Evening star., 1925-05-31

petleNS me, young blflSO QlNeQ ike
homing rabbit; and before l had time
TO say a word we were wedged in at
a table, on the brink OF q silent pool
Of coffee left there by an early
lunchsr.
I'm bound TO say I couldn't quite
follow the development of the
scenario. Bingo, while not absolutely
rolling in the stuff has always had a
fair amount Of the ready. Apart from
what he got from his uncle, I knew
that he had finished up the jumping
season well on the right side Of the
ledger. Why. then, was he lunching
the girl at this eatery? 1t couldn't be
because he was hard up.
Just then the waitress arrived.
Rather a pretty girl.
Aren't we going to welt" !
started to say TO Bingo, thinking it
somewhat thick that, In addition TO
asking a girl to lunch with him in a
place like this. he should fling him
self on the foodstuffs before she
turned up. when I caught sight Of his
face. and stopped.
The man was goggIing. His entire
map was suffused with a rich blush.
He looked like the Souls Awakening
done in pink.
Halo, Mabel" he said, with sort
Of gulp.
Hello" said the girl
Mabel" said Bingo, this is BERTHE
Wooster, a pal OF mine
PLEASED to meet you" she said.
Nice morning
Fine" said.
You see I'm wearing the tie" said
Bingo.
1T suits you beautiful" said the
girl.
that tie like that suited me / should
have risen and struck him on the
mazZard. regardless Of age and sex;
but poor old Bingo simply got all fius-
tered with qualification, and smirkcd
in the most gruesome manner.
HWELL, what's It going TO be to.
w day." asked the girl. introduc.
ing the business touch into the conver-
sation.
Bingo studies the menu devoutly.
"Ill have a cup OF cocoa, cold veal
and ham pie, slice of fruit cake, and
q rnacaroon. Same for you. Bertie?"
L gaZed at the man, revolted. That
he could have been a pal OF mine all
these years and think me capable of
insulting the old tum with this sort
of stuff cut me to the quick.
cor how about bit of hot steak
pudding. with a sparkling limado to
wash it down." said Bingo.
You know. the way love can change
a fellow is really frishtful to contem.
plate. This chappie before me, who
spoke in that absolutely careless way
Of macaroons and limado, was the
man I had seen in happier days tell
ing the headwaiter at Claridge's ex-
actly how he wanted the chef TO pre-
pare the sole frite au gourmet aux
champignons. and saying he would
jolly we'll sling it back If il wasn't
just right. CHASTITY! CHASTITY!
A roll and butter and a small coffee
seemed the only things on the list
that hadn't been specially prepared
by the master minded members Of the
Borgia family for people they had
particular grudge against, so I chose
them. and Mabel hoped 1t.
"Well?" said Bingo rapturously.
took 1t that he wanted my opinion
of the female prisoner who had just
left us.
Very NICE 7 said.
He seemed dissatisfied.
you don't think she's the most
wonderful girl you ever saw" he
said wistfully.
"Oh, absolutely" I said, to appease
the bhghter. Where did you meet
herr"
"At a subscription dance at Cam
berwen-"
What were you doing at a sub
scription dance at Camberwell?"
Your man Jeeves asked me IL
would buy a couple of tickets. It was
in aid of some charity or other
"Jeeves? 1 didn't know he went
in for that sort of thing
"Well, l suppose he has to relax
bit every now and then. Anyway, he
was there, swinging a dashed efficient
shoe. I hadn't meant to go at first,
but I turned up for a lark. Oh,
Bertie, think what I might have
What might you have missed?"
asked, the old lemon being slightly
clouded.
Mabel, you chump. If I hadn't
gone I shouldn't have met Mabel
At this point Bingo fell into a
trance, and only came out OF it to
wrap himself round the pie and maca-
room.
''Bertie," he said, 'I want your ad-
vice"
Garry on"
"At least, not your advice, because
that wouldn't be much good to any.
body. 1 mean, you're a pretty con-
summate old ass, aren't you? Not
that l want to hurt your feelings, Of
course"
NO, no, l see that"
What I wish you would do is to
put the whole thing to that fellow
Jeeyes of yours, and see what he sug-
gests. You've often told me that he
has helped other pals Of yours out of
messes. From what you tell me, he's
by way of being the brains Of the
family"
He's never let me down yet"
Then put my case to him.
What case?"
MY problem"
What problem"
'Why, you poor fish, my uncle, OF
course. What do you think my
uncle's going to say to all this? If
/ sprang IT on him cold, he'd tie him
self in knots on the hearthrug.
Somehow or other his mind has
got to be prepared to receive the
news. But how"
"Ah.'
That's lot of help, that 'ah'!.
You see. I'm pretty well dependent
on the old boy. IF he cut off my allow
ance. should be very much in the
T.