| Show 1 Po J. J h f t fh iJ f. f ij rr 7 i fP r t t t Q f V J i t t Jt t t t f j u 1 f 11 1 IJ t. t J h t. t I 3 i 0 1 l to f fh f t i f BEN THE I. I A 1 i y yi o t t. t r. r it t. t rt n 0 tf r t To i j fl i. i Lr t f f t F rJ q 1 B SK 0 Y F t 0 0 0 I ame T J THAT l estimable work of reference Who's Thos Who Wh Who Included in i n its p pie le o of f Benjamin Simson's social scale scale- w we plight night have bave s seen en that gentleman described d ii in inthe the the following manner Son of William Simson poacher Born Bon BornT i 18 Education T Education I No o more than was un un- un avoidable Commenced work in 18 18 as aa poachers poacher's assistant Forsook poacher ass as as- s f stant Vai in m 18 owing to father retiring 2 at the tiie l nations nation's expense Took service in 19 9 ps as errand Frand b boy y to a n grocer Rose rapIdly rapIdly rap- rap Idly in m the commercial world eventually bec becoming ming factotum to a druggist An unfortunate tin un- fortunate mixing of phials and the su subsequent quent passing to a better er world of 8 several customers led to his s forsaking this profession pro pro- at the suggestion of the Coroner t At present resent acting ns as 8 Lord und under butler butler to of Hall L 0 n fin t L- Recreation Enjo Enjoying ing his job i. i It was an act of philanthropy on th the p part part t t r of Lord Whipstick when he be assented to to the r- r engagement of Mr Simson as li his is under but t r ler ter though he was supported in- in his decision I r by two considerations One Ode was his his bis c nl- nl j de deuce dence e in the firm hand of the hend head and f the other was that Mr Simeon senior having having having- once once- rendered Inv invaluable his lordship lord lord- ship by rescuing him from a t foot twelve holly on the hunting field had bad more more mor e or 01 less put the Peer under an obligation to him and his Benjamin soon found foun the position was vas to his liking and he lie was fortunate In fit quickly gaining the esteem of m the bead bea butler by 0 him one da day of Lord Whipstick's approach when the former was taking his dinner after-dinner nap in the wine cellar With this much behind him Ben was able to make the b best t of his job and to take life moderately J easy When waiting walting at table he was no negligible figure for the humor of his count countenance and his odd shuffling gait W p played a ed the part of a veritable condiment af at meal times es Of all 1111 his work lien best enjoyed waiting at t table for it gave him an opportunity of overhearIng overheating all aU manner of conversation on which helped to keep him posted in affairs affair s which in his hig capacity of of butler could not possibly con- con him Guests were his study He lie watched the guests g ests at nt W Whipstick Hall with wih as ns much interest as the gardener In his lord- lord hips hip's Reaches peaches enches He could tell to within a shilling oh oha a guests guest's arrival what would b be e the tip o on 1 is departure and he would serve feve e dry ging ginger r to a teetotal guest by the same uncanny instinct which prom prompted prompt P ted d him m to watch and replenish the emptying glass glass' of ot the bon ur t j But not na net gue guest t h had d ev ever r afforded so much i for food f od for or r th thought ought as I s did Colonel Cusser who vho chanced one one n holiday time to be staying at the hall Colonel Cusser i if f self-opinion self counted f for r anything was a mighty man manof manof manof of valor Talor He was vas a tall dark Clark man fierce of countenance strong of limb and f it t seemed inevitable that he and Benjamin should come Into into antagonism This may have have been du due to the tendencies the th tendencies of fate but It ft was mor more probably because of the under-butler's under early training for he had been brought up to hate all tall fierce men men men- such men such as as policemen for instance instance- with an unquenchable hate And Benjamin extremes ine jn his hatred of Colonel Cusser who wh whose se e nat nature r an and ana I character he he had summed up with the precision of a cash register determining J him to be bea be-a a brag braggart art of the first degree T THE HE colonel was not ot u a. a product of the new army but was one of of the old brigade He belonged to the thc regulars the real army my ny boy what boy what He had served In Africa during the Great War ar but there was no definite evidence that he had ever been in danger Yet the stream of his experiences livened every meal from soup to dessert He He bored the men and charmed the ladies ladles For the colonel was not old and coy maidens regarded regard regarded d him with adoration l losing sing sing- hearts and appetites alike aUke in contemplation of his manly mien Even the Honorable Eileen Lord Whipstick's Whipstick's Whip Whip- sticks stick's daughter was unable to to meet meet his eyes without blushing a fact which had hadnot hadnot hadnot not escaped the notice of Benjamin and of ot which he strongly disapproved for he was appalled at at atthe the mere thought that that the colonel should become the successful rival of the Honorable e Gerald Fortescue Fortescue-Fitz Fortescue Fitz Fortescue Fortescue as true a n gentleman as ever smoked a n Corona Corona It was Tas th