Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1925-05-07

4
dignity. Even when he was bowling
low there was no sign Of servillty In
his manner. This was the head wait
err Of the Mascotte and he did Tom
my high honor by granting him this
personal reception.
"Your lordship's table is reserved.
one of our very best tables"
He spoke with an excellent Eng
fish accent. He waved his hand In
the direction In which he wanted
Tommy to 20 and then walked In
'front.' of him. There was no mistake
about the dignity Of the mans bear
Ing. II was almost kingly. just such
bearing and manner as suited the
head waiter of the Mascotte.
Following the mans lead Tommy
passed between two lines Of inferior
walters. all bowling low. From tables
to the right and left jewellers looked
up and watched him pass. They
whispered to each other. inquiring
who II could be who was received so
impressively by the head waiter and
his stan. Tommy came at last to a
small table set little apart. The
head waiter pulled back large gilt
chair. Tommy noticed q small card
on silver stand in the middle Of
the table. II bore his name. Norreys;
but not the Rev. T. A. Norreys. He
was described on the card as the
Markgraf Won Norreys. II seemed to
Tommy well worth while to be
whatever a markgrnf was
If the title secured 90 much consid-
Grafton and respect. Tommy felt
rather glad that Count CasImir had
made his mistake.
The head waiter murmured conf
dentially In his ear:
III your lordship will allow me to
order the dinner and choose the wine
Il assure you that I thoroughly un-
derstand wine."
His English was perfect, far bet
ter than Count Casimir's and he
spoke II with the intonation and ac-
cent OF gentleman. Tommy felt sure
that he might be trusted to order the
very best food and wine obtaInable
In the Mascotte. But he had an I'M
comfortable feeling that the bill for
the entertainment might be startling.
His pockets were full of marks.
stuffed with them. But Il might
very well take trunk full of marks
to pay for the dinner which the arts
tocratic head waiter would order.
Tommy hesltated and made grab
ut the menu. intending to make sure
OF the worst that could befall him.
The head walter, man of quick APP
prehension, guessed his thoughts.
Bending low he whispered into Tom
my's ear:
Il need scarcely say that your lord
ship will be at no expense, none
whatever"
Then he turned and gave a series
Of orders In German to a subordinate
who stood near.
Tommy leaned back I'm his gilt chair
and looked round. He saw at once
that he had been given one Of the
very best tables In the room. II stood
at the edge Of great square carpet
which covered the center OF the floor.
On the carpet itself there were no
tables. But diners at tables of var
ious sizes sat round II In parties Of
two or four or six. Behind the tables
which stood on the edge OF the car
pet were others. Behind these still
more and these were set on a sort
Of platform step above the floor of
the ROOM Farther back among pillars
and under archways In what Tommy
thought of as broad side aisles. were
other places for still more diners.
Gazing round curiously Tommy
caught sight Of woman standing up
at one Of the farthest tables. She
was waving her hand and signaling
to him. At second glance he rec
ognixed her--Janet Church. In n Sc
we're black dress, the only evening
gown she took with her when trav-
cling. she looked much out OF place
In the Mascotte. Having attracted
Tommy's attention. she began to
cross the room toward him, evidently
with the Intention Of sitting down at
his table. But this was not al.
lowed. The head waiter caught sight
OF her and gave an order TO one OF
his men. Janet Church was stopped,
turned round and conducted to the
obscure and distant table which abe
had left.
II would interest me. though per
haps no one else. TO know what Tom
my had to eat and drink that night
Unfortunately. he can give me no ac-
count nj all OF his meal and does not
know the name Of the champagne he
drank.
Shortly after eleven O'Clock Tom
my discovered what the stretch Of
carpet In the middle OF the room was
for. The band. which had been play
Ing some Of the music Of Tosca sud-
denly struck up dance tune. Two
girls appeared from a curtsined re-
cess At the far end Of the room. ran
down among the tables, pirouetted In
the middle Of the carpet. and began
to dance.
Tommy had seen dancing before.
on the stage at the Gayety theater
In Dublin at the time OF the Christ
mas pantomime But this was a very