Adventure, June 1911 — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

Dad and Destiny .ten years I have been blowing all the sur- plus earnings of muh business in a foolish endeavor to put a good one over on the bookies. Yesterday, when I’m down to hard-pan, behold, bo! they really win at big money and I sail home with a thousand in muh kick. Muh for the realization of muh dreams, new clothes, flashes for the necktie and vest buttons, the gold tick- tick! : “‘But see how wealth takes wings and the tide of fortune, taken at the flood, biffs you most unexpected and cruel. Riches this morning, and the fishes playing with muh bank-roll before the sun sets! In the water, out of the water, and up we come on a canal-boat which a fairy with a wide smile presto-changos into the St. Regis. Now Harold—how I love that name!—are you sure that we’re awake? = “Quite sure,’ Harold answered with a laugh. “This is a nice little stateroom, old fellow, but it’s not the St. Regis.” “You've been in the St. Regis?” é¢ Ves.”’ “Have you ever been on a canaller?”’ ce No. 9? “Well, I have. And, take it from me, bo, that you may know that this is not the St. Regis, but I know it isn’t any canaller either! Besides which these blue-jeans are too brand new to look the part. And no bloomin’ low-bridge expert tramps the tow- path in fifteen-dollar suits of underwear!” This last observation was due to the dis- covery that two comfortable suits of under- clothing had been laid out upon the coun- terpane. Harold did not answer. He was too busy divesting himself of his wet garments and replacing them with the dry, warm habili- ments so kindly provided. “‘A little scant, but nice and comfy,” he commented, sitting on the bed and ruefully surveying the hiatus between the rims of his trouser legs and the tops of his misfit shoes. “You'll have to put flounces on those, bo,” remarked Jake, bending over to fold up neatly the surplus length of his own garments. ‘‘Now,”’ he observed, as he stood up straight and pirouetted up and down the cabin, ‘‘see that neat and fash- ionable cuff? You may have it on me for name and lineage, Harold, but as a nob- by dresser—fade, bo, fade, I’ve got you skinned and on the pan!” 225 : Harold paused with a comb stuck in his air. “By the way, partner,” he said, “we for- got one item in our business arrangements. A painter must have paint to paint.” “Sounds like a music-hall gag or a conundrum,’ mumbled Jake, taking his scarf-pin out of his mouth and fastening the neck of his jumper withit. “However, don’t let it spoil your digestion; we'll tie up at some river town and you can go ashore and buy the paint.” Rather timidly they made their way to the after deckhouse. A big oak dining-table - occupied the center of it and a handsome sideboard stood against the bulkhead. “Get hep to the sidebar,” murmured Jake to himself. “Cut glass, too!” Two young women and two men were in the room with Elaine as the guests entered. She introduced one of the men as® her brother, Mr. Daniels, and the other as Mr. Brough. Daniels looked enough like Elaine to confirm the introductory explanation and Mr. Brough was a lean young chap with a sandy mustache and a languid manner. Mrs. Daniels was a blue-eyed, golden- haired matron of twenty-five, and Polly Hawkins, her sister, was a slim eighteen- year-old lassie in a tidy checked kitchen apron. The men were clothed in blue-jeans and jumpers and the women in canvas blouses and skirts. Harold and Jake were cordially welcomed and took the seats Elaine as- signed them at the table. ‘Their afternoon’s experience had put a razor-edge on their appetites and they thoroughly enjoyed the substantial dinner set before them. At the conclusion of the meal Daniels reached into the sideboard and drew forth a box of cigars. . We generally smoke these after din- ner,” he explained as he passed the box to Jake. “During the day we smoke corn- cobs. I’ll put a couple and a box of tobacco in your room. If you don’t care for the pipe, however, you can always find the cigars in this cupboard.” 8 them in their cosy stateroom that evening Harold concluded that ca- nal-boat life was the most joyous life a human being could live. They had spent the evening lounging and reading in the forward cabin. Jake had entertained them AS THEY pulled comforters over CORIICLOO© SoCO