he two rosebuds. As a favor to your
old pal please treat my beloved relatives with every consideration
and make a fuss over them. You know you told them in the
restaurant to come and see you. They want to make good and will
stay a week if you insist.
With kindest regards,
BUNCH.
P. S. Don't drag Aunt Flora into any literary discussions--she
might hand you something. Her favorite author is Pommery Sec., the
chap who writes all those frothy books.
B.
"I wish you could have seen our place in the day-time," Peaches was
saying to Skinski when I finished reading Bunch's get-back. "We
think it's delightful out here. Did you, have much trouble in
finding the place?"
"Nay, lady fair," Skinski replied; "no trouble at all. Nephew
Bunch came as far as the front door with us."
"What!" exclaimed the astonished Peaches.
"Yes," Skinski concluded; "he even saved us the hardship of ringing
the bell. Oh! he's a thoughtful relative, Bunch is."
Clara J. looked at me, I looked at Skinski, he looked at Dodo, and
she looked at the piano and said thoughtfully, "You betcher sweet!"
"The idea of Bunch coming to our front door and then rushing off
again without seeing anybody," gasped Peaches, "what does it mean?"
"Alice lives only half a mile away and possibly Bunch was running
behind his schedule," I suggested.
Just then Aunt Martha and Uncle Peter came in the parlor, and
presently I grabbed a chance to say a few words to Skinski on the
side:
"If my family circle ever gets wise that you and the Queen of
Laughter over there are excess baggage it'll be to the cabbage
patch for mine," I whispered.
"I'm on," Skinski whispered back. "Never a break from yours
mysteriously, believe me. We wouldn't have come out at all if your
partner hadn't insisted. He was so hot to have us butt in here and
hand your heart a flutter that I just couldn't resist his pleading
voice. It's a catchy jest, all right, and it's making me laugh.
The way you two ducks josh each other is pitiful, but your secret
is safe with me, Manager. I won't make no bad breaks, and Dodo
won't ever open her talk-trap. She never talks off the stage. On
the stage, say! she has the most elegant line of language that ever
left the pipes. Leave it all to me, Manager, and I'll see that the
McGowan family makes an awful hit with your fireside companions."
And Skinski kept his word.
He skilfully led Uncle Peter around to a discussion of
s
|