A NAVAL OCCASION

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 185, 3 May 1929, Page 8

A NAVAL OCCASION

JACK’S TACTICAL RETREAT “Oh I The Navy. The gallant Navy!” So sang the poet, but revised opinions on the popular ditty are in order with the patrons of a city restaurant who were having their evening meal just after 6 o’clock last night. Jack Ashore steered an uncertain course into the room with a lady in tow, and after numerous escapes, safely negotiated the narrow channel beset with shoals and reached an anchorage. As the end of the meal approached Jack began to display uneasiness. Whether it was that the amount of funds in hand showed a deficit when compared with the bill or Jack was assailed by that wellknown feeling of “fed-up-ness” will never be known. At any rate he discovered that he had urgent business to attend to, and saying that be would see his companion outside he disappeared into the night. A patient wait produced dawning intelligence in the mind of the lady. She could have no doubts that she had been, to say the least, “left to it.” How to get out of the predicament? That was the burning question. Ha! There was the solution. Two tables away were dining a sailor and a Royal Marine. Setting full sails to the breeze, she ranged alongside and was about to furl canvas and cast anchor when Fate intervened in the shape of the head waitress. In no uncertain fashion she spoke her mind and fended off the importunate one. As a last resource before being hustled off she hurled her bill on to the table and left it there. The final scene took place before the proprietor, and after explanations it was very brief. “Well, have you any money?” he asked. “No.” “Have you any shame?” “No.” “Well, get out of here!”