The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-12-28

at you on that occasion, though at the
time 1t seemed the only course to
pursue"
Sam started.
"was 1t you who threw that bit Of
butterT
at was"
Il wish I'd knowni You silly chump.
you ruined my collar"
.Ah, well. It's seven years ago. You
would have had to send 1t 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.'
II don't want to get cut of 1t.
confidently expect to be the hit of the
evening"
"The hit Of the EVENING" You
Singing I"
"Tm 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 q
riot was-we werel / say, Eustace,
old man, suppose you don't feel well
enough to come up now and take your
old part7 You could do 1t without a
rehearsal. You remember how 1t went.
'Hullo, Ernestr 'Hullo. Frankr Why
not come alongr'
'"The only piano I will ever sit at
will be one firmly fixed on q floor that
does not heave and wobble under me-"
"Nonsensei The boats as steady as
q rock now. The seas like mill
pond"
Nevertheless, thanking you for the
suggestion, mol"
"Oh, well, then I shall have to get
on as best I 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, II you won't well,
think I'll be getting along to his state
room. told him would look In for
q 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 1t
meant being engaged to Wilhelmina
Bennett. 1t was like being taken aloft
in a 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. T~
"The bounder has quit!"
"The bounderf What bounderT
There Is only one Bream Morti-
mer, curse HIM There may be others
whom thoughtless critics rank as
bounders, but he is the only man really
deserving of the title. He refuses to
appear! He has walked out on the
acti He has left me fiat went into
his stateroom just now, as arranged.
and the man was lying on his bunk,
groaning." |
~ thought you said the sea was like
mill-pond."
ut wasn't thatl He's perfectly 1T
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 =
plano and helping me give an imita-
ton of Frank Tinney revolts him. He
says he intends to spend the evening
in bed, reading Schopenhauer. / hope
It chokes him."
"But this is splendid This lets you
out"
what do you mean7 Lets me outT'
"Why, now you won't be able to
appear. Oh. you will be thankful for
this In years to come"
wont appearl Won't I dashed
well appearl Do you think I'm going
to disappoint that dear girl when she
Is relying on me7 would rather der
But you can't appear without q
pianist" .
'I've got a pianist"
"You haveT ~
y "Yes. A little ,undersized shrimp Of
a fellow with green face and ears
like water-wingsr
IT don't think I know him."
"Yes. you do. He's you'll"
"Mei"
"Yes, you. You are going to sit at
the piano tonight" X,
I'm sorry to disAppoint you, but
It's impossible. ! gave you my Views
on the subject Just now"
you've altered them ~
"T haven't"
swell, you soon will, and I'll tell you
why. II ys'u don't get up out Of that
id berth you've been roosting In
all your life. I'm going to ring for
J. B. Midgeley and I'm going to tell
him to bring me bit of dinner IN here