REVELLERS

NZ Truth, Issue 1141, 13 October 1927, Page 5

REVELLERS

5 . ■■■ beach brought with it a whirling pall i of sleet and snow. Despite this, however, and the fact t that m a storm their filmy dresses and light dancing shoes invited pneumonia . and its complications, seven of the * girls resolved to attempt the journey on foot rather than spend the re- r mainder of the night m such company. The three other girls were without even light coats and their thin -soled J shoes would have 'been torn to pieces on the rough road, so they were obliged to stay. ' The agonies of mind suffered by t those seven girls as they tramped I through the slushy snow that had t fallen — or were almost blinded by the half -blizzard which lashed m their faces during the next two hours — is £ not difficult to comprehend and the marvel of it is that some of them are not now seriously ill m consequence. Just before 5 o'clock they heard the engine of an approaching car, j the owner of which proved to be a < milkrrjan on his way to work. j They begged him to take them as far 1 as the outskirts of the city and when he expressed «*his willingness to help t they clambered m and were driven away, their saturated clothing hanging bedraggled on their limbs. Some distance along the road they met the taxis, which, after the girls had a thanked the kindly milkman for his assistance, conveyed them home. t When, some time later, Mrs. X and c the two girls with whom she had re- > mained at the bach were on their way t home, one of the girls turned to f (the young solicitor) saying: "If ever f you attempt to speak to me m the c street, I'll give you m charge. . . ." A Warm Welcome t In a voice of simulated sarcasm, the host passed some objectionable remark to the effect: "You people of the Purity League are very amusing at times," but the curl of his lips, al- r though not straightened by the biting j retort of his companion, was destined l to be completely wiped away m a most j decisive fashion ere a week had ' elapsed. d The naive effrontery with which some people conduct their affairs 13 astonishing and we have here an illuminating example of what is meant. On the following Wednesday evening, the young solicitor called upon the girl who had delivered an unsolicited opinion concerning hia moral, unworthiness. It is difficult fully to express the amazement she felt on opening the door: "What do YOU want?" she asked him. "Oh, I wanted to have a talk with you," he replied nonchalantly. By way of answer, and as if further to confirm her previous expre33ion of disgust, she slammed the door. However, he knocked again. Running to another room, the girl revealed to a male friend of hers — the husband of Mrs. X — the identity of the man at the door. As it happened, the friend possessed tremendous shoulders that sat well on what had at one time been a body given to strenuous athletic activity, and when he heard the caller's name mentioned he shed his coat and vest, rolled up nis shirt-sleeves and went to the door. "Is your name ?" he said. "That's l-ight," was the reply. ''Well, here's a present for you, you low !" and a terrific left hook, with all the heft and science of a 16-3 tone body as a method of propulsion, crashed under the flaccid chin of he who was pleased to consider himself a gay dog with the ladies. What happened next will live long and with many a reminiscent quaking m his memory. When the colossus had completely , rounded off the course of punishment, he put a half-nelson on his victim, who, whining and alternately groaning, ; shrieked: "I'll apologize! I'll do any- ] thing you say — I'll apologize to anyone — if only you'll let me go!" < Hauling this despicable specimen of masculinity to his feet, the husband ] heaved him out of the door, threatening i him within less than one cubit of ] annihilation if he ever returned or at- i tempted to play a similar trick. i And so has an unscrupulous blackguard at last reaped the fruita of his \ unprincipled intentions. j