Evening star., 1931-05-31
The Ordeal of
Osbcrt Mulliner
BvP. G.. Wodehouse
A RolGcking Story of an
Uphill Courtship.
Illustrated BY Hubert Matthew.

They informed me that you had gone to the
tfeater with this gentleman"
MIR. MulIiner. My cousin, Bashford Brad
dock" said Mabel.
How do you do?" said Osbert.
There was . pause.
'WeIi, good night" said Mabel.
"Good night" said OsbeTt
Good night" said BashfOrd BTaddock.
The door closed, and Osbert looking from IL
to his companion, found that the other was
staring at him with peculiar expression in his
eyes
Mr.. Mulliner," said Bashford Braddock
"HulIo?- said Osbert.
"A word with you, Mr. Mulliner. I saw sn."
"AIl?"
"All Mr. Mulliner. you love that giri"
II do"
$50 do l."
think to say that It made them seem Ike
one great big family.
Il have loved her since she was 90 high
And have always sworn that II ever any man
came between US If ever any sinking sneakng,
popeyed Iopeared son of a sea cook attempted
to rob me Of that girl, would"
Bashford Braddock laughed short, metallic
laugh
Did you ever hear what did TO the King Of
Mgumbo Mgumbo?"
II didn't even know there was a King Of
Mgumbo- Mgumbo."
There iSn't-now"
Bashford Braddock looked up at the twin
king stars. What delightful weather we are
having he said. There was just the same
quiet hush and peaceful starlight recollect,
that time out in the NgObi Desert when
strangied the jaguar."
Osberts Adams apple skipped q cog.
"Wwhat jaguar?"
"Oh you wouldn't know IT. had q rather
tricky five minutes Of It at first, because my
right arm was in q sling and could only use
Ioff all io1nf AR.,Vlf,,
And Basllford BraddOck stalked into the
darkness.
COR several minutes after he had disap-
peared, Osbert Mulliner stood motionless,
staring after him with unseeing eyes. Then
totteT1ng round the corner, he made his way to
his residence in South Audley street
In his cozy library, having mixed himself .
strong brandy and soda, he sat down and gave
himself up to meditation.
1t b never pleasant, gentlemen, to have to
display q relative in an unsympathetic light
but the truth is the truth and must be told.
am compelled, therefore to confess that my
nephew Osbert, forgetting that he was a Nful-
liner, wrfthed at this moment tn an agony of
craven fear.
He could see but one way out Of the delicate
situation in which he had been placed. To give
Mabel Petherick-Soames up would break his
heart; but it seemed to be q straight issue be-
tween that and his neck, and In this black hour
the voting in favor Of the neck was o positive
landslide. Trembling in every limb, my nephew
OsbeTt went to the desk and began to compose
letter Of farewell.
He was sorry, he wrote that he would be un-
able to see Miss Petheriek-Soames on the NOR
row. as they had planned, owing to his unfoFta-
nate1y being called away to Australia, He add
ed that he was pleased TO have made her
acquaintance, and that If, aS seemed probable, =
they never see each other again, he would al
ways watch her future career with considerable
interest
Signing the letter yrs truly O. Mul7iner"
Osbe1t addressed the envelope and taking it up
the street to the post ONCE, dropped It in the
box.
The telephone, ringing By his bedside, woke
OSbeFt ut an early hOsT next morning. He did
not answer 1t. glance ut his watch had told
him that the time was half past Q, when the
first delivery Of letters ID made i'm London IL
seemed only too probable that Mabel having
just received and read his communication was
endeavoEiHg to discuss tine matter with him
over the wire. He Tdse, batlsed, shaved and
dressed, and had just Finished scnsber bseak-
fast wnen the door opened anA Parker, his
PetheTIck- -S0ames.
An ICY finger seemed 10 tSavei slowly down
Osbert4 backbone
However he raIlied himself to play the host.
"G00d morning he said WIN you have
poached egg"
"I win nos" replied Sir Masterman
He spoke with sueh curt hrsqseness that
straneeE. bad enc been present, might have
supposed him to belong to some league or so
ciety for the suppression Of pOached eggs. Os-
bert, howeveT, with his special knowledge Of
the faOes was abse 10 interpret this hr,mqaenes
correctly and was not surprised when, his