Evening star., 1936-07-26
July rs, 1896

confidence. Never before had Corny been as
gay and as witty and assured Werfels daugh-
ter, Edna. with whom he had danced twice,
and who was the prettiest girl he had ever
met asked him where he had been all her
life, and Corny answered that he had been
in training for this moment.
1t was shortly after this that MIR. Werfel.
who had sobered perceptibly, took Corny's
bare arm, and led him into corner.
Ibid you say you we're an architect?" he
inquired.
yes"
Where are your clothes?'
That would have been grand moment
for the truth part of it, anyway but
Corny hadn't the courage Down in the
locker room, he answered on impulse, having
learned that that was where the little chap
had become Saturday Night
put EN- on" MIR. Werfel commanded
land come with me. l want to talk to YOU.
What need is fresh air and an architect with
imagination. I'm giving this town a public
library, and it's been in charge of naughty
dumbbell named Barker. wish you'd see the
chicken coop he figures on building So YOU
sleep in my house, and we'll take the first
morning train for New York, and, if YOU got
ideas for Libraries as good as the ideas YOU
got for masquerade balls I'm going to give
you the contract. Get your things, and hurry
up, will you? I'm melting
Austerlitz or Waterloo? Alone in the moon
light outside the clubhouse - for it was a
clubhouse, and not an hotel C Cornelius
Brunt did some of the most intensive brain
work of his career. ITO think" Corny mused,
desperately, THAT a pair of pants and a coat
are all that stand between me and a start
in life. I've got ideas good ones, too - for
that library. All haven't got is pants, and
I'll have to find some within the next fifteen.
minutes, or 60 back to Smthtown in this sack
suit, and spend the summer in bed"
What should anyone have wanted OF his old
hand-me- -downs1 The guy that took 'em has
probably had a good look by now, and put
'em back. That's my only chance, anyway"
Corny was running before the first sentence
had been completed in his mind.
He was still running, when he heard voices
and, peering along the waters edge, saw two
naked torsos. The owner of one was calling
to the owner of the other, and the voice was
the voice Of George Harkness Barker. '.Swell.
amt it?" he was inquiring 'How about one
more swiml Beat you out to that rock,
Walliev'
Very stealthily, Corny crept into the open
cabana. As he had expected, there hung f,oo
suits. Comy took BOTH 1t was safer, for
various reasons. "If l leave those guys
enough to get home in" Corny reflected,
Something may happen"
Again as he had expected, it was Barker's
suit that fitted better. The other he stuffed
behind some distant bushes, and then, de-
Gently if hurriedly dressed, he sauntered
around the corner of the clubhouse. There
was car waiting - a big car. with Edna
inside it. From the building came Mr. Werfel.
He looked almost surprised
Where did you get tor" he asked 1--WE
been all over the locker-room. Bit O. luck,
though. l telephoned Barker to come over to
my house the minute he got home - no mat
ter what time. do my best thinking at night,
anyway, and I'm going to settle this library
business right now. It, been hanging fire long
enough, and when Barker sees you, we'll get
actiOn!''
1t seemed probable.
And then Fate spoke.
"Action3" cried Edna. with George Bar