C.0.D. Resource Was His Long Suit--But He Made a Slight Mistake. By Victor MacClure 00S The invitation had the weight of a Royal Command. Jimmy Barton knew that he could not refuse it. He did not want to refuse it. The trouble was that he remembered one little detail which made acceptance rather difficult. "I hear from my daughter," said Mr. @undry, "that you play a remarkably good hand at contract bridge. I want you to come down to Weybridge on Thursday night. We're having friends in. Bridge--supper. Be at Hazeldene by half-past eight. Dinner jacket." "And that," said Jimmy, under his breath, "does it!" A couple of days before, on a mis- erable night of rain, a passing car had splashed the trousers of his dress suit with mud mixed with some vicious ele- ment of particularly sticky and stain- Ing character. A petrol-soaked rag in Jimmy's hands had only made matters worse. It was a ca~: for experts in cleaning--simple enough if one had time. But Thursday was only two days away. Jimmy Barton was not lacking in courage. If it had been a case of fac- Ing his boss alone, of making the sav- ing excuse to Mr. Gundry that he had 4 previous engagement, he would have fone so without a tremor. Mr. Gun- iry was formidable, and, as his office staff could vouch, liked having his own way. But in Jimmy Barton's mind the need to please the boss was in- significant beside the wish to please the boss' daughter. Renee Gundry was---- Jimy could never say exactly what Renee Gundry was. He sometimes got the length of telling himself, secretly, hat she was the cream in his coffee. The description, though it might have meant a lot to some people, seemed dep'orably inadequate to Jimmy. Renee was--she was--well, she just was! The marvel of it all was that she geemed to like Jimmy. She liked Jim- fy so much that she had reached the Yyou must" stage with him. "You must come and play tennis at the 'Barclays'." "You must come to the matinee with me." "Daddy will be asking you down to play contract one evening," Renee had said. "You must be sure to come, Jim- my." This, to some extent, may explain rae aesuay ~ rom tae City to his rooms in St. John's Wood. It was just possible that the cleaners up the way from his place might get his trousers into order by Thursday evening. The firm dd "express" orders, he knew. He had seen an announcement to that ef- Tect in the window. Much depended bn what "express" meant. "That will be quate all right, sir," ' the girl at the cleaners assured him, ih evening will be quate all "You are absolutely sure?" Jimmy Insisted. ; "Quate! Express orders is forty- Bight hours." "Good!" said Jimmy. He felt he could breathe freely again. From the midday of Tuesday until the afternoon of Thur:cay Jimmy's hours were made pleasant by enjoy- able expectation. He had been to Hazeldene before, but always in a casual way with Renee. This was his first formal invitation, It came from Mr. Gundry. It was a sort of acknow- ledgment by the boss that Jimmy's friendship with Renee was permisshle, Mz. Gundry was fond of bridge. In the opinion of good judges Jimmy Barton's game was impeccable. Then Jimmy's work had won for him an excellent position with Messrs. Gundry, Whale & Company. If he ¢ould impress the boss by his social flair, by his bridge playing, as well as by his business ability, it could mean 2 lot in his friendship with the h~-g' daughter, ' Of course, in the midst of his plea- surable expectation, Jimmy had some minor apprehensions, They concern- ed the condition of his dress ties, col- lars, gloves, and so forth, but were easily dispersed by the expenditure of 8 little money. It was not until the middle of Thursday afternoon that real black doubt assailed him. The doubt concerned the missing and im- Dbortant item of his dress kit. The girl at the local depot of the cleaners had heen positive that every- thing would be "quate all right." But would everything he? Supposing--doubt jabbed at Jimmy's fnterior--delivery was not made in good enough time? To be certain of was unoccupied until he got home-<in the evening. He had impressed on the girl at the cleaners that the trousers would have to be delivered between six and half-past, But supposing the messenger called before six? Perhaps the young idiot, getting no response to his ringing, would carry the trous- ers away with the idea of returning in the morning. With the stab of this piercing ap- prehension Jimmy made a dive for the telephone. He flipped over the direc- tory pages, found the required number, and dialled it. He was answered by the "ringing tone." He was answered by nothing else. It took several min- utes later on for the badgered