Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-28
s. A
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~ WEEK from Wednesday,
- n said Ernestine Chew, PEN
II Cling a tab on the counter
4 n Glenn Sprigget, her adorer,
Uttered approximately, not
AZ all understandings. She had come
TO the Planetary Travellers Accom-
anodation Office to ask how n dowager
nnnt. Constantia 10y name. could get
rrom New York to Borneo and cross
he Equator at Il spot which breathes
The atmosphere of eternal Spring.
clerk. after wasting a half hour and
Shover1ne her with guide books, in
formed her that it Coundnt be done.
Then again: ~ week from We'd
nesdaN.
Cray with the Equator" asked
Glenn, rUJdv young man OF Az.
Look over there" said Ernestine,
but don't look too hard. That red
headed cookie With the cerise neck
tie. As / live, it's the FUNGUS
Behind plate glass paftltlon.
Glenn could see a head, undoubtedly
auburn. and a pain OF anxious eyes.
furnished. as if for stage effect, with
tortoise shell glasses.
When they were in the street and
she had polled the travel-booklets
into an ash-can she resumed; Now
that's over. Let's 80 TO the Pazzazza
and have tea while we plot.
I'D dynamite the city hall just 10
he with YOU" cooed Glenn. But
what will we plot
You saw the Fungus" remarked
Ernie. wen. he's the plot. Hes got
another name-not so good OF course
Ancestor. Waldo AnCaster. You
remember last year Aunt Constantla
said she had the measles. But II
turned out 10 be q sort or Eout that
breaks out in rosettes. So ! was in
danger Of getting married two or
three times.
Fungus. Constantia. measles. ro-
settles, marriage. | follow YOU,
lisped Glen.
Don't interrupt. then. The doctor
said Aunt Con had to have a change.
SO she dragged me with her on one
Of those world cruises
Poor Ernie" said Glenn.
Restrain those tears. l had lot
Of fun. I almost got married twice
before we'd passed Gibraltar"
"And the Fungus was one OF
them?"
elem. you're bound to insult me.
The Fungus. Do YOU know what he
was there as? Entertainer. The
Fungus job was to keep everybody
happy by doing the things they
didn't want to do at that time. II
you were playing bridge, YOU had to
plav charadeS. If you We're playing
charades, you had to dance.
81 got along with Fung, and even
thought he was rather nice. Then we
hit Java. And that's where the run
gus got in his work"
Fungi thrive in hot climates,
suggested Glenn.
elem, know where the American
fiyvers go when they die. They go
to Java. The hotels there are built
like a string of box-cars, right on
the alley. And those tiivs never go
to bed. They run around all night,
llooting into windows.
1--WE sat up till 2. hoping the f1ivs
would get tired; then we went to what
the Fungus had promised would be
the best room in the hotel. No bath.
Two little lizards in the washbowl.
Twin beds. made of iron pipe, lashed
together in such a way that, when
Aunt Con turned over 1 yelled,
Earthquake" and when 1 Topped
back Aunt Con shrieked, Volcanoes!
"At 4 o'clock-we were getting up
early to go exploring-a black demon
routed us out. Where's the bath"
said. over there said he, pointing
to the jungle. Aunt Con followed him
and was lost till noon. 1t seems she
had got into a cistern by mistake.
"At breakfast 1 saw the other pas
sengers looking happy. We slept
splendidly.' they said. Lovely brass
beds, the most beeootiful shower
baths and soundproof walls and
everything Whew! And l was try
ing to advertise in Dutch for the lost
Aunt Con-"
"And now for the Fungus" grinned
Glen.
Yes. He's next. When I cornered
him he gave me a clammy look and
said: 1T was a mistake. There Swere