this s dread fear above everything else site which made Ben mark the thc colonel as his own for tor Miss Eileen was unquestionably unquestionably ably the prettiest prettiest- girl In the an opinion firmly held by the Honorable Gerald Gerald Gerald Ger Ger- ald who however extended her range ot of pre eminence to the whole world Ill tell you what it is said Benjamin in one day to Mr Bumpus the head hea butler buHer going to happen soon eoon Im I'm not gO going to have my meals spoiled soiled by that bIess blessed d much longer There was a n time when I could could hear a few thin things s worth hearing at meal times but now Its It's 8 nothing but Cusser all the time And moren once once nc hes he's tried pulling my leg afore like it But Ill I'll th the others others others' a and d I dont don't draw drw it ac accost ost him before Ive I've finished with with him And as for him bim setting up to Miss Eileen Elleen- Elleen Ill admit hes he's very trying agree agreed Mr rr D Bumpus pus but you'll learn in time young f fellow e that weve we've got to respect our betters bete bet bet- ter K Now ow when I was in the service o of His Hia Grace the Duke of of- of If youre you're coming on that hop again Mr D Bumpus Im I'm off I said Benjamin But Buthis Buthis his hate of Colonel Cusser in no wise abated bate d V corONEL COLONEL CUSSER however Benjamin Benjamin Benjamin Benja Benja- IN min found a tough proposition and he came very near to liking him when he first tried a fall with him Benjamin was busy serving round the cream for the plum pudding pudding pudding pud pud- ding when he be skillfully managed to offer the colonel the he radish horseradish horse radish sauce which was so finely prepared that it had every appearance appearance- of f cream Benjamin Denjamin also served It In a jug which might haye have been a cream busy talking poured It Iton iton iton jug The colonel his while Benjamin drifted ted innocently Innocently innocently Inno inno- on his sweet down th the table waiting as he had never wafted waited before This was on one up to him and he be listened eagerly for t the e ignominious igno which could not fall faU to minious ous splutter come But Dut Benjamin had mistaken his bis man The Tb colonel who had been used to curry in the mixture with no out out- India ate the potent i A f u I iJ t i- J o jf y r Li ift off lY r 11 l i 1 1 I 9 l b II a ti 1 i t r 1 t 1 I r t F l a t A s 9 ilk u i f u J 1 C b f s p J I 9 i yh war ward sign sign- of his discomfort rt other than wat watery j eyes though he managed to fix A A ABen Ben with a look which would have m fI given a R. graven gra Image the jumps Hes Ies Ie's got a bit more more in him than I gave him credit for said Benjamin later when wIlen retailing the incident to Mr Bumpus The horseradish sauce that I gave him was as hot bot as fire and ind If he dont don't die of Internal combustion combustion com corn bustion tonight you can reckon hes he's got Innards like an ostrich Dear me dear me It said l mopping his brow with a coroneted silk handkerchief did you ou really d do that young fellow feIlo You'll never be a head bead butler butler butler but but- ler no never And Im I'm not sure that that- you will be butler an under butler r tor for l long not long no t at it Whips Whipstick tick Hall Ball at any rate rater Dont you make maka any error about that old pheasant tI said Benjamin I uI happen happen haj- haj hap hap- pen to know how his lordship feels about Cusser Bert the valet Talet was telling niti nie about it only today Bert goes into his his' lordships lordship's room room as usual this morning to draw up the blinds and to ask what hed he'd like for his breakfast His lordship wasn't properly awake but he says to Bert Ill have Cusser's head on a charger he says The head butler smiled humidly Thin That Th t may mayor or may not be so young fellow fellow fellow fel fel- fel- fel low he said But I was not thinking of ol Lord Whipstick I was thinking of myself I have my reputation as a head butler to consider consider consider con con- sider to say nothing of the comfort of my ray guests and do you know young man that I have Ilave the power to sack you Yes to sack you Benjamin looked blandly for a few moments moments moments mo mo- ments at t the le richly molded ceiling Then he drew a little closer to Mr Bumpus J And do you know old partridge he said sai that if his lordship was to ask me who's been playing havoc among t the le bin of jubilee port I should have to tell him Sleeping in the wine cellar is all right and andI I dont don't mind waking you up when some someone someone someone one comes but a chap who goes to sleep with a half emptied bottle jubilee at his' his side is for it It for far it And speaking of ot jubilee port said th thread the th head read butler anxiously reminds me of when I had the honor to serve the Duke of Burneside Burne Burne- elde side side-It But Brit Benjamin Denjamin was gliding gliding noiselessly oi through tho the door Ive got him all right he muttered as ashe ashe ashe he made his way to the pa pantry try C COLONEL Er CUSSER apparently suffered no ill from the horseradish for lIe he appeared appeared appeared ap ap- ap- ap next day at the height of his form It was the day before belore New Years Year's but aith al- al th every everyone one