Evening star., 1935-07-06


room glumly and examined quart
bottle that stood on the dresser sur
rounded by miscellaneous array OF
glasses, cigarette Uttered ash trays
and articles of gentlemen's discarded
haberdashery, to see if it was, in real
ity, empty. This proving true, he
turned his attention to the recumbent
forms of Bud and Puny, who still
slept, and he smiled grimly, remem-
bering their stricken demeanor Of the
night before, when he had finally con-
vinced them of the genuinenesS OF his
matrimonial intentions.
The easygoing Bud, although
shaken to his generously proportioned
patent feathers by the news, had re-
covered his poise sufficiently to real
ize that. as man and brother, con-
gratulations were in order. These he
conferred by shaking Paul's hand and
expressing the opinion that If that
young man wanted to get married, it
was his own affair, then proposed a
drink all around.
Puny. however, was not to be con-
soled. He paced the floor, waving his
arms dramatically. He reviewed the
entire history of their association,
from the time Paul and he had at
tended school in Youngstown, Ohio,
to the present. He beSought remem-
brance of trials and joys of their
adolescert days; the dances they had
played at when in high school; their
meeting with Bud, in Milwaukee,
when they had joined ar orchestra
there. He recounted, with :mpasSioned
eloquence, innumerable adventures
weathered since formation of the
triumvirate; flirtationS with girls who
took their Establishments too seriously
and from which the enmeshed one
was rescued by the timely and CO.
operative aid of the two others; flights
from justice after too-hectic gather
ings in which discretion was cast to
the winds; joint investment in certain
treasured belongings, including the
fiivver; other escapadeS and accom-
plishments. shared by the three, and
therefore possessing sentiment. He
talked loudly. He beseeched reconsid-
ration. Finally, exhausted by his fiery
oratory, he sat on his bed and stared
at his friend. wide-eyed.
Paul had applied balm as best he
was able. He explained. at length, the
loveliness. the desirability, the charm
of personality and the strength Of
character of the girl of his choice.
They would be wild about her, he said.
She would be enchanted with them.
Where before they had been a trio
they would now become quartet, in
separable. Everything would be as in
the past. But they were not con-
vinced.
Paul turned from his survey OF the
sleepers, and, still in his pajamas,
went to the telephone. He talked in
Subdued tones, frequently glancing at
the beds behind him:
"Is this Mrs. Machanello?" -.
"Oh, not yet? Well, it won't be long
now, Honey" Check. Well, I
just wanted to ask you something. y
=. will you, Honey? Well, l Won
dered if-if you mad changed your
mind about-about-" Me?
You know I haven't. But I wanted
to be sure that YOU" Say.
Sweetheart-I'm telling you-I know
when I get a break mo. but
you are. You're Dream. What?
You would ask unnecessary questions.
Sure do" "Okay, then, Honey,
so long till 2:30." SAY like
the way you say that. Any repeats?"
Thanks, Babe. I'm going to
like you; can see that" -. you're
the best. Good-by."
He placed the receiver in its bracket
and sat for some minutes, his face
a picture of deep thought. Then ap-
parently reaching some conclusion, he
dressed hurriedly. After a short in
spection of his slumbering comrades,
he took up a leather-cove banjo
case and hurried out.
When he returned to the apart
ment. three hours later, no one was
in sight in bed room or studio" as
they facetiously called the cornbina-
ton living room, reception room and
lounge, but there was a murmur Of
voices from the partly ajar bath
room door. AS he approached the
door, he heard Puny say, above the
noise of rushing water, wonder what
kind of lookin' dame she is"
Paul pushed the door open with
his foot. Bud was shaving indus
triously. Puny sat in the bath tub,
his round face red and perspiring as