Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09

was que 10 materlaiEe Ln0t aIJernOOn. ne
always made point Of being present for his
nece'S birthday. however far he had to come
to be there; and he would be terribly hurt IL
he arrived and found she had let him down
What to do?
Bring him along" said. of course.
The Colonel. on getting off the train and
going to the Hail. would find note instructing
him to come and revel at Journeys Ende.
So wheeled the wheelbarrow back to the
cottage feeling that all was we'll And at about
half past the maid who came in from the
village by the day to do our cooking ano wash
ing up announced Sir Edward and Miss BaylisS
I'm old campagner now, Corky and Fate
has to take its coat of and spit on its hands
a bit if it wants to fool me. Today, when Fate
offers me something gilt-edged, look 1t over
coldly assume till it has been proved other
wise, that attached to it somewhere there Is
q string. But. at the time of which am
speaking 1 was younger, more buoyant. more
credulous; and I honestly supposed that this
tea party of mine going to be the success
it seemed at the start.
The thing had got under way without a slls-
pcion Of anything in the nature of a disaster.
Sir Edward had not bumped his head against
the beam on the ceiling just inside the front
door And though the Stepper's roses were
present in wonderful profusion, he himself
hadn't shown up. And that seemed to me the
biggest stroke of luck of the lot.
You see. the old Stopper wasn't eyerybody's
money. To begin with, ne mao an apparently
incurable dislike of 0. B. Els, and then he
combined with a hot-blooded and imperious
nature the odd belief that eggs were a suit
able food for adult human beings at o'clock
in the afternoon. And he was so touchy. too
SO ready to resent opposition. had had visions
OF him standing over Sir Edward and showing
eggs down his throat at the point of q table
knife: He was better away, and hoped he
had fallen into ditch and couldn't get out.
was at the top of my form. handed
cups, I slid the toast about prattled merrily.
And I could see the old boy was impressed.
These O. B. Els are silent, reserved men, and
he Just looked at me, from time to time In q
meditative way. Then, as he was dipping into
his third cup of tea, out he came into the
open and began to talk turkey.
Your aunt Have you heard from her,
by the way?
Not yet. I suppose she's very busy
ct imagine so. An energetic woman"
Very All Ukridges are energetic. We
do not spare ourselves"
Your aunt" resumed the old boy, swallow
ing some more tea, gave me the impression
In one of the conversations we had before she
left England that you we're looking out for an
opening in the world of commerce"
Yes" I said
In my own business" he was beginning.
"the jute business"
Just then the door opened and the maid
appeared. She was one of those Snorting girls.
couldn't get it.
who's gentleman" said.
Outside. He says he wants to see you
at must be Uncle Philip" said Myrtle.
"Of course" 1 said. SHOW him in Don't
keep him waiting, my good girl. Show him
in at once
A ND in came a massive bloke with large
eyebrows and sort of look about him
that made you feel he believed in infant dam
nation. Obviously not the Colonel, for Myrtle
and the o. B. Z. gave sign Of recognition.
Then who? The man was a perfect stranger
to me.
However 1 fattered myself I could play the
hOSt.
Good afternoon" said afably.
Afternoon" said the boke.
"Take chair" / said.
I'm going to take all the chairs" he said.
"And the sofa, too. I'm from the Mammoth
Furnishing Co. and the check for the deposit
on this stuff has been returned Refer 10
drawer"
It is not too much to say, Corky, that I
reeled. Yes, laddie. your old friend tottered
and would have fallen had he not clutched at
o chair. And from the look in the bloke'S eye,
1t began to seem that my chances of clutching
at that particular chair were likely to be very
soon a thing of the past.
He had one of those brooding eyes-two,
probably. only there was a patch over the left
one. tnulk some one uluSC nave LAC IliHi
there. A fellow like that could scarcely go
through life for long without getting punched
in the eye
But my dear old horse" began.
ITS arguing. We've written twice
and never got an answer, and I've instructions
from the firm TO take the stuff"
But we're using it,"
mot now" said the Brighter. you've fin
ished"
1 look back on that moment. Corky, old boy,
as one Of the worst in my career. It is always
q nRrunlls business for q FELLOW To entertain