operat- or to persuade Jimmy that possibly he got no reply because Thursday was early, closing day in St. John's Wood. It was a good bit past half-past five when Jimmy reached the cleaning firm's central depot in the West End. It was close to six before his rather vehement questioning extracted the in- formation that his trousers were in a van on their way to his address. Jim- my did not believe his informant. He felt sure that a conspiracy was on foot to keep from him an article of his wardrobe which now meant more to him than life itself. Assailed, how- ever, by a fear that there might be a grain of truth in the information given him, and that the trousers might ar- rive at his empty flat, he dashed out of the place and hailed a taxi. It was a good enough taxi he se- cured---good enough--that is, to satis- fy the requirements of the Metropoli- tan Police. But in Jimmy's opinion it was a disgrace that it was permitted on the streets. The engine suffered from chronic asthma, and the cab simply crawled. Jimmy thought of all sorts of scath- ing remarks to make to the driver-- until he put his hand in his pocket to find the fare. Then he clean forgot all the withering sallies he had re- hearsed. He had meant that afternoon to ask the office cashier to negotiate a small cheque for him. He did not know what stakes Mr. Gundry and his friends played for, but on the chance that they might be on the high side he wanted to make sure of having money. But in his nervous apprehen- sions regarding the delivery of his trousers he had forgotten to see the cashier. In his pockets he had merely sufficient to pay his taxi and get him to Weybridge and back. Jimmy paid the taxi fare in silence. He even found sixpence for a tip. There is a mood that falls on men of = ~34m==h"15"2 mood of desperate calm. In this mood Jimmy Barton made inquiries as to the van, but could obtain no definite information. It sustained him while he prepared a bath and laid out every item of his dinner rig save the missing trousers. It put steadiness into his fingers while he inserted studs and links into his dress shirt, while he donned silk socks and laced dress shoes. It became intensified when in changing a dim electric bulb over his dressing-table for one in better con- dition from- another socket he con- trived to blow the fuse and leave him- self in darkness. 3 He felt an almost irresistible desire to ring up the local shop of the clean- ing firm, though he knew it was use- less. Thursday. Early closing day! But for that he might have been able to cash a cheque with the friendly grocer up the road. In another minute or so he would need to take a taxi to Baker Street for Waterloo. That would cost two shillings. Which would leave him with half-a-crown for get- ting to Weybridge. He was completely ready for dash- ing off--except for his trousers. Un- der his coat he had on his jacket and waistcoat and his scarf. His hat was on his head--it kept his hair neat. His gloves were in his pocket. So was his four-and-sixpence. All that he needed was his nether garments. "They'll never come now," Jimmy said calmly to the darkened room. "I suppose I had better ring up Wey- bridge and say I've had an accident or something!" And that wouldn't do, either. Renee was almost sure to answer the 'phone, What sort of accident could he invent that would satisfy her? At that moment iJmmy's doorbell rang. He bolted to the door. A youth in a uniform cap stood on the thresh- old. . "Barton?" he asked. "Yes, yes! Gimme them, quick!" "Wait a minute -- wait a minute!" the youth drawled. "C.0.D. Two-and- gix." "I haven't got it at the moment, and I'm in a hurry." "Instructions re people not on the ( side. He got in front of the youth, and, "I'll tell you what--I'll give you a cheque," said Jimmy. As he said it he realized belately that his cheque-book was in his office jacket. "That'll do," the youth agreed, "if you think it's worth writing a cheque for half-a-crown." Jimmy's despairing cdlm had almost | given way to panic. But suddenly an idea occurred to him. "Just step across the landing to my office," he said, indicating a cloak- room in a small lobby on the other pretending to look for the switch, felt round the door for its key. He found it, pulled it out, and hid it in his palm in readiness. He pushed open the door and switched on the light. "Step inside!" he invited, and slip- ped the key into the outer keyhole. The youth walked past him unsus- pecting. As he passed Jimmy snatch- ed at the parcel under his nearer arm, and gave him a hard push. Next mo- ment he had slammed the door and turned the key in the lock. Jimmy did not bother to run to LI; flat. The