Show l J t E. E r J A BOTTLE OF FIZZ I If It it had not been for Mabel Dick Legrew would have refused the tation He knew MaJ Worthingtons Worthington's dinners only too well weIl and he groaned In spirit as he be thought of the magnificent magnificent magnificent cent courses accompanied by nothing but Insidious temperance drinks For Forthe Forthe Forthe the good major was not only a rabid teetotaler himself but he be Insisted on his friends becoming so when they dined with him However Die Dick would have kept to lemonade for a month month or or at any rate a week week week-If If thereby he might have gained Mabel for he was hopelessly in love with the majors major's daughter and she had hinted not darkly that she would be his if he be could obtain the majors major's consent This was by no means an easy easy task for when the subject was broached a few months before MaJ Worthington had bad kindly but firmly refused to permit his daughter to marry a penniless barrister barrister barris barris- ter as he called Dick penniless Dick penniless according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to the majors major's notions meaning meaning meaning mean mean- ing anything less than a thousand a year He liked Dick however and continued to be on the best of ot terms with him and tho the young man never lost hope of ot gaining the prize ally aIly So he be went to the teetotal din din- ner It was a cheerless function and a anew anew anew new temperance drink drink drink-a. a ghastly beverage beverage beverage bev bev- called HeidsIeck antl-HeidsIeck had Heidsieck had a a. depressing depressing depressing de de- de- de pressing effect upon most of ot the guests When the ladies ladles left the room and ci cigars cigars cigars ci- ci gars were handed round things assumed assumed assumed assum assum- ed a less funereal aspect The major bad had an important communication to make He had that afternoon n consented consent consent- ed to contest the Dale division of The seat had bad been rendered rendered rendered ren ren- dered vacant by the death of ot the member member mem mem- ber and the conservative caucus considered considered considered con con- that Maj Worthington had an excellent chance of wresting the from the radicals as he be was certain to secure the entire temperance temperance temperance temper temper- ance vote The radical candidate a arising arising arising rising barrister named Walter Greville refused to give any definite pledges to the teetotal party Th The majors major's news created quite a sensation and he was effusively congratulated congratulated congratulated con con- all around and told to go goIn goin goin In and win But Dick remained si silent si- si lent recently Presently he found an opportunity opportunity opportunity of speaking to the major alone Im sorry weve we've got to be on opposite opposite opposite site sides in the election he an attempt at a smile Walter Gre- Gre 1 i t f I It t S v I 1 FOR HEAVENS HEAVEN'S SAKE vile Is a great friend of ot mine and I have promised to speak at one of ot his meetings MaJ Worthington was quite nice about it Well WelI we cant can't help it now he said with a laugh I must just risk the effects of ot your oratory Then you wont won't be offended Of Ot course not replied the major genially So long as you refrain from personal reflection on my private character Dick was greatly relieved to find that the major took It so cheerfully He had hoped that his association with Walter Greville would be of ot use to him himin himin in his profession but he was very anxious not to compromise his relations relations relations rela rela- with MaJ Worthington Two or three weeks after atter this on a Saturday evening Dick happened to togo togo togo go to the Criterion restaurant He went upstairs to the table room where to his astonishment he came across MaJ Worthington Somehow the major did not seem very pleased to see him and shook hands rather coldly Dick however was In the best of ot spirits Up for tor the week end I suppose he be said May I sit at this table lable The major continued to look embarrassed embarrassed embar embar- and just then a waiter walter appeared appear appear- ed with a a. bottle of ot champagne Shall ShallI I open It now ow sir he said turning to MaJ Worthington who became very red In the face tace and stared alternately at itt t the waiter walter and the champagne without without with with- out uttering a sound bound It right sir murmured the waiter walter deferentially Dick glanced at the bottle and a smile overspread his countenance Ho lIe was enjoying the comedy 92 Is all right he exclaimed exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- ex- ex claimed with a wink If It you dont don't like Ilke It It major Ill I'll take lake It Instead The waiter walter retired mystified Dick was the first to speak He thought