Evening star., 1934-02-15

There was pause during which !,
Mr.. Gedge threw moody champagne
cork at passing couple.
You said something about leaky
cisterns," prompted Packy.
His companion swung round with
sudden passion. -
And why wouldn't II Lookutl
Suppose a vicomte's mother told you
the plumbing of Shattlebissack was
in good repair, and it wasn't? Sup
pose this vicomte's mother kept a
leaky cistern under her hat -. never
mentioned a word of it =. practically
swore there wasn't such a thing in
the place wouldn't you poke him
in the noSe?"
TOO bad" said Packy diplomatic!
ally.
"It couldn't be worse" said Mr.
Gedge severely. ~
Packy waited few moments.
This cistern leaks. does it?"
what do you mean, does it? I've
seen it. Seen it with my own eyes"
Il wish you would show 1t TO me. 3"
"Eh2"
IT say I would love to see your
leaky cistern."
How the devil can you see my
leaky cistern? It's up at the Shat
tlebissack"
Packy would have preferred to post
pone the question to another and
more propitiouS moment, but the cue
was so pat that it semed pity to
refuse it.
why don't you invite me there?"
Invite you where?"
ITO the chateau
What chateau?"
ITO the Chateau BliSSac."
Mr. Gedge hammered the table
with extraordinary violence. The re-
quest appeared in some mysterious
way to have acted as the last straw.
Il won't invite you to the Shattle-
bissack. I wouldn't do it. No. sir,
I wouldn't do it even If I could. I
don't like you. Never have"
II thought at dinner that ours was
going to be one Of those beautiful
friendships"
Mr. Gedge frowned thoughtfully.
II pictured you then falling on my
neck and insisting that I should come
and stay at the chateau forever"
Il am still referring to the Chateau
Blissac."
Il live there" said Mr.. Gedge, with
the air of discoverer.
II know you do"
"You better know I do. No fresh
young mutt with a caulihower ear
is going to tell me where I live and
where I don't live" He stared at
Packy disgustedly. Where did you
get that ear?"
Packy explained that it was a SOU
venir of a certain November after
noon when he had been attempting
TO die for dear old Yale and-with
the assistance Of eleven sympathetic
Princeton men-nearly succeeding in
doing so.
"Ycle?"
Il played foot ball at Yale"
Mr.. Gedge gave a hard laugh.
They don't play foot ball at Yale.
he said. "Beanbag, that's what they
play at Yale"
Packy started wounded to the
quick. Abruptly, the desire to con-
ciliate this tubby little inebriate had
vanished, swamped by fury Of in
jured patriotic pride. A man with
an end to gain may suffer much from
a cock-eyed acquaintance, but not as
persiCns on the quality Of the foot
ball played by his old university.
"Bean-bag," repeated Mr.. Gedge
firmly. You want to see foot ball,
you come to California. Yale don't
play University of Southern Cali
fornia No, sir! They know too
much"
| Packy was sorry for Jane Opal and
| regretted that he would be unable to
/ further her interests by coming to
the Chateau BliScac and breaking
open safes for her, but he could no
longer humble himself before a man
who held those monstrous views. He
rose, and Mr.. Gedge regarded him
with a glazed eye.
Where are you going?"
-"Hcme"
You better, before you get a poke
in the nose"
Packy preserved proud silence.
Order another shottle-o'-cham-
payne" said Mr.. Gedge.
Order it yourself" said Packy.
The bruSqueneSs Of the reply
seemed to induce in Mr.. Gedge
swift change of mood. His eyes filed
| with tears, and he leaned his head
dejectedly on a plate of ice cream.
Nobody loves me-" he whispered.
Shows their sense" said Packy.
CTo Be Continued)