Evening star., 1926-11-07

Him" said Mr.. Rillson, with scorn.
THAT wasn't him. That was his pals,
Six or seven of EN- there was.
And did YOU dot them, too"
cried. amazed at the prowess of this
wonder man.
r." said Mr.. Bllson But 1 dot
ted i'm most" he proceeded.
Have ycu been hack long?" asked.
"Rack?' said Mr.. Billson.
BACK in London. Ukridge told me
that you had gone TO sea again.
Say. mister eXclaime Mr.. Billson.
for the first time seeming to show real
interest in my remarks, you seen i'm
lately?"
"Ukridge? Oh, yes. see him near
ly every day"
Il been tryin' to find i'm"
~ can give YOU his address, | said.
And | wrote it down on the back or
an envelope. Then. having shaken his
hand. thanked him once more and
borrowed my fare back to civilization
on the Underground. and we parted
with mutual expressions of good will.
~ < x =
THE next step was what | shall call
the Episode OF the Inexpl!cable
Female" 1t occurred two days later.
Returning shortly after lunch to my
rooms in Ehury street, | was met In
the hall 10y Mrs. Bowles, my landlord
wife.
Sir" said Mrs. Bowles. there is
body in your sitting room.'
"A body
"A woman" corrected Mrs. Bowles.
"A body in a pink hat
! was conscious of feeling of guilt.
In this pure and modest house female
bodies in pink hats seemed to require
explanation.
II was to give you this letter, sir"
Iopened the envelope with sigh. l
had recognized the handwriting or
Ukridge. and there smote me like a
blow the sad suspicion that this man
had once more gone and wished upon
me some frightful thing.
MY Dear Old Horse: It's not often
ask YOU to do anything for me, laddie,
hut beg and implore YOU to rally
round now and show yourself the
true friend | know you are. The one
thing I've always said about you,
Corky, my hoy, is that you're a real
pal who never lets a fellow down.
The bearer of this-a delightful
woman. you'll like her-is Flossie's g
mother. She's up for the day by ex-
cursion from the north. and 1t is abso-
lutely vital that she be lushed up and
seen off at Euston at 6:45. l can't
look after her myself, as, unfortu.
nately I'm laid up with a sprained
ankle. otherwise l wouldn't trouble
YOU.
This is a life and death matter, old
man. and I'm relying on you. / can't
possibly tell you how important 1t Is
that this old bird should be suitably
entertained. The greatest issues hang
on II So shove on your hat and go to
il, laddis. and blessings will reward
YOU Tell you all the details when we
meet Yours ever,
IS. F. UKRIDGE."
"P. S.---I will defray all expenses
later"
Those last words did wiring a faint,
melancholy smile from me, but apart
from them this hideous document
seemed to me to he entirely free from
comic relief. l looked at my watch
| and found that it was barely 2:30. This
female. therefore. was on my hands
for solid four hours and a quarter.
| proceeded slowly up the stairs to
my sitting room. 1t would have been
distinct advantage. l felt. II l had
known who on earth this Flossie was
of whom he wrote with such airy
IaFnll1TltN. he nHIHS, InOuRn Ok
ridge plainly expected II TO touch a
| chord in me. left me entirely unre.
| sponsive. AS far as I was aware
| there was no Flossie Of any descrip
tion in my life. l thought back
through the years.
! - y
| THE first impression I got on en-
tering the room was that Mrs
/ Bowles possessed the true reporters
! gift for picking out the detail that
really mattered. One could have said
many things about Flossie's mother
as. for instance. that she was stout
cheerful, and far more tightly laced
than doctor would have considered
| iudicious: but what stood out above al
the others was the fact that she was
wearing pink hat. 1t was thu
largest. gayest. most exuberantly or
nate specimen Of headwear that l had
ever seen, and the prospect or spend
| ing four hours and a quarter in III
society added the last touch to my
already poignant gloom. The only
CLEAN Of sunshine that liehtened my
darkness was the reflection that, II We
went to a picture palace. she would
| have TO remove II.
"Er-hcw Dc you dc?'' said.
Ow do You .do?" said q voice from