Evening star., 1922-06-04

ana then after series OF Shrill tOOtS
got the train under way again. And
in three minutes. more or less l had
forgotten and forgiven Lem and was
being lulled to sleep once more by
the rap-tripa-trap of the rails and
the soothing hum of the electric fan.
1t must have been nearly s o'clock
next morning when l did my death
defying stunt of shining down from
the upper without the aid of the por-
ter stepladder and oozed into the
lower berth, where | found Inez with
her nose pressed against the pane.
Look. Trilby May" says she. ex-
cited. Little leaves. New ones"
You're quite right, Inez." says /.
Regular oaks at that. And they're
just getting on their spring dress"
Spring" says Inez. We had that
and summer already"
But now were slipping back
again." says /. IF you don't believe
it take a sniff of that air straining
in through the dust sheet. Some pep
and life to that, eh? Real North
Carolina mountain air, that is. And
for the love of Mike. Inez. throw on
some clothes and let's make a break
for the dressing room. I'm going to
feel the need of some bacon and eggs
and hot coffee very soon"
Evidently Inez had similar long
ings. for she made quick getaway
and in less than twenty minutes We
were in the dining car, where we
found Uncle Nels and Barry half way
through breakfast What is more
comfy or cheering. either. than a
bright, newly vanished diner. espe-
ciaIly on a morning like this, with
the crisp sunshine flashing on the
silverware, new scenes sliding past
outside. and smiling darky waiter
juggling a loaded tray over your
head? I'll say home was never like
this.
Well" says Barry. we're due at
this Pineland joint about 1890"
Then we get in with them smart
settlers, eh?" asks Uncle Nels.
That's according to the hunch we
yacht" says I. And 1 hope we all
have costumes sporty enough to
make the grade in
I'll have to have a pressing job
done on my soup-and OUTFIT
adds Barry. "Eut what about Uncle
Nels? How will he get by without
a dinner coat?"
ooh. he'll have to gussie up in his
white serge" says 1, land if the head
waiter looks shocked, we'll explain
that he's an eccentric millionaire who
c1n
X x X
A NYWAY. we were all set for a
"a plunge into the mad whirl of life
among the gay upper crusters. al
though l suspect most of US were
a bit nervous over the prospect. 1
had made Inez promise not to exer-
else her gum except in the privacy
of her own room, and I'd warned
Uncle Nels once more that he must
do all his finger-nail amputating be-
fore we got there. So I was little
relieved, whep we finally pulled into
the Pineland station. to notice that
We had the station bus all to our
selves.
"Ain't no other swells gettin' off
here?" asks Inez.
Seems not" says I. Probably
they're all on hand"
At least, the doorman and the bell
hops seemed glad to see US. and even
the room clerk gave us a friendly
greeting. oh, yes, he could give US
whole suite with adjoining rooms.
Fll say they were nice quarters, too,
with plenty of outside windows and a
fine view out across the hills. And
when you've been in fiat Florida for
few weeks even a mound as big as
a haystack looks good. -'
1t wasn't until we grouped our
| selves for the grand entry into the
dining room at luncheon time that
I got my first jar. l had expected to
crash In among mob of smart folks
wearing zippy sport clothes and chat
tering society gossip. And here was
this whaling big dining room, with
ia hundred or more tables, head
waiter and three assistants. and a
young army of mattresses and bus
boys all in white-and not more than
a dozen guests, sitting around lone
some by ,twos and threes.
"Are we too early or too late?'
whispers Barry.
Search me-" says I. "They must
be around somewhere"
But we couldn't find 'em. A few
more did straggle in before we had
finished our meal, but only three or
four out Of the whole lot looked like
the kind who were used to having