Evening star., 1924-04-15

! So Blake was forced to wait, but
his purpose suffered nothing by de-
lay.
Returning on the morrow, he found
Mr.. Wilding at table with Nick
Trenchard, and he cut short the
greetings of both men. He flung his
| hat-a black castor trimmed with
| black feather-rudely among the
dishes on the board.
II have come to ask you, Mr.. Wild
ing" said he. ito be SO good as to
tell me the color of that hat
Mr.. Wilding raised one eyebrow and
| weather-beaten face was suddenly
agrin with stupefaction.
Il could not said Mr.. Wilding,
deny an answer to a question set
Blake's flushed and scowling face
| with the sweetest and most innocent
| of smiles. You'll no doubt disag rec
with me-" said he, but l love TO meet
a man half way. Your hat. sir, is as
Blake's slow wits were disconcert-
ed for a moment. Then he smiled
viciously. You mistake. Mr.. Wild
ing" said he. my hat is black"
Mr.. Wilding looked more attentive
" at the object in dispute. He was
! in trifiing mood, and the stupidity
| of this runagate debtor afforded him
| opportunity to indulge it, why,
true" said he, now that ] come to
black"
And again was Sir Rowland dis
concerted. Still he pursued the les
son he had taught himself.
You are mistaken again" said he,
| that hat is green.
'Indeed?" quoth Mr.. Wilding. like
one surprised, and he turned to
Trenchard. who was enjoying him
self. What is your opinion of it,
Nick?"
Thus appealed to, Trenchard's re-
| ask me-" said he, my opinion is
that it's a noisome thing not meet for
| a gentIeman's table" And he took
dow.
| Sir Rowland was entirely put out
| of countenance. Here was deliber-
ate shifting of the quarrel he had
come to pick which left him az at
sea. 1t was his duty to himself to
| take offense at Mr.. Trenchard's ac-
tion. But that was not the business
on which he had come. He became
| angry.
.Biister mel" he cried. "Must I
sweep the cloth from the table be-
| fore you'll understand me?"
| IF you were to do anything so
unmannerly / should have you flung
out of the house" said Mr.. Wilding,
land it would distress me to 50 treat
/ a person of your station and quality.
The hat shall serve your purpose,
although Mr.. Trenchards concern for
my table has removed it Our memo
ries will supply it's absence What
color did you say it was?'
Blake, quite ready to- keep to the
point.
Nay, I am sure you were wrong"
said Wilding with a grave air. AL
though 1 admit that since it is your
| own hat you should be the best judge
of it's color. 1 am. nevertheless. of
opinion that it is black"
"And il l were to say that IL is
whittier" asked Blake, feeling mighty
| ridiculous.
~Why, in that case you would be
confirming my first Impression of it,"
| answered Wilding, and Trenchard let
fly burst of laughter at sight Of the
baronet's furious and bewildered
agreed on that" continued Mr.. Wild
ing, inperturbable, 4 hope you'li
join US at supper"
.I'll be damned" roared Blake, "if
ever I sit at table of yours, sir"
"Ah" said Mr.. Wilding. regretfully.
| Now you become offensive"
81 mean to be-" said Blake.
You astonish me"
You lie! 1 don't" Sir Rowland
answered him, in triumph He had
got it out at last.
Mr. wiIding sat back in his chair
and looked at him, his face mex
pressibly shocked
"WiIl you of your own accord de-
r i've us Of your company, Sir Row
land" he wondered. "or shall Mr.
Trenchard throw you after your haiti"
DO you mean. - gasped the
other, that you'll ask no satisfac-
tion of me?"
mot 50. Mr.. Trenchard shall wait
upon your friends tomorrow, and /
hope you'll afford US then as felici-
tous entertainment as you do now.
Sir Rowland snorted and, turning
on his heel, made for the door.
"Give you a goodnight, Sir Row
land Mr.. Wilding called after him
| Walters, you rascal, light Sir Row
land to the door,"