The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-11-23

at you on that occasion, though at the
time it seemed the only course to
pursue"
Sam started.
"Was it you who threw that bit of
butter?"
at was"
81 wish I'd knownl You silly chump,
you ruined my collar
"Ah, well, It's seven years ago. You
would have had to send it to the wash
anyhow by this time. But don't let
us brood on the past. Let us put our
heads together and think how we can
get you out Of this terrible situation"
Il don't want to get out of it.
confidently expect to be the hit of the
evening"
"The hit Of the EVENING" You'll
Singing!''
I'm not going to sing. I'm going
to do that imitation Of Frank Tinney
which did at the Trinity smoker.
You haven't forgotten that? You were
at the piano taking the part of the
conductor of the orchestra. What a
riot | was--we were! l say, Eustace,
old man, suppose you don't feel well
enough to come up now and take your
old part? You could do 1t without a
rehearsal. You remember how it went.
'Hullo, Ernesty 'Hullo, Frankr Why
not come along?"
'The only piano will ever sit at
will be one firmly fixed on floor that
does not heave and wobble under me-"
NONSENSE The boats as steady as
a rock now. The seas like a mill
pond"
Nevertheless, thanking you for the
suggestion, no"
"Qh, well, then I shall have to get
on as best can with that fellow Nor
timer. We've been rehearsing all the
afternoon and he seems to have the
hang Of the thing. But he won't be
really right. He has no pep, no vim.
Still, If you won't well, l
think I'll be getting along to his state
room. told him would look in for
a last rehearsal"
The door closed behind Sam, and
Eustace Hignett, lying on his back,
gave himself up to melancholy medita-
ton. He was deeply disturbed by his
cousins sad story. He knew what it
meant being engaged to Wilhelmina
Bennett. 1t was like being taken aloft
in balloon and dropped with thud
on the rocks.
His reflections were broken by the
abrupt opening of the door. Marlowe
rushed in. Eustace peered anxiously
out of his berth. There was too much
cork on his cousins face to allow Of
any real registering Of emotion, but
he could tell from his manner that all
was not well.
whats the matter?"
Sam sank on the lounge.
~rhe bOunder has quit"
''The bounder? What bounder?'
There is only one! Bream Morti-
mer, curse him There may be others
whom thoughtless critics rank as
Founders, but he is the only man really
deserving of the title. He refuses to
appear He has walked out on the
act! He has left me fiat! I went into
his stateroom just now. as arranged,
and the man was lying on his bunk,
grooming"
81 thought you said the sea was like
a mill-pond."
ut wasn't that! He's perfectly fit.
But>it seems that the silly ass took it
into his head to propose to Billie just
before dinner-apparently he's loved
her for years in a SILENT self-effacing
way-and Of course she told him that
she was engaged to me, and the thing
upset him to such an extent that he
says the idea of sitting down at
piano and helping me give an imita-
ton of Frank Tinney revolts him. He
says he intends to spend the evening
in bed. reading Schopenhauer l hope
it chokes him."
"But this is splendid! This lets you
out"
'What do you mean? Lets me out?
"Why, now you won't be able to
appear. Oh, you will be thankful for
this in years to come"
wont appear! Won't / dashed
well appear! Do you think I'm going
to disappoint that dear girl when she
is relying on me? would rather die?"
but you can't appear without a
pianist"
"I've got a pianist"
''You have?"
"Yes. A little understood shrimp of
a fellow with green face and ears
like water-wings"
II don't think l know him."
"Yes, you do He's you"
''Me!"
Eyes, you. You are going to sit at
the piano tonight"
''I'm sorry to disappoint you, but
it's Impossible. gave you my views
on the subject just now"
you've altered them"
81 haven't"
swell, you soon will. and I'll tell you
why. If you don't get up out of that
id berth you've been roosting in
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