Show tte di fc I 1 had just d sc a shilling in my pocket it was the only shilling the only coin in fact I 1 was at that moment capable of producing with the calmness born of derpera despera tion I 1 reviewed the situation in one minute b the big station clock beneath which I 1 stood beryl would be stai ding by my s de she Is as punctual as she is pretty we were to lunch somewhere and at ter wards go to whichever theater she I 1 mean we fancied my worldly wealth lay in the sov case that doubtless reposed on the dressing table of my kensing ton digs fhe total assets on my person consisted of the wretched shilling aforementioned one visiting card in my case a signet ring and a letter from sir john kenway of hall asking me to run over for a week s shooting there was no time to realize on the one article of value the ring beryl never carries more than nine pence in her purse on e 1 knew no one from whom I 1 could bor row to confess to beryl was not to be thought of only the previous week I 1 had been lectured severely tor combined extravagance and careless ness something must be done but perhaps for once beryl might be unpunctual dare I 1 risk v it was beryl 1001 ing alluringly sweet and in a beautiful temper her varies a little at times and now jack dearest we 11 have a lovely evening I 1 ve been looking forward to it so much first of all I 1 want i on to take me to the new empire restaurant if you don t think it too extravagant I 1 I 1 converted a groan into a sigh of rapture shall we have a cab darling I 1 ed jauntia ja until the jauntiness such as might be displayed by the dishon est bani clerk on the eve of audit day certainly not was my sweet heart s emphatic answer we 11 walk jack there s plenty of time and I 1 felt as the bank clerk would on hearing that the day of reckoning had been postponed a few hours when we reached the dazzling ex gerior of the restaurant despair reigned in my heart but the shilling remained intact in pocket I 1 ate as though in a dream while beryl atas in raptures with the din ner and the service and the head waiter inquired it all had been to our entire satisfaction I 1 told him with almost pathetic earnestness that my companion and I 1 had never till this night realized what it was to dine B the way I 1 said carelessly have you a room to accommodate a club dinner party about twenty peo pie yes he had the very room would I 1 care to see ita I 1 would beryl graciously excused me and we made our way to the ban quoting hall in question once inside I 1 told him quickly the state of af fairs and as he listened I 1 had an ob eject lesson in mobility of the italian shall we have a cab darling I 1 asked jauntily co intendance I 1 produced my card and declared solemnly the money should be sent to him the first thing on the morrow he gazed at the card doubt fully even suspiciously and I 1 felt I 1 was lost A flaak of inspiration T ook sir john kenway s invitation from my pocket and thrust it into his hand tn un chantly now will ou trust mea I 1 asked the crested notepaper the imps ing address and the contents of the letter turned well nigh certain defeat into glorious victory the proprietor bowed almost abjectly and entreated me to forgue his original hesitation he would nave the bill sent to my ad dress and T wo 11 send the r dicu loua amount when it suited my gracious purpose pay the bill jack dearest she said I 1 ve been looking over the the ater list and it ou want to please me you 11 take me to see the one and only girl at the frivolity I 1 daresay we can get seats as it s been running a long time I 1 informed beryl that I 1 had settled with the proprietor outside I 1 gave the waiter sixpence out of the shill ine and he looked at me with a mild ly disappointed gaze when the bus deposited us at the frivolity door the lordly sum of four pence remained to me I 1 laid my plans with desperate con he gazed at the card doubtfully eve suspiciously summate cunning requesting beryl t stay in the theater vestibule tor a mo ment while I 1 inquired it any appel circle seats remained have ou two upper circles 7 I 1 stammered as my turn came at laet how I 1 wished the encyclopedic boffl clous commissionaire might be hope lessly in error but he gasn wasn t there were plenty of seats good seats too how many sir inquired the clerk two I 1 groaned he handed me the tickets the hor moment had come and with an air ot almost conscious guilt I 1 thrust my signet ring through the barrier trust me till the morning I 1 en treated ive left my money at home and my fiancee Is with me in what tearful suspense did I 1 await his reply sorry sir came the hateful words but I 1 barent do it happy thought again I 1 withdrew S r job s invitation from Us resting place inscribed in the bottom left hand corner was my name and ad dress what a virtue Is method especially in titled people for the second time the crested notepaper of my only swagger friend turned fortunes of war I 1 got my tickets and bounded up the stairs with joyous steps how I 1 reveled in the one and only girl how I 1 laughed at the jokes of the comedian and how I 1 ap the efforts of the artistes I 1 felt like the victorious general tasting the delights of home after a hard won campaign when the curtain had come down for the last time I 1 breathed a sigh of unutterable relief but my ordeal was not over for when we emerged I 1 perceived to my dismay that it bad been raining and a slight drizzle was still falling then came a great final blow jask dear I 1 think you can take me to the station in a cab said beryl after a glance at the weather conditions but mind you don t give the man more than a shilling A cab dashed toward us black tragedy loomed before my eyes an adroit veiled inquiry in the course of the evening had informed me that beryl s purse contained the sum of we had be tween us there was no hope for it only confession would avert the corn ing catastrophe beryl I 1 said humbly tearfully I 1 can t then a strange thing happened as the novelists say the horse slipped and fell to the ground kicking furiously beryl grasped my arm in a par of terror oh jack jack she cried oh ook at that poor horse oh h I 1 withdrew her quickly into the shelter of the theater and hope and boy flew into my heart again it s all right now beryl I 1 whis cheerfully the horse Is up again we can get into the cab get into the caba screamed beryl I 1 for worlds after that hor id dangerous things well go by bus or walk jack my darling I 1 remonstrated with superb recklessness I 1 really coulden couldn t think of such a thing now let me call a cab like a nice sweet brave little sweetheart beryl faced me with a look of un swerving determination showing from her lovely eyes they are really lovely eyes jack she commanded it you call one of those horrible sliding deadly things you can go home in it yourself im going by bus and if I 1 cant get a bus walk so there after that of course there was nothing left tor me but humble sub mission and therefore I 1 submitted accordingly chicago american |