Evening star., 1924-03-23

I Salvatore was the dark. sinister
table at the far end of the grill-room
at which Archie usually sat. Archie's
conversations with the other dealt ex-
clusively with the bill of fare and it's
contents; but, as he began to long for
human companionship, he found him
self becoming more personal. Besides,
Salvatore was a man with n griev-
lance. Archie had always lacked that
reserve which characterizes most Brit
tons, and since the war, he had looked
on nearly everybody he met as a
! brother.
There's something on your mind,
old thing" said Archie.
"Sare?"
Il say there would appear to be
something on your mind besides your
hair. What seems to be the trouble ?"
The waiter shrugged his shoulders as
| If Indicating an unwillingness to in
flict his troubles upon one OF the tip
ping classes. Come on" said Archie
iencouragingly; "all pals here. Barge
alone. old bean. and let's have it,
Salvatore, thus urged, proceeded in
hurried undertone-with one eye on
the head waiter-to lay bare his sovl.
What he said was not very coherent
but Archie could make out enough of
| ii TO gather that it was a very bad
story of excessive hours.
Always" said Salvatore, always
always-I am in this hotel"
II know what you mean, laddie,"
said Archie feelingly. He tapped the
waiter earnestly on the chest with his
loyster fork. My dear old chap" he
said, there's only one thing to be
done. You must strike It's the only
scheme. Everybody's doing it now"
Salvatore shrugged his shoulders
again. II appeared that he had already
sounded the other walters guardedly
on the matter of a strike, but the
spineless poems seemed 10 be unuill-
ing to jeopardize their jobs by max
ing any demonstration. And YOU
couldn't strike by yourself.
The reasonableness of this was
plain to Archie. He unused a while.
III tell you what" he said at last.
You come along with me when
you're off duty, and we'll beard the
old boy in his den. I'll introduce you.
and he'll probably hand you his bank
roll"
The result was that Mr.. Brewste
busy with accounts in his private room,
was infuriated that evening by the
entry of his son-in-law, heading u
procession consisting OF himself and
Il al
like something connected with the
executive staff of the black hand.
Not interrupting you-what?" be-
gan Archie amiably. 81 say, l suppose
you're probably old pals. If not, let
me do the honors. Mr.. Brewster, our
courteous and popular boss-Salva-
tore, tho Italian Whirlwind. Seconds
out. Time! Go TO it, laddie! Spill the
bad news"
And before Mr.. Brewster could get
his breath, Salvatore had begun to
spill. Though not linguist. Mr..
, Brewster could follow the discourse
, closely enough to realize that the
waiter was dissatisfied with condi-
tions in his hotel And Mr.. Brewster
had a short way with people who
Icriticized the Cosmopolis.
You're fred" said Mr.. Brewster.
Salvatore receded, muttering what
sounded like passage from Dante.
And l wish to heaven added Mr..
Brewster, eyeing his son-in-law ma
lignantly, II could fire you.'
X x x
QUT Mr.. Brewster was not so cas-
~ lily to be rid of the humble Sal
vatore. In fact, that dark individual
was destined TO be source of con-
, siderable worry to the builder of
hotels
The details of the business were at
first hidden from Archie, and he made
no effort to probe into them. 1t was
Lucille who apprised him of the ma
ture of the trouble.