Evening star., 1932-08-14


Y ed with noontime throng of
Office wos kers, people who had
positions, not merely job: On the frail balcony
the trio was playing "Tnssellis Serenade." BY
that Maitland knew that the lunchers who had
arrived Immediately after II were eating their
salads Had they been playing the Anvil
Chorus" it would have meant that the course
was SOUP Had the number been "Traumerei,"
/: would nave significd that the piece de resist
ance was on the tables. Had it been the Song
of the Vagabonds,' it would have informed him
that the patrons were joustng with their
desserts. 1t took exactly half an hour for the
trio to complete its repertoire. 1t was the
opinion of the management that no well-bred
diner should devote mere time than that to his
meal When the musicians commenced to
repeat the selections, regular clients were over
come by sense of guilt and, either hurryng
their last courses or leaving what remained
uneaten on their plates. they would rise and
apologeticay dash out. allowing others to take
their places. Thus was Art made to wait on
Mammon.
Maitland Vincent was an extremely tall young
man. He had, few years before found his
unusual longitude decidedly to his advantage in
enveloping forward passes, dropping goals from
various difficult points the court, and in
tmdating batters. At the present. it was OF
great assistance to him in observing parades
attracting miscellaneous bits of animated fluff,
and inspiring awe in the hearts of the head
walters. That last function it was now fulfill
ing. little dark man behind large light
muStache was for a moment dehantly certain
that it would be impossible for Mr. Vincent to
wander about the restaurant searching for a
young woman with whom he had an appoint
ment. The mans defiant certainty was limited
to a moment, however, due principally to the fact
that Mr.. Vincent lifted him lightly from his
path and dropped him quietly to the SIDE issu-
of any similar procedure on his part in the
future.
The young woman with whom he had the
appointment and for whom he was searching
was Miss Dema Hughes The fates that
had provided Maitland Vincent with several
inches of excess height had deprived Delma
Hughes of several inches of her rghtful allot-
ment. 1t was the practice of uninsp.red people
upon seeing Mr.. Vincent and Miss Hughes to-
gether, to emit clever comparisons having to do
with Mutt and jeff. And as the tall young
man and the short young woman were making
arrangements to spend the rest of their lives
in each others company. it appeared that the
banal jest would continue to thrive.
THE girl was raising cup OF coffee to her
lips when the upward progress of her arm
was arrested by grip which, if it could not
be mistaken for iron, by the same token could
at the owner of the grip.
"A little late" she commented sniingly.
Join me-" she invited. Both the smile and the
words had been subjected to a refrigerating
process
Mr.. Vincent joined her by the simple expe-
dient of straddling a chair which was pushed
away from the table by the wedge-like action
of his body.
Couldn't you be bit more cordial in greet
ing your fiance?" he asked
Couldn't you be bit more accurate in keep
ing appointments With your fiancee?" she
countered.
II have an excuse, good one," he assured
her.
''Well?" She indicated her willingness to
listen, and also her readiness to scoff when she
had finished listening
First of ALL" Maitland began "I have an
uncle. That's why the name of your husband
to-be is what it is and not something prosaic
like John, James, or Joseph"
AN affectionate gesture on the part of your
parents?" Dema queried.
That's it." he agreed. The customary tact
less tribute to the wealthy relative"
Did he turn up this morning?" Delma
wanted to know.
HE didn't and he W,n't on any future morn
ings, He was down ir Bermuda for the season,
and while he was there, although several
eminent and efficient physicians voted in favor
of letting him live for a few more years, the
grim chairman vetoed the measure" Maitland
eliminated his usual fIppancy in making the
statement, but his features failed to reach any
profound degree of seriousness.
you mean-hes dead?" Delma could be
depended upon to preserve the proper balance
of sentiment
"Uh-huh. I was informed of the fact in a
letter from his lawyers. read it over few
times, that's what DELAYED me :"