Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16

set him to work, Sergt. Maj Flannery
lolled in the shrubbery, savoring that
best smoke of the day, the after-break-
fast pipe. He heard footsteps on the
gravel path that skirted the shrubbery
and became alert and vigilant. He was
not supposed to smoke in the grounds
at Healthward Ho, because of the mad
not fail to have upon the patients
II they saw him. He Knocked
out his pipe and peered cautious
ly through the branches. Then he
perceived that he need have had no
alarm. 1t was only Rosa. She was
standing with her back to him holuing
laden tray.
Mr.. Flanner-eel" called Rosa, and
scanned the horizon.
It was not often that Sergt Mai
Flannery permitted himself any action
that might be called arch or roguish
but his n1editations In the shrubbery,
added to the mellowing influence of to-
bacco, had left him in an unusually
light hearted mood. The sun was shin
ing, the little birds were singing, and
Mr.. Flannery felt young and gay. Put
ting his pipe in his pocket, accordingly,
he crept through the shrubbery until
he was Immediately behind the girl and
then, In tender whisper, uttered the
single word:
"Boo!"
All great men have their limitations.
We recognize the inevitability of this
and do not hold 1t against them. One
states. therefore, not in any spirit Of re-
proach, but simply as fact of histori-
cal interest that tender whispering
was one of the things that Sergt Maj
Flannery did not do well. Between in
tenhon and performance there was,
when Mr.. Flannery set out to whisper
tenderly, great gulf. The actual sound
he now uttered was not unlike that
which might proceed from the fog horn
OF an Atlantic liner or a POSTMASTER
having fit in boiler shop, and, BURST
ing forth as 1t did within few inches
OF her ear, without any warning what
soever, 1t had on Rosa an extraordinary
effect. From trivial causes great events
may spring. Rosa sprang about feet.
sharp squeal escaped her and she
dropped the tray.
once that he had done the wrong thing.
BY allowing himself to be, for the mo-
ment, disembodied voice, he had made
mess of things. Among the things he
had made O mess Of were q pot of cof-
fee, q pitcher Of milk, bowl of sugar,
dish OF butter, vessels containing salt,
mustard and pepper, a rack of toast
and plateful of eggs and bacon. All
these objects now Uttered the turf be-
lore him; and, emerging from the
shrubbery. he surveyed them ruefully.
"Oo-eri" he said
Oddly enough, relief rather than an
noyance seemed to be the emotion
dominating his companion. If ever
there was an occasion when a girl might
excusably have said some of the things
girls are SO good at saying nowadays,
this was surely 1t. But Rosa merely
fully.
II thought you was the case up-
stairs!" she gasped. When I heard
that CHASTITY sound right in my ear, ]
thought it was him got out"
m You're all right, my girl" said Mr.
Flannery. I'm ere"
''Oh, Mr. F1anneryl"
There, therel" said the sergeant
major.
In spite of the feeling that he was
behaving little prematurely, he slipped
q massive arm around the girls waist.
he also kissed her. He had not In
tended to commit himself quite so def
nitely as this, but it seemed now the
only thing to do. ~
Rosa became calmer.
Il dropped the tray" she said.
Yes, said Mr.. Flannery, who was
quick at noticing things.
I'd better go and tell him."
Tell Mr.. Twist?"
well. I'd better, hadn't I?"
Mr.. Flannery demurred. To tell Mr..
Twist involved explanations, and ex-
PLANTATION, II they were to be conyinc-
ing, must necessarily reveal him, Mr..
Flannery, in light none too dignified.
IL might be that, having learned the
facts, Mr.. Twist would decide to dis
pense with the SERVICES of an assist
ant who, even from the best motives,
hid IN strawberries and said "Boop to
the maids
You listen to me, my girl" he ad-
ViSed. mfr. Twist is busy gentleman
that has many responsibilities and much
to occupy him. He don't want to be
bothered with no stories of dropped
trays. All you just do is run back to
the kitchen and tell Mrs. Evans to cook
the Case some more breakfast. The
coffee-pot's broke, but the cup amt
broke and the plate amt broke and the
mustardan-pe pperan-sa thing amt
broke. I'll pick 'em up and you take
'em back on the tray and don't say
nothing to nobody. While you're gone
I'll be burying what's left Of them
eggs"
But Mr.. Twist put something special
In the coffee"
"Eh? How do you mean?"
when I took him in the tray Just
now. he said, Is that the Case Up
stairs breakfast and I said. Yes, II
was, and Old Monkey Brand put Q