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DIAMONDS TO SIT ON
The Columbus Theatre company got into five motorlomes and, shouting gaily, were taken straight to the railway station. ® in J. soing to give a performance m Stalingrad, said Hippolyte. Bender was decidedly puzzled. ‘ We’ll have to follow them. But how can we when we haven t any money ? Anyhow, we can go to the station and see what we can do.’ At the railway station they discovered that the Pyatigorsk via Tikharetskaya and Mmeralnye Vody. , friends had not enough money for more than one ticket. « j 1 know how to travel without a ticket ? ' asked Bender. ‘ I’ll try,” said Hippolyte timidly. ‘ Oh, the devU ! I think I’d better do the trying I U forgive you this time. I’U go without a ticket.' A ticket was bought for Hippolyte in an unreserved oompartment, and in time the former marshal of nobility arrived at the Mineralnye Vody station in the Caucasus. As he got out of the train he did his best not to be seen by any of the members of the Columbus lheatre company and started to look for Bender The actors left for Pyatigorsk, but Bender had not 1 arrived in the evening and found Hippolyte in great agitation. Where have you been?’ moaned Hippolyte I m so worn out.’ ’ You who have had a tired“ yoiir pocket And I’m not supposed to be your tram at Tikharetskaya, was it ? It wasn’t I sat there for three hours like a fool waiting with Sre’s™the?b ’ You’re a Last! wnere s tne theatre company ? ’ Gone to Pyatigorsk.’
