Evening star., 1926-12-05

because I'd never get any more work
to do for this paper. But I'll tell you
one thing. ] mean to keep clear Of
your aunt. / dream Of her sometimes
and wake UP screaming. In any case,
1t wouldn't be any use my tackling
her. She wouldn't listen to me. You
weren't at Wimbledon. but you can
take it from mo that I'm not one Of
her friends" .'.~," -
That's the way it always happens.
sighed Ukridge. Everything comes
too late. Well. I'll be popping off,
Lot Of heavy thinking to do. laddie"
And he left without borrowing even
a cigar, a sure sign that his resilient
spirit was crushed beyond recupera-
ton. -,
THE dance Of the Pen and Ink Club
was held at the Lotus rooms,
KnightsbridEe. The Pen and Ink evil
IDENTIFY went in for quality in its mem.
bership. rather than quantity. and the
band. when I arrived, was giving out
the peculiarly ttnny sound which
bands always produce in very large
rooms that are only one-sixth part
late and a general, melancholy seem.
ed to prevail. The few couples dane
ing on the broad acres of floor ap.
peared somber and introspective
Around tho room on those gilt chairs
which are only seen In subscription.
dance halls weird beings we're talk
ing in undertones, probably about the
trend OF Scandinav AVIAN literature.
That hopelessness which affiicted
me was not nghtened by the reflection
that at any moment I might en-
counter Miss Julia Ukridge. I moved
warily about the room, like a cat that
has wandered into. strange alley
and sees in every shadow the potential
visaxe nothing but awkwardness and
embarrassment springing from such
meeting. The lesson which I had
drawn from my previous encounter
with her was that happiness for me
lay in keeping as far away from Miss
Julia Ukridge As possible.
Excuse Me!'
My precautions had been in vain.
She had sneaked up on me from
behind.
Good evening" I said.
1t is never any good rehearsins
these scenes in advance. They al.
ways turn out 20 differently. had
been assuming, whom ! skunk into this
hell. that II I mot this woman
should feel tho same shrinking sense
OF guilt and inferiority which had
proved so disintegrating at Wimble-
don. l had omitted to make allow.
ances for the fact that that painful
episode had taken place on her own
ground. and that right from the start
my conscience had been far from
clear. Tonight tho conditions were
different.
Are you q member of the Pen and
Ink Club?" said Ukridge's aunt frost
lily.
Her stony blue eyes were fixed or
me with an expression that was no,
exactly loathinG. but rather contempt
So might q fastidious cook look at a
black beetle In her kitchen.
mo-" replied, II am not
Then will you please tell me what
you are doing here? This is a private
dance"
One has ones moments. felt much
as presume Battling Billson must
have felt in his recent fight with ALI
Todd. when he perceived his antago
mist advancing upon him wide open
inviting the knockout punch.
THE editor Of Society sent me a
ticket. He wanted an article written
about it,
n was feeling like Mr.. Billson,
Ckridge's aunt must have felt very
like MFR. Todd. could see that she
was shaken. In fash l had changed
from a black beetle to a godlike crea-
ture. able, II conciliated. to do a bit of
that log rolling which is so dear to the
heart Of the female novelist. And she
had not conciliated me. 1t is too much
to say that her jaw fell. but certainly
the agony Of this black moment caused
her lips to part in a sort of twisted
despair. But there was good stuff in
this woman. She rallied gamely.
A press ticket" she murmured.
"A press ticket" l echoed.
May 7 see it,"
Certainly"
Thank you"
Not at ALL"
She passed on.
X n y
RESUMED my inspection OF the
dancers with lighter heart. In
my present upiifted mood they did not