
shocking thing. She drew back ant
pressed her hands to her temples
thinking, and each moment Benny
the book agent. was introduced to an
other Of Westcote's smart set.
| "And of course you know Eleanor,
said Mrs. Willoughby Jackson pleas
antly. Eleanor grasped one OF tn
portieres with q trembling hand an
Hooked full into Benny's twinkltnl
eyes. .o
Ei.anor drew hack. Then. sudden