be he besaw besaw saw his way to have a little tittle fun r l What would the temperance voters of ot the Dale division think of this he said with an air of ot mock gravity gravUre They TIley look upon you as an uncompromising uncompromising uncompromising promising enemy of ot alcohol Its quite an exception Dick exclaimed exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- ex- ex claimed the tho poor major apologetically I only break away from teetotalism three or four times In the year There are occasions when I simply hanker for fora a bottle of ot fizz this rather an unfortunate time to choose hoose suggested Dick re re- re You see Im I'm going to speak peak at Greville's final meeting on Monday l This little episode would make mako rather an amusing story wouldn't It You dont don't mean to say you are going goIng go go- Ing to make capital out of ot It Why not I am not at all sure whether It Is not my duty to Gre- Gre ville The major turned pale paIe For heavens heaven's heavens heaven's heavens heaven's ens en's sake he exclaimed keep quiet about It Hang It all all It wouldn't be fair to take advantage of such a thing Everything Is fair tair in politics he- he plied Dick sententiouslY Just think of ot the placards all aU over the constituency constituency ency headed with The Teetotal Candidate Candidate Candidate Candi Candi- date on the Spree or something of ot that sort The major squirmed You call yourself a friend of ot mine he urged Think for a moment how such a story would affect my reputation An Idea had been hovering In Dicks Dick's mind for se several eral minutes He now gave expression to It Of Ot course he said slowly I I should not wish to Injure In Injure Injure In- In jure your reputation If I thought there was any chance of your becoming a relative of ot mine some day What do you mean I mean that If you would consent to tomy tomy my engagement engagement- You are threatening me blustered the majorI major I never threaten By Jove Jove he he broke off suddenly as he be glanced toward toward toward to to- ward the door MaJ Worthington turned his eyes In the same direction and saw Walter Greville Dick smiled This brings things to toa a climax he said Greville Is bound to see us If you will give your your consent consent con con- con con- sent I will explain everything away But this Is blackmail blackmail- Blackmail Is a nasty word replied Dick calmly Now for tor the last time will you submit No Im I'm if I will cried the major determined to face It It out When It came to the point he never allowed himself to be bullied At this moment Greville caught sight of ot them and came across to shake ha hands ds with his opponent and Dick Stay here Greville exclaimed the latter and help bell me with this bottle of ot I cant can't persuade the major to You know his Iron cast-Iron principles eh eb A great look of ot relief passed over MaJ Worthingtons Worthington's face tace He was reprIeved reprieved reprieved re re- re- re for tor the time being The election n t took ok place on Tuesday and resulted in the triumphant return of Walter Greville by a large majori majori- ty Dick was glad of ot course but he be could not help feeling sorry for tor the poor major A few tew days later he be received received received re re- re- re a note from the defeated candi candidate date asking him to call as so soon Ii as ashe ashe ashe he had bad an opportunity Dick wondered wondered won won- on- on dered what the major had to say to him and he called with as lIttle delay elay as possible Ho was shown shown Into Into into the library where the major welcomed him warmly As soon as the door had bad been closed he came t to the 1 J JI point I was fairly beaten he be said and fand I want to thank you for tor the way way you have behaved You have bave saved my reputation Nonsense replied Dick heartily Did you think that I was blackguard enough to slander a friend Besides what could I have bave said anyhow You never had the champagne you know Theres something else I want to say went on the major after a a pause I like Ilke you Dick and I am going to give my consent to your engagement to Mabel Dick sprang forward with a cry of ot Joy How can I ever thank you enough he be began Dont thank me me said the major cutting him short He pressed the bell belI and told the servant to request Miss 1 Worthington to come to the li li- li Her surprise was great at seeIng seeing seeing see- see Ing Dick and as she shook hands bands she noticed an extra pressure She looked toward her ber father a little expectantly Presently he spoke I am going to leave you alone with Dick for tor a little while he said he has something to tell telI you Then she understood and threw her ber arms round the majors major's neck He gently released himself and said Keep that for Dick In another moment he had left the room W. W W. W F P. |