Bought and Paid For; From the Play of George Broadhurst Part 8

"Yes, sir," said Oku with a deep salaam. "Excuse, please, and come in!

Excuse, please!"

None of the visitors were in evening dress. The girls wore s.h.i.+rt waists and Jimmie's chief claims to distinction were a clean shave and freshly-pressed pants. At the last moment Virginia had wished not to come at all for this reason. She had no evening frock and could not afford to get one for a single occasion, and f.a.n.n.y was in the same straits. There had been a long argument over the matter and not a few tears, until finally f.a.n.n.y made it impossible for Virginia to hold out any longer by declaring flatly that her whole future--hers and Jimmies--was at stake. So Virginia surrendered with as good grace as she could pretend--hoping inwardly that Mr. Stafford looked upon it only as an informal affair and would be neither dressed himself nor expect them to be.

Jimmie handed his coat and hat to the butler with as important an air as he was able to a.s.sume, and, speaking for the ladies, who until now had stood motionless in the background, said loftily:

"Tell Mr. Stafford the people he was expecting have come."

Oku salaamed profoundly, but did not budge.

"Excuse! But Mr. Stafford--he is not here," he said.

Jimmie looked blankly at the girls. With a grin at Virginia he snickered:

"I told you being late was the proper thing."

Virginia turned to the butler. Anxiously she said:

"Isn't there some mistake?"

Oku shook his head, and throwing open the door of the salon, motioned to them to enter.

"Excuse, please, but there is no mistake," he grinned. "Mr. Stafford he say to me over telephone he is very sorry, but there is big meeting and he not get away. He be here in half an hour."

The girls looked at each other in dismay. Jimmie made a grimace.

"Half an hour! Jumping Jupiter!" he exclaimed.

"He say he is very sorry," went on Oku apologetically, "but will hurry quick as can. He say for you to wait till he come and he tell me to say many time, 'Excuse, please! Excuse!'"

Virginia smiled. With quiet dignity she said:

"Very well--we understand--we will wait."

Oku put out his hand for their hats and coats.

"Give me hats, please--excuse, please."

While the girls divested themselves of their outer garments the little butler chatted on in his quaint pigeon English:

"Mr. Stafford--he say to ask if you will have c.o.c.ktail."

Jimmie had carelessly strolled over to a table and picked up a book.

On hearing the invitation to liquid refreshments he closed the volume with a bang and turned round like a flash:

"I will," he exclaimed quickly.

A ludicrous expression of renewed interest suddenly replaced the s.h.i.+pping clerk's rather disgusted expression. Anything was welcome which promised to relieve the monotony of this society stunt, as he had termed Mr. Stafford's invitation. It was against his will that he had come at all. Why should he do this millionaire the honor of dining with him? What was he to him? Because he was rich? Well, he guessed not. If he had consented at f.a.n.n.y's urgent pleadings, it was because his fiancee had told him it would help Virginia. Mr. Stafford, f.a.n.n.y said, was simply crazy about her and might propose to her any day.

After all, it could do no harm to have a millionaire in the family.

Besides, he was a big railroad man. He might help him to do something with his "no stop" idea. But he must be on his guard and not allow sentiment to interfere with business. This Stafford must not think that because he invited him to dinner and might one day become his brother-in-law that he was going to get the "no-stop" invention cheap.

No, siree--no one should get the best of him!

Oku had approached Virginia, who, having crossed the room, was gazing through the cas.e.m.e.nt windows at the splendid view. Salaaming low, he said:

"Miss--will take c.o.c.ktail?"

"No--thank you," she answered with a smile.

The butler turned to f.a.n.n.y, who looked significantly at Jimmie as if desirous of consulting his wishes in so important a matter.

"Sure!" he said in an aside not intended to reach the butler's ears.

But Oku was nothing if not discreet. He never allowed himself to hear anything. When f.a.n.n.y nodded he merely inquired politely:

"What kind--please?"

Jimmie grinned and licked his lips. Turning to his future wife he asked:

"What do you like?"

"What kind do you?" she laughed, anxious to keep him in good humor.

"Martini suits me all right."

Oku bowed to the ground.

"Yes, miss. Two Martini c.o.c.ktails. Excuse, please! Excuse!"

With another profound salaam and retreating backwards towards the door as if in the presence of royalty, the j.a.panese butler made an impressive exit.

Jimmie had watched Oku's every movement with the greatest amus.e.m.e.nt.

When he was out of earshot he remarked with a chuckle:

"Great little c.h.i.n.k, that!"

f.a.n.n.y laughed. Teasingly she said:

"He's not a Chinaman, Jim. Don't you know a j.a.panese when you see one?"

"They all look alike to me," he grinned.

Profiting by the butler's absence, the s.h.i.+pping clerk started on a tour of critical inspection of the salon. Looking around, he exclaimed with enthusiasm:

"Say--this is some room, eh?"

Virginia had left the window and was admiring some water-colors on the walls. Overhearing the exclamation, she looked up, her glance taking in the whole room.

"Yes--it is beautiful," she said ecstatically.