For two hours the Australian) sailor in "civvies" had sat placidly in the northwestern nook of a well-Known hotel lobby and meditatively sipped his beer, During the first} hour he had consumed three bottles, during the second hour two. At the end of the second bottle of the second hour he ordered a third, poured out half into his glass, and drank it, Then he saw a red-headed gentleman across the lobby and went over to speak to him. He wanted to tell him that they had in Galipoli and although led geentleinan had never Leen in Galipoli, under the cireurmstances he thought it the better part of discretion to agree. That point having been settled the Australian sailor returned to his abandoned bottle.
The bottle was zone, also the glass was gone which had contained fully an inch of unconsumed beer. The sailor peered closer. There was no mistake, it was not on the table, He looked under the table and on all the surrounding tables. But neither the beer nor the bottle reappeared. Angrily he summoned, the boy.
"Boy, what side have go one piece Wattle beer?"
The boy. looked blank, "Boy, what side have go?" "No "savvy."
That settled the matter. The boy was shoved aside and the sailor started out to look for the missing] beer. He trod a straight line no to the orchestra, inspected the cello and the grand piano, staggered over the stand and peered behind the door, retraced his steps into the tea-room, and made a systematic search of every table, Several peo-¥le were called upon t6 testify that the beer upon their tables was bought and signed for by themselves. The sailor's face grow grimmer, his eyes more cynical, his mouth more! resolute, It was obvious to all] beholders that one sailor's life was permanently embittered: Stepping] gingerly he made his way—out through the snack room into the bar, pausing only briefly for a contemplative gaze at the pink sill] Tingerie displayed in the show window. Once in the bar he demanded an inspection of the beer sto-k After a brief but terrifying azgument the boy allowed him to pecr Into the ice box at the line of Lot-
Ues arranged thercit Every bette was full x0 the neck, even the dis-SMus'oned stiler was certain on thet george, N> fault yo be found in th: hor. Returning to the Innck counter he made a tour of inspection before and aft, and shook every available' Bottle, "None fitted the description
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