A Drones Club tale featuring Bingo Little.

It was after Bingo Little had taken the editorial position with Wee Tots that the regulars at the Drones Club felt that, with a steady salary, he could be hit up for a touch. To this Bingo turned them down and remained pretty much aloof. Why was this?

A Crumpet stated that Bingo's behavior was the result of the Bella Mae Jobson affair. "The Bella Mae Jobson affair?" asked a Bean, "What was the Bella Mae Jobson affair?" The Crumpet was incredulous at this remark and stated that, of course, it was the affair of Bella Mae Jobson.

B.M.J., you see, was an American authoress specializing in such characters as Willie Walrus and Charlie Chipmunk for the young minds. Mr. Purkiss, Bingo's boss, heard Bella Mae Jobson was in England and thought it would increase the circulation of Wee Tots if he had some B.M.J. stories gracing its pages. Purkiss wrote B.M.J. to come by the offices when she could. She did this when Purkiss was out and only Bingo around to see.

Bingo was told Bella Mae Jobson was in the front lobby and wished to see him. Not really knowing who B.M.J. was, and that she had no appointment, Bingo informed the secretary to tell B.M.J. that he was busy and to submit any manuscripts through the proper channels.

When Purkiss returned, exuberant that B.M.J. was coming by, he told Bingo to be ready. "Bella Mae Jobson?" replied Bingo. "Oh, I gave her the air." Purkiss could not believe that Bingo had sent B.M.J. away without an audience. He told Bingo who she was and how he hoped to have some of her stories in Wee Tots.

Bingo shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, you still have me." Purkiss retorted he did not because Bingo was fired. Bingo had until the end of the month to make other arrangements, then he was gone. He could not tell his wife Rosie of this unfortunate occurrence because she was out of town visiting relatives.

Bingo later found himself invited to a bottle party and who should he bump into there but miss Bella Mae Jobson. They had never met so she was unaware of who Bingo was. With his identity securely hidden, Bingo dreamed up a plot. He would pay much attention to B.M.J., lush her up on the excitements of the London scenery, then, when she was at the height of her benevolent spirit, inform her that, oh by the way, he happened to be with Wee Tots and would she consider contributing some of her stories.

This heroic act would put him back into the good graces of old Purkiss, and he would retract his dismissal. The next week saw Bingo taking B.M.J. to the zoo, Tower of London, and other sights, as well as lunches and dinners.

Bella Mae Jobson was so honored by all this attention that on Wednesday, her last day in England, she was to have a special luncheon in her hotel room and insisted that Bingo be the guest of honor. Bingo accepted this and figured that it was at this luncheon that he could then spring his news of Wee Tots.

It was all too perfect a setup, and this meant that a complication had to arise, viz. the return of Bingo's wife, Rosie, from the provinces. Bingo mentioned her sudden return and Rosie replied that she would never miss being with Bingo on Wednesday, the day of their wedding anniversary. She wanted to have lunch with Bingo at the restaurant where they met.

The next morning, Wednesday, Bingo had to figure a way to get out of his anniversary luncheon and go save his job at the B.M.J. luncheon. He called Rosie from Wee Tots and told her he hated to break their lunch date, but that he had to attend the luncheon of a new author in town.

Rosie not only said that this would be fine and that they could do dinner instead, but went on to remark how this now meant that she could attend another luncheon she had been invited to. The luncheon of miss Bella Mae Jobson, American authoress. Mrs. Purkiss asked Rosie to go with her to the gathering.

This posed new problems for Bingo. You see, he had purposely avoided telling B.M.J. that he was married. He had also, to add shine to the polishing of this apple, given B.M.J. an autographed photograph. When Rosie came to the luncheon and saw this picture of her husband on Bella Mae Jobson's fireplace, inquiries would have to be made. He had to get that photograph back.

At the hotel, Bingo later stood outside B.M.J.'s room after the clerk at the desk told him she was out. The question of how to get in the room was answered as a maid happened by and Bingo slipped her a tenner to let him in. He saw the photograph and pocketed it. At this moment a key was being put into the door. Bingo jumped behind the sofa and crouched down.

The entrant was the maid letting Mr. Purkiss inside. The maid noted that another gentleman should be present and said "There he is" pointing to Bingo's feet sticking out. Bingo jumped up, greeted them and headed for the door. Purkiss tried to halt him but Bingo hurried down the stairs and stood out front of the hotel on the sidewalk.

He was envisioning what words would pass between his wife Rosie, Bella Mae Jobson, and Mr. Purkiss. His thoughts were interrupted by a cab pulling up and Rosie rolling down her window. She told Bingo that she had to rush to the aid of Mrs. Purkiss who was in distress at home because she discovered her loved peke was missing. Rosie asked Bingo to ring up Bella Mae Jobson and tell her that she and Mrs. Purkiss could not make the luncheon because of this.

Bingo went back into the hotel and headed for the bar to get a quick one. He was sitting there drinking a refresher when he was accosted by Mr. Purkiss, who had a pleading look in his eyes. He said that Bingo had it in his power to do him a great kindness. Purkiss, in his attempt to sweeten the Jobson, had gone to the extent of giving her Mrs. Purkiss' peke.

He begged Bingo to think up some plausible story to tell Mrs. Purkiss and keep her from attending the luncheon and finding her peke. Knowing Mrs. Purkiss would not attend, nor his wife, Bingo played on Mr. Purkiss like a violin. Why, he asked Purkiss, should he, Bingo, do anything to aid and abet when he, Mr. Purkiss, had fired him.

Bingo informed Purkiss that he had an impeccable story he would tell Mrs. Purkiss and keep her from attending the luncheon. Purkiss said that Bingo was not fired and that he could keep his job at a doubled salary.

Bingo considered this in a brief silence, then agreed saying that Purkiss could stop worrying as he, Bingo, guaranteed that Mrs. Purkiss would not be at the luncheon. Bingo then invited Purkiss to embody his job's terms on paper and he would then attend to Mrs. Purkiss.