little lobby to the cloak- room had its own door. Where he was he snatched the string off the parcel and tore at the paper. In the dark he took out the trousers and hurried them on. Loud banging resounded on the cloak-room door. "Here, you! Oi!" yelled a muffled voice. "Let me out, willya?" "You'll be let out presently, my lad!" said Jimmy, between his teeth, while he struggled with buttons. His trousers seemed to have shrunk a trifle in the cleaning, but presently he felt they were shipshape about him, Buttoning up his coat, he dashed into the outer hall, pulled his flat door shut, and ran as for his life down the entrance stairs into the road. A light van stood at the kerb outside the house. The driver was leaning inquir- ingly from the seat. "Qi!" he yelled. goin' on inside?" "How should I know?" returned Jimmy. "Go and look for yourself if you're interested." There was a taxi rank at the end of the road. Jimmy ran for it. When his taxi reached Baker Street he sprinted to the ticket office, then went down the escalator in jumps. He reached the platform just as the doors of a south-bound train were on the point of shutting. He got into the brightly-lit carriage by the "skin of his teeth," and toppled breathless into a seat. It took MB Quite MLC tie side of the aisle was trying to avoid looking at his legs more than she could help. He looked down. "Good heavens!" he gasped. "I must have snatched the wrong par- cel!" The cleaners' messenger had carried two parcels, one under either arm. Both must have contained trousers, The things on Jimmy's legs were of a bright, mauve-like blue! "Wot's all the row Jimmy remained stubbornly in the shadow of the porch at Hazeldene. "Well," he said, "I think I'll go now, Renee. Except for you, I wouldn't have come at all. But I thought I ought to give you an explanation--to tell you the truth, and show you. It --it wasn't easy to come all the way dresed like this n Renee Gundry stopped laughing at once. "Do you think I can't see that, Jim- my?" she said soberly. "I think it was splendid of you. Few men would have had the pluck." "Thanks, Renee! "You are not to go, Jimmy "I can't appear before yc r father and his guests like this!" "Why not? Father will laugh. So will the others. But if you tell the story just as you told me, they will laugh with you, and not at you. Don't you see, my dear," said Renee earnest- ly, "that it's a chance to how father how resourceful you are? He loves a good laugh. Well, let him have one. But show him that the situation doesn't rattle you and he'll respect you." - "Do you want him to .z2spec' me?" "I want that more almost than any- thing." "Right!" said Jimmy Barton, step- ping into the light. "Let's -o in." And it was as Renee said. A few minutes later Mr. Gundry was slap- ping him on thé€ back and calling him "Jimmy.""--London "Answers." Well, good-night!" ro MN hs L_I eA IS Non-Starter A bookmaker had had a bad day--a very bad day. After the big race he covered the distance between the course and the railway station in re- cord time, beating the pursuing crowd by many lengths. Unfortunately he was stopped by a policeman, and that is how it came about that he was compelled to spend the night in a cell. There were so many lodging at the King's expense at the time that the bookmaker's case did not come up un- til late the following afternoon. He was in a fever to get out before the big race was run. When he knew the race must be over he tried to find out which horse had won, but none of the policemen would tell him. When he reached the dock he ad- dressed the magistrate. "Sir!" he exclaimed, "will you tell me what has won the Apricot Stakes?" "Silence!" roared a court official. "What!" said the bookmaker. "Didn't know there was such a horse in the race!' J : -- 7s -- » The big-game ninter found himself ext to a charming girl at dinner. He teld her how, having fired his last shot at a wounded and infuriated lion, he was forced to throw away his rifle and swim over a crocodile- infested creek to safety. "Yes," said the girl, brightly, "I'm awfully fond -f bathing, tou." Youthful Radio Operator Lloyd's Paid Huge Sum Within A Few Hours Within a few hours of the French luxury liner, L'Atlantique becoming a total wreck, Lloyd's had paid her insured value. The total commti- ments of the British insurers in this instance amounted to about two mfh -lion pounds. Lloyd's paid up with out turning a hair, and not one un derwriter or insurance company havig "business" on the vessel was unduly embarrassed. In the case of such huge risks the insurance may be in as many as a thousand hands, for large numbers of companies re sponsible to