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28 "THE GLEANER"
on the right was the Imperial Latin Insurance Building, while just next. to it he could see the silver dome of the Cyclops Emporium; slightly to the left was Crassus & Co's twenty-story building and behind it was the Roman Stock E'xchange and the Royal Bank of Tarentum; a few other unimportant buildings such as the Coliseum, the Senate House and the Temple of Jupiter could be seen dimly.
His attention was attracted to two r.hattering stenogs. below the win- dow. Thev were hurrying to the cor- ner to catch a street car, powdering pretty Roman noses as they went. Their voices were distinct; "My dear you should have seen the new Toga my sheik was wearin,g- last night. It was ab-so-lute-ly a knock out. We d3nced all evening at the Cyclops y'know. Did you step out at all'?'' "Say, kid, I sure did. You know that new golf pro at the Romans' Golf & Country Club? Well, he's got the ::;nappiest new sport model chariot all done in green and gold. It Just matches my new hat. We drove away out the APPian Way and stopped at Casca's Barbecue place. You know where that is, just north of Cicero's.
Their voices faded away as they hurried up to the corner, bnt th,~ mention of Circero ooupled with th~ new golf pro had reminded Caesar of his appointment at the Golf Club to play a coup-le of rounds with the orator. He turned auickly from the winclo"w :tnd not deigning to even glance at the typewriter he donned his plus fours and catching up hi3 auto strop and Egyptian Shaving Cream he made another attack on the bathroom. He met his wife com- ing out t111s time, and rubbing 1JJS two days' beard on her cheek ne grP.eted her cheerily, "Good Mornin ; -isn't it a fine morning?" Calpur- nia. accustomed to his tricks, g-uP""- ed that there was something in the air and shoved him away with ,"You big brute. Whv don't you shave once in a while?" Then noticing his golf costume for the first time she burst forth again, "Now, just where
do you think you're going? You're not going to play golf. You're going to your room and you're going to type the record of your trip to Gaul. · Why just think of all the disappoint- ed High School students there will be. And you c•an't even imagine all ,he teachErs you will put out of work. Now as soon as you've shaved you get to your room and I'll send the maid with your breakfast."
Caesar slunk into th e bathroom 3nd there emerged during the next few minutes the subdued sounds of sundry splashings and rubbings fol- lowed by the stropping of a dull blade and then the sound of Caesar getting rid of .his beard.
Sometime later, a form clad in a bright green toga and plus fours, crept past Calpurnia's door and down the back stairs. It em- erged into the kitchen and in the light, Caesar's face was visible. Around the corner he could hear the cook flirting with the ice-man, but, taking no chances, he left them a- lone and sneaked out the back door. A Quick dash and he was in the barn. The golf clubs were in the Cabriolet Chariot. He climbed in and called to the driver. The horses were
harnessed in a trice as Caesar ex- plained his plan to the chauffeur.
"Now, James, I'll crouch down in the tottom while you drive out. My wife can't see me here and if sh8 happens to see you going out you .iust tell her you're taking the char- iot down to get the brakes adjusted.
A crack of the whip and they wer8 off. Down the incline from the barn to the courtyard and around the cor- ner of the house, they tore, Caesar recognized that he was now at the danger point. If only Calpurnia had S·een the cook flirting-then she'd be occupied dispensing with the .ur- ther services of the cook and not be near the window.
Suddenly Calpurnia's shrill voice came from the window upstairs. Yes there she was, right at the bedroom window looking down at him. By the look on her face Caesar knew what she was saying, but didn't need to