Adventure, June 1911 — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

. 224 Harold laughed. “Yes,” he said, “that’s my real name. You’ve probably heard of dad. He is Thomas Armitage.” “Not Armitage & Barnes’ Friskies?” “U-hum. I’m the son ai ‘the King of Breakfast Foods.’ I was going to say son and heir, but we had a row yesterday and I Frazzied was thrown out of house, home, allowance ° and will. Dad has a real warm, red- headed temper.” “Now Harold—you’ll excuse me for pulling on the front doorbell but I do love to say Harold—I know you ought to have your nut examined. Getting a souse on and jumping into a wet river is just anindica- tion, but having a serious fight with pater- nal millions is proof positive of bats in the loft. Did you ever try earning a living?” ““No, not yet.” “It’s some more complicated than run- ning an automobile. A fellow that doesn’t have to shouldn’t jump into it without seri- ous consideration. What are you going to do?” “T don’t know. I have just come back from Paris where some money was spent teaching me to paint pictures. But I’m afraid I couldn’t sell them.” “Leave that to me, bo. You paint and I'll be the selling end. What do you say to the firm of Armitage & Buchmuller?” Harold clasped Jake’s outstretched hand and shook it heartily. “You're a pretty good sort, Buchmuller,”’ he said. ‘‘We’ll try it out. What’s your plan of campaign?”’ “Can you paint human things?” ““Yes—you mean portraits?” “Then Job Number 1 for you is to paint a picture of Peaches. If I don’t sell it toa complexion-cream outfit Ill eat it. Here sae comes now, Just let me make all the arrangements.” ANY: arms full of check jumpers and blue denim trousers. Jake advanced to meet her. ‘Miss Elaine,’’ he asked, “ skipper’s daughter? ’’ “No,” she answered, “I am the skipper.”’ ““Oof!”’ exclaimed Jake. ‘Weil, Cap, we would very much like to take the trip to Buffalo with you. How much would it cost us, American plan?” For the first time Elaine showed some LAINE came swinging ait, her are you the Adventure slight signs of confusion. ‘ Well, I—I don’t know,” she stammered. glad to have you of course, but-——”’ “Perhaps,” interjected Harold, Elaine is er-er unchaperoned and——” ‘“‘No, that’s not it,’’ she said, turning to him. “My brother is on board with his wife and her sister and a young man friend; but you see we never have taken passengers before and——”’ “You don’t know what to charge,” Jake broke in. “All right, Captain, suppose we take half the railroad fare from New York to Buffalo for a basis and add ten a week for the eats and berths.”’ “That would do very well,’’ said Elaine. ‘Follow me, please.” She led them to the bow of the barge and down a companion ladder to the main cabin. Jake drew in his breath quickly as they en- tered. A handsome rug lay upon the floor, silken curtains of Nile green draped the little ports, and a small piano stood in one corner. There were cosy wicker lounging- chairs and divans, a reading-table of pol- ished oak and a revolving bookcase whose shelves were full of handsomely bound volumes. Some embroidery lay in a woman’s work-~ basket on top of the bookcase and a dozen magazines were heaped: upon the table. From this compartment com; panionway led aft, and on each side of it were neat little white staterooms with com- fortable rocking-chairs and cosy brass beds. Into one of these the girl ushered the two young men. ‘This is our only spare room,” she said. “You will have to share it.” She deposited ee armful of clothing on the bed and went 1: “The dining-room is at the other end of the boat. When you have changed your clothing come right aft and meet the others. We have dinner at six.” She flashed a golden smile at them and vanished. Jake turned a dazed look upon Harold. “Would you mind pinching me, bo?”’ he asked feebly. “Why, what's asked. “T just want to make sure I am awake,” responded Buchmuller. “Recent experi- ences suggest to me that I’m either in a dream or pleasantly dippy, like the bug who has a kink that he’s John D. Rocke- the matter?’’ Harold “We should be ‘Miss feller. I’m the little fellow who tells real estate men they ought to advertise. For - SS rfl) CECONMIE|OOO© CO)