E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ Cray's contentions was already becoming evident. The two old gentlemen, who brought up the rear arm in arm, looked a great deal less like college professors, and surveyed the gay scene in the foyer with appreciative eyes. Mr. Hiram Croft talked the whole of the way. He was even genial to his rival. Mr. Wallin.
"It is my belief, sir," he said, "that your very interesting friend Mr. Cray has made a marvelous discovery. I have suffered from dyspepsia all my life. Meals have been a trouble to me instead of a pleasure. I have seldom anticipated the partaking of food except with dread. ”

“ Mr. Cray repeated. "There's money in that, Ed."
"Sure," Mr. Wallin assented, "or Hiram Crofts wouldn't be in it. He cuts out the hard stuff all right, but his nose follows the dollars all the time. Pa and Ma Medlicott know that, too. My little pile isn't much by the side of his," he added with a touch of sadness.
"Ed," his friend said firmly, "if you let a whimple-faced, anaemic-looking weed like that rob you of a fine girl like Miss Medlicott, I'm through with you."
"Do you think I want him to have her?" Mr. Wallin asked almost indignantly. ”

“ I invite you, ladies and gentlemen, to dine with me at the restaurant of this hotel at eight o'clock next Wednesday night, when my daughter, Lady Sittingbourne, will be proud to be your hostess. You shall then test my beverage, and if you find it what you are looking for, there shall be no question of dollars between us. I will give you the recipe."
Mr. Hiram Croft shook hands with Mr. Cray for the third time.
"Sir," he said, "if you are not led away by the enthusiasm of the discoverer, you are one of the world's benefactors." ”

“ Mr. Wallin asked drearily. "The poor girl doesn't know the taste of wine or liquor. Nothing of the sort has ever been allowed in the house since she was born. I'd as soon think of offering her a cocktail as of handing her poisoned chocolates, and I guess she'd feel the same about it."
"What sort of a crowd is she with over here?" Mr. Cray inquired. ”

“ I am going to disprove everything that has ever been written about alcohol."
"Hear, hear!" Mr. Hiram Croft murmured.
"Now," Mr. Cray continued, smiling, "you are all doubtless aware of a long-established habit in America of taking a cocktail before dinner. However one looks upon it, the habit itself is without doubt a pernicious one."
"Deplorable!" Mrs. Medlicott murmured.
"Unhygienic," one of the old gentlemen echoed.
Mr. Cray signified his unqualified assent.
"Still," he continued, "one function of this cocktail is, on the surface, worthy. ”

“ Mr. Cray studied the group thoughtfully. "Dead ones!" he declared. "Why, Miss Medlicott is the only live one in the bunch. She doesn't belong, Ed."
"That water drinking," Mr. Wallin remarked, "seems to link them together, though."
"You mean to tell me that sandy-haired, melancholy-looking dyspeptic is your rival?" his host went on. "Gee, Ed, you ought to put it over on him!"
"He's the big noise when he's on the platform."
"Sure, but the girl isn't going to live with him on a platform! What are they all doing over here, Ed?"
"They're collecting recipes of temperance drinks," Mr. ”

“ Mrs. Medlicott said, smiling. "The bottle presents a most attractive appearance."
"I am glad that it meets with your approval," Mr. Cray replied. "I have instructed the waiter not to open any of it until after the soup, as the contents are slightly serated." ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1946, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 77 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”

“ It hash none ofsh—I beg your pardon," he said holding his hand before his mouth and correcting himself with prenatural gravity. "It has none of the thin limpidity of the aërated waters in ge-general use. If I were to search through my vocabulary for a single adjective. or rather epithet to apply to this wonderful refreshment. I should call it—inspired."
"Bravo!" exclaimed the two old gentlemen from the other end of the table. ”