This etext was transcribed by Les Bowler [Picture: Book cover] MIXED GRILL * * * * * BY W. PETT RIDGE AUTHOR OF “MORD EM’LY,” ETC. * * * * * “If you can’t make up your mind what to order,” said the City waiter, “how about trying the mixed grill? You may not like all of it, but what you don’t care for you can easily leave!” * * * * * HODDER AND STOUGHTON NEW YORK AND LONDON * * * * * _Printed in_ 1913 * * * * * CONTENTS PAGE I THIRD PERSON SINGULAR 1 II A BENEVOLENT CHARACTER 17 III THE WONDERFUL START 29 IV SLOW RECOVERY 44 V LOOSE CASH 57 VI PRICE OF JAMES MCWINTER 88 VII A CASE OF SUSPICION 111 VIII QUESTION OF TEMPERATURE 130 IX FOREIGN AFFAIRS 148 X BEFORE LUNCH 160 XI COUNTER ATTRACTIONS 176 XII HERO OF HAMMERTON STREET 189 XIII DAMAGES FOR LIBEL 202 XIV THE REST CURE 218 XV REWARD FOR COURAGE 242 I—THIRD PERSON SINGULAR I MET him when I was in town at a party, where he and I were about the only grownups; he took a good deal of trouble over the youngsters, doing conjuring tricks to amuse them, and singing songs at the pianoforte that made them laugh. Later in the evening, when some of the kids had been fetched, he and I became friendly, and we had a most interesting chat. He agreed with my views regarding the Australian team of the previous summer; he was in full sympathy concerning the difficulty of making one pair of white gloves do for two evenings. I asked for his name and address. “Don’t think I have a card to spare, old chap,” he said, in his easy way. “Daresay we shall meet again.” “I’d awfully like to make sure of it,” I said. “My mother may want you to run down to our place.” “That’s a different matter. Here’s a pencil; write it on something. Or allow me. I’m coming back here at ten,” he went on. “You won’t be gone before that, I hope?” “I must,” I replied. “My governess will call at half-past nine to take me home.” “What an existence we men about town do live, to be sure. Always hurrying from one place to another.” “If my mother writes to you, Mr. Cartwright,” I said, offering my hand, “you won’t fail to come along.”