Life — June 4, 1908 — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

WE HAVE OUR ENTRANCES. Upstairs Voice: GLAD TO SEE YOU, JONES—JuST A MINUTE—'TIL I JOG THE FOLDING-BED, SOICAN OPEN THE DOOR.” in. Been four hours at the cursed Custom House. Bully to get back. Can't stop but a minute.” All the group of men got up and crowded around Billy. He’d been over in France in his machine. It seemed good to get him back. “What's the news?” he exclaimed, as he shook hands all around. ‘Little old New York seems as lively as ever.” “Dead!” said the Major, solemnly. “Nothing doing.” He rang the bell. “What’ll you have, Billy?” he said; “we're all going into dinner. Take a drink and join us.” Billy got up. ALSEERIEY “Can’t do it, old chap,” he said; “haven't a minute to spare. Just dropped in as I was skidding past. Now I’m off.” He jumped up and stood in the door- way. Every man there wasan old friend tried and true. “Fact is,” he said, confidentially, ‘I’m in a hurry because—well, I’m engaged. T’'m off for the lady. You understand how it is. It’s been a secret, but I was to an- nounce it when I got back. ‘That's why I’m in a rush.” Every man sprang to his feet. was a tinkle of glass. “Who's the happy one, Billy? Come back later and we'll do the proper—who is the lady?” Billy lowered his voice. “Thanks, boys,” he said; “knew you'd be glad. It’s Miss Kaylor. May have heard of her. Ta-ta! I’m off.” And he was gone. It must have been fully ten minutes after Billy left before any one spoke. Perhaps it was only five, but it seemed an hour. At last the Major, shaking his head slowly, said: “He couldn’t know about it, of course. Just come off the steamer.” “Of course, he couldn't,” said Stone, gruffly, ‘It’s too bad.” Dinner was eaten in semisilence. The room gradually filled up and there was a buzz of talk from the other tables. But the men who had formed the group looked at each other and passed their remarks so gingerly that they did not seem to belong together. There 613 After it was over, they solemnly filed back, solemnly lighted their cigars and solemnly sat and smoked. “Well,” said the Major, at ten o'clock, as he got up slowly and stretched himself, “T must be going.” “So must I,” said Stone. “And I,” said Marsh. They all rose. At this moment the front door opened, there was a step in the corridor and Billy came in. He closed the door after him. “Boys,” he said, “that was a great thing that you did for me this afternoon— by just being here.” “How so, Billy?” asked the Major. Billy's voice was a trifle husky. “Why,” he went on, “it was this way: She wasn’t going to marry me after all And I don’t think she would either. But now, you see, she’s got to.” “How is that, Billy ?’? asked the Major. Billy smiled grimly. “Because,” he said, “I told her you all knew it and she just couldn’t get out of it. Was I right?” The three men gathered around him. Stone got his hand. Marsh put his arm around him. The Major grabbed him by the other hand, and rang the bell. “Billy, old chap,” he said, “you were dead right.” He tured to Stone. “You sce,” he said, “there was a rea- son for our being here afterall. And now we'll have that bottle.” T. LM. TAKING STOCK IN THE PANTRY comicbooks:com