Lloyd's underwriters will accept part of the risk, and then they themselves may part with a por- tion of their commitment, Thus when a call is made, the insured fig- ure is spread through so many hands that only comparatively small sums have to be paid by each company, Originally Llod's underwriers cov: ered only marine insurance, buf nowadays every conceivable insur ance is taken -- from the risk of twins, the loss of a football club through bad weather, to the loss to a man's business if a royalty die. All Lloyd's underwriters have to set aside very substantial sums of money as proof of their financial stability, And it is because Lloyd's has never let a client down, though the risk be £10,000,000, that the world's insurance business comes to London, Why are underwriters s¢ called? It is because they write their names under the insurance policy, as holding the risk. Even a motor-car Dolicy, taken out at Lloyd's, for instance, will contain the names of all those insurers hold irg the risk -- the dozen or so who share perhaps 60 per cent, and the twenty who take the remaining 40 per cent. . Holland to Have Gliding School For Fans Amsterdam. -- A glider school to teach fans the art of gliding and sail planing and to act as a center of this sport in the Netherlands is to be open- ed this summer in the province of Gelderland, it is stated here The school will be under the aus: pices of the National School of Avia tion and the Royal Dutch Society for Aviation and will be situated in beau: tiful surroundings of woods and moor- lands near Lake Uddel. Professional tuition will be given ail the school to some scores of glider pupils, who will stay for the duration "pf The course of at least one week on the premises of the school. On day: that are unsuitable for sailing, the pupils will be taught to make repairs to the gliders. The pupils will have opportunity tc graduate and obtain the different cer tificates that have been internationally instituted for glider and sail-plane amateurs. Pupils are received from the age of 14 upwards. ®, ! Century Old Newspaper Found Under Wallpaper A decorator in Norfolk, England, removing wallpaper from an old house, found a copy of the London Evening Mail, 110 years old and gave it to Dr. George Gribble of Edmonton. In this issue many columns were de- vcted to extensive reports of the de- bates and examinations before the House of Lords on the bill to reduce the status of Queen Charlotte. She had gone to Europe to live after hex marriage to the Prince of Wales many years before and her return wher George IV. ascended the throne, afte: a term as regent, resulted 'n the bill which failed to pass. Public feeling in the matter was reflected in a report of "a numerous and respectable for the purpose of c¢ usidering the proceeding ending against her majesty" which was held in the public courtyard of the parish of St. Marlebone where temporary elleries were filled "with well-dress. ed females." 2, ' Charge Copying of Paper Designs French and German manufacturers of the decorative papers used to cover boxes in which packaged writing pa- pers are packed, are considering refusing to sell American stationery producers sample lines of their prod- ucts, it was learned in import <ircles last week. The foreign producers are incensed over the fact that some of their better known designs have been copied by American paper producers and sold in competition with the im- ported goods. One large German manufacturer of covering papers has arriving at Hazeldene bunctually he | companys books are: 'C.Q.D. No de- | would need to catch a train to Wey- | livery except on payment of the sum | bridge round half-past seven. That | due'." meant getting out of St. John's Wood "But, listen" said Jmmy. "I've often ; for Waterloo some time before seven | had work done by the company. I deal o'clock. But supposing the trousers |a lot with the local branch The peo- were not delivered until after seven? {ple there know me well." : Then a still more agonizing doubt "That may be. But this is from pierced Jimmy. After his daily ser-|'eadquarters. Sorry! I can't leave vant left his place in the morning it the goods without payment." gone to the extreme of closing his plant to American buyers and refus- ing them permission to see his 1933 fall and holiday lines. a ik AEE---- London containg 32,000 factories and 22,600 workshops. Out of the 8,044 taxicabs licensed bj the London Metropolitan Police, 211 are more than twenty years old. Alhough she has tg "it on a dictionary to propolis opercaie ner typewriter, eight-year-old Jean Hudson of Laurel, Delaware, has just obtained an amateur radio operator's license,