had something else to talk about there was only one subject of iw iwI I y I r r lr i v L I IJ t r 0 J I I. I r 7 sd-J sd n h J r r r Wv U. U 5 ir Vi c i t J v r. r 1 i o r. r i 6 r i j r iW I j. j t j W 1 iS f I r l VM K ir t W. W yg r f 7 34 l i 7 i t J t 7 1 rt fi Then Then lie caught sight eight of his his his oh n hands u r r atS at'S t is is my i f fa cc that color 11 I IThen j 7 1 q s tion at t t me and ancl that was was w- w Colo Colonel l then thena a smile n the tI the e first since ince bieak breakfast t or 01 a spot of cust custard rd but what what I really cant can't nel pel Cusser Benjamin could h have ve forgiven mined his face a 1 v stand is the way hes he's making up to the him bim this but unfortunately the colonel had bad hadnot and ask him to he said sard Honorable Eileen Not as as- asIve Ive I've got ideas ideas not forgotten the previous meat meal served by Dont go go making yourself familiar r with that way myself being only a butler but Benjamin and he lie was only waiting his time your our letters advised Mr Bumpus 1 It beca because se she's fhe's the nicest prettiest kindest for revenge It came when the und under under butler but butler er doesn't pa pay and if you'd been In service of young joung lady approached him in the course of his dutie duties duties' quality folk lolk as long as I rave nave navey y you'd ud have Quite right she right she is said the Honorable take am am ni known Gerald erald G Fortescue Fortescue I Fitz Fortescue itz will Vill ym you t ke kean an anything with your our it without me telling you sir he lie asked audibly Its going to pay me said n Benjamin Well Vell as I was saying continued continued Ben BenThe Ben Benjamin The colonel hesitated a little to draw the a as he left th the head butler outler jamin a darned sight too good for attention of the company and then replied that colonel and it ought to be stopped with without with with- Er Er yes I think Ill I'll take an nn h BEX EN found the Honorable Gerald alone alone- out delay This was was really really clever and the company practicing strokes s in the billiard room Why are you telling me all this queri queried giving even im Colonel Cusser his due laughed ed Gerald was moody He lie had hoped for other other the Honorable Gerald flicking a n speck of t immoderately Benjamin was conscious of f things this year ear and he s seemed em d litt little billiard chalk from the toecap of his glittering glit- glit gut glit appearing very foolish lIe He could think interested when Benjamin craved a fe few shoe of no reply and he dared not have made it it- t minutes of private conversation lIe He suspected sus sus- Go on with your fun sir said Benja Benja- even if he lie had He felt as though he Ile were were ve e the butler was out for a salary min ruin Do uDo you think as Ive I've got no eyes chained to a n tombstone raise but brit when Benjamin mentioned Colonel Why as soon as I saw the tIie look in YOl your r face fac After the meal he lie stood ruefully at the Cusser Gerald raised himself from the slough the other night when she was singing I knew window in ow and watched his enemy striding of despond and through his monocle fixed what it meant and I said to myself Hes across the park with the Honorable Eileen lien Hen with a comprehending eye the right chap chap gentleman gentleman beg pardon pardon pardon- 1 be surprised If she's playing Its like this sir the butler was saying s for lor Miss Eileen and I hope bope he gets her him Lim off against Mr Fortescue lie hc re remarked re- re re- re rea a few afew few minutes later Inter That colonels colonel's beginning begin begin- And then that gas bag comes along Now marked to Mr Bumpus S ning to wear me down for lor since he lle came canie t to It wouldn't be very ery for difficult me to settle Very lik likely ly- ly replied the head butler stay at the hall hes he's been annoying me in his little game Butlers you know sir have I HI wonder vonder what the Honorable Gerald thinks more ways than one I dont don't mind him opportunities which don dont don't come the way o of about it I having his little joke because I can always ah ordinary men And Anel I also aiso happen to know For a few moments Benjamin was silent get my own back with a few drops of gravy that his lordship hates bates the very sight of him and wouldn't hav have him he here e i if it hed he'd known what he was as like Bert the Ie valet told me met ins me t that at much Now haw have I got your your ks sum sion to act in the matter sir air If so Ill I'll go goon goon on with it You have have whispered the Honorable Gerald Ge ald cautiously taking ci it his m's wallet And that reminds me that there will he b hea a n little cost Attached pUnched to It said Faid Benjamin drawing g closer I HI shall shaH find myself compelled compelled compelled com com- to use use some e a materials The Honorable Gerald h handed Benjamin a large bill bilI adding that ther ere vere m more re wh where re that came ame from and the interview was as ended TT IT TWILL WILL Y rr already have been noted that Benjamin Simson spent a period of Ii lies Ills life factotum as as' fact tum to a n drU druggist gist and it was was' hardly likely that a man f f ns breed would would Ie leave aTe such a fascinating occupation without acquiring a n variety of |
