Evening star., 1926-12-05


as this made the thing unanimous. for
I had been feeling exactly the same
myself. I decided that the painful eN-
hibition must now terminate.
1t was Ukridge who had let me in
for the thing. He had fired my imagi-
nation with the tales OF the authors
who were able to turn out 5000 words
day by debating their stuff. AL
though ! felt that he was merely try
ing to drum up trade for the typewrit-
ing bureau in which his young friend.
Dora Mason, was now a partner. the
lure Of the idea had gripped me. 1t
was only when those cleaning eyes
looked into mine and that pencil poised
itself to record the lightest of my
golden thoughts that l discovered
what was up against.
I'm sorry" I said. but I'm afraid
it's not much use going on. / don't
seem able to manage it."
Now that 1 had admitted my idiocy,
the girls expression softened.
Lots Of people can't" she said. IT'S
just a knack."
Everything seems to go out of my
head e.
I've often thought it must be very
difficult to dictate"
Two minds with but single thought.
in fact. Her reasonahleness. combined
with the relief that the thing was over,
induced in me a desire to babble. One
has the same feeling when the dentist
lets one out of his chair.
You're from the. Norfolk Street
Agency. aren't your. said A silly
question, seeing that had rung them
up on the telephone and asked them
TO send somebody around: but I was
still feeling the effects Of the ether.
Yes"
That's In Norfolk street. isn't it?
! mean," went on hurriedly, Il Won
der IL you know a Miss Mason there?
Miss Dora Mason"
= She seemed surprised.
My name is Dora Mason she said.
l had not supposed that partners in
typewriting business stopped to going
out on these errands. And I was con.
scious Of a return of my embarrass-
ment. feeling-quite unreasonably, for
/ had only seen her once in my life,
and then from a distance-that
ought to have remembered her.
We were short-handed at the of.
fice," she explained. 80 1 came along.
But how do you know my name?'
II am a friend Of Ukridge's.'
Why, Of course. / was wondering
why your name was so familiar. I've
heard him talk so much about you"
X X X j.
WE settled down to a coZy tete-a-tete.
" She was a nice girl, the only
flaw in her character being an absurd
respect for Ukridge's intelligence and
abilities. l, who had known that foe
Of the human race from boyhood up
and was still writhing beneath the
memory Of the night when he had
sneaked my dress clothes, could have
corrected her estimate, but it seemed
unkind.
He was wonderful about this type
writing business" she said. 1T was
such q splendid opportunity. But for
Mr.. Ukridge. should have had to let
1t slip. You see. they were asking
600 for the partnership. and only
had flo0. And Mr.. Ukridge insisted
on putting up the rest OF the money.
You see-I don't know il he told YOU
he insisted that he ought to do some.
thing. He says he lost me the posi-.
tion had with his aunt. 1t wasn't
his fault, really, but he kept saying
that II hadn't gone to that dance
with him shouldn't have got back
late and been dismissed. So"
Did you say that Ukridge insisted
on finding the rest?" 1 gasped.
Yes"
He gave you E10O? Ckridge!"
Guaranteed it," said Miss Mason.
II arranged to pay f1o0 down and the
rest in so days"
But suppose the rest is not paid in
so days?"
We'll. Tn afraid l should lose my
f1o0. But it will be, Of course. Mr..
Ukridge told me to have no anxiety
about that. Well, Mr.. Corcoran,
must he going now. I'm sorry we
didn't get better results with the dic.
tattns. I should think 1t must be very
difficult to do till you get used to 1t"
Her cheerful smile struck me as one
0f the most pathetic sights l had ever
seen. Poor child. busting OF so
brightly when her future rested on
Ukridge's ability to raise fl00.
T WAS pursuing this train of thought
Il when the banging Of the door, fol-
lowed by footsteps on the stairs and a
confused noise without, announced
Ckridge's arrival.
II saw. laddie." he said, entering the
room. az was his habit. like a north
easterly gale, was that Dora Mason
saw going down the street? 1t
looked like her back. Has she been
here?"
Some one to take dictation. and she
came"
Ukridee reached out for the tobacco
jar. filled his pipe, replenished his
pouch, sank comfortably on TO the
sofa and adjusted the cushions.
What is all this / hear about your
guaranteeing Miss Mason a hundred
ouid?" I asked.
''Ah, she told you? Yes" said Tx
ridge airily. II guaranteed it. Matter
Of conscience, old son. You see, 1t
was my fault that she was sacked by
nv aunt. Got TO see her through.
laddie: got to see her through.
| Eoggled at the man.
Look here / said, lets get this
thing straight. A couple of days ago
Won touched me for FIVE shillings and
said IL would save your life"
1T did. old man; II did.
And now you're talking Of scatter
ing a hundred quid about the place.
DO YOU smoke it or inject il with a
hypodermic needle?'
There was pain in Ukridge's eyes:
II don't like this tone, laddie, he
said. Upon my Sam. IL wounds me.
It sounds as if you had lost raith III
ne-in my vision
"oh. know you've got vision. And
the big, broad. flexible outlook. Also
snap. ginger. enterprise. and ears that
stick out at right angles. like the sails
of a windmill. But that doesn't help
me to understand where on earth YOU
expect to get a hundred ouid.
Ukridge smiled tolerantly.
You don't suppose l would have
guaranteed the money unless ! knew
where to lay my hands on 1t, do you
II YOU ask me. Have l got the stun
., this precise moment?' i candidly
reply. No, 1 haven't But it's nut'er
fng on the horizon. laddie. l can hear
the beating Of its wings.
Us Battling Bilson going to night