Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-19
TheR0manceofa Bulb-SQueezer

! An open window pleasant Summer
I breere, stout man In n cooked hat
/ trying Ia climb through this window
and he Clarence doing his best 10 help
| him with the sharp end Of n tripod
II was Jno Horatio Biggs, the mayor
NJ footing East
A shudder ran through Clarence.
Traitor" he cried
"Ehe" said the mayor
III ANYBODY had told me- that a son
of footing. nurScd In the keen air OF
freedom which blows across the Com
mon would sell himself for gold to the
enemies of his country. would never
have believed It, Well. you may tell
your empoyerS---''
What employers"
Power A"
"Oh. that" said the mayor Il am
afraid my secretary whom ! instructed
10 bring you to this house, was obliged
to romance a little To insure your ac-
companyinc him. Mr.. Mulliner II you
want 10 know why YOU were brought
here
Clarence uttered a eroan.
Il have guessed your CHASTITY object.
your CHASTITY object" he said. quietly
You want me to photograph you"
The mayor shook his head.
Not myself. I realize that that can
never be, My daughter
Your daughter"
My daughter"
Does she take after you?"
People tell me there is q rescm-
blance."
Il refuse" said Clarence.
Think well, Mr. Mullincr."
Il have done all the thinking that is
Britain-~lookS to me to photograph only
her fairest and lovcliest. And though
AS man l admit that | loathe beauti-
full women. as a photographer l have a
duty to consider that is higher than
any personal feelings. History has yet
to record an instance Of photographer
playing his country false. and Clarence
Mulliner is not the man to supply the
first one. I decline your offer"
Il wasn't looking on 1t exactly as An
offer said the mayor. tbouehtfully
More as command If you get my
meaning"
You imagine that you can bend a
lens artist to your will and make him
false to his professional reputation"
Il was thinking of having a try"
DO you realize that If my incarcera-
ton here were known 10000 photogra-
IiiltIS Nbuld ltni AfliS IItuSS DIINh ilUIIi
brick and you limb from limbo"
But II isn't" the mayor pointed out
And that, II you follow me. is the
point You could stay here for the rest
Of your life and no one would be any
the wiser. I really think YOU had better
reconsider. Mr. Mulliner."
You have had my answer"
We'll. I'll leave YOU TO think 1t over
Dinner will be served at 730. Don't
bother 10 dress
A r half past precisely the door
opened again and the mayor re-
appeared, followed by a butler bearing
a glass Of water and small slice OF
bread Pride urged Clarence to reject
the refreshment but hunger overcame
pride He swallowed the bread the
butler offered him and drank the water.
AT what hour would the gentleman
desire breakfast sir" asked the butler
Now" said Clarence. for his appe-
tite, always healthy seemed To have
been sf1arpened by the trials he had
undergone
mayor. Put aside another slice OF
that bread. Meadows And no doubt
Mr. Mulliner would enjoy glass of
this excellent water"
For perhaps half an hour after his
host had left him Clarence'S mind was
obseSsed To the exclusion Of all other
thoughts by a vision of the dinner he
would have liked TO be enjoying. All
we Mulliners have been good trencher-
men. and Clarence's only emotion for
some considerable time was that of
hunger. His thoughts centered them
selves on food And it was to this fact,
oddly enough. that he owed his release
For. as he lay there in sort OF de-
lirium, picturing himself getting outside
a steak smothered in onions. with griiIed
tomatoes and fioury potatoes on the
side, 1t was suddenly borne in upon him
that this steak did not taste quite so
good as other steaks he had eaten in
the past. II was Tough and lacked
luicineSs. 1t tasted just like rope.
And then, his mind clearing he saw
that 1t actually was rope Carried away
by the anguish Of hunger. he had been
chewing the cord that bound his hands.
and he now discovered that he had Bit
ten into II quite deeply
A sudden food Of hope poured over
Clarence. Carrying on AT this rate, he
would be able ere long to free himself
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