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and incidentally burned his foot terribly.

We drove to Canton, 8 miles, and registered at the Hotel Onesto, as Bert had informed us we would have a time tonight - we didn't even have to propose it. Had dinner at Bender's with Bert and Jim - there were no drinks before dinner and I thought maybe this wouldn't be much of a drinking party after all. We did have 3 drinks during dinner and I began to notice that this new technique was shrewdly designed. When dinner was over, instead of being ready for the fireside and a good book as you are when you drink about 7 before dinner, we were feeling just mellow and jovial and ready to go on. We went to a small bar to kill some time until the Crystal Room of the Onesto opened, and had a few more. I got Bert talking pretty freely about Geo. Kirtley of Plymouth and Kirtley seems to have them eating pretty well out of his hand. Kirtley must be a good entertainer and a good salesman but Gerry tells me he also is as slippery as an eel. It seems he plays about all the instruments in a small orchestra so he can put on a great show at any small night spot and the boys love it.

Went over to the Onesto about 10 PM, having absorbed Daughtery, our Cleveland serviceman, and Hill, the Cummins service man in the meantime. The "piece de resistance" at the Onesto was a girl instrumental trio, whom Bert says he "manages". They paid us quite a bit of attention, and the drinking went on and on. I ended up with 3 creme de menthes in the face of dire warnings from Shane about what they'd do to me. Of course, a play was made for the trio to go