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The Seaforth News, 1938-03-17, Page 6I,AGE SIX. THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1938 'Has any one sten Eric Hamilton?' I asked. .. For an .hour, or more, I had been lounging about the sitting -room of a 'club in Quebec City, waiting for nty friend, who had promised to join me et dinner that night. 1 ;threw aside a newssheet, -Anil 3'c4had enhausted down to minutest advertisements, stretched myself and strolled across to a group of old fur -traders, retired partners of the North-West Company, who were engaged in heated diecus- sloe with some officers from the Citadel. "Has any one tate Eric Hamilton?' I repeated, indifferent to the merite of their dispute. "That's the tenth time you've asked that question," said nty 'Uncle !Jack MacKenzie, looking up sharply, 'the tenth time, Sir. 'by actual count," and he .peckered his brows at the interrup- tion, jest as he used to when I was a little lad on his knee and ehaaced in break into one Of hie hunting stories with a question at the wrong place, "Hang it," drawled !Colonel Adder- ly, a squatty man with an over -fed look on his !bulging, red cheeks, "hang it, you don't expect Hamilton? The baby meet be teething," and he added more chaff at the expense of my friend, who had 'been the subject of good-natured banter among club members for devotion to his first- born. I saw •Adderly'e abject eat more to get away from the traders' argu- ment, then to enema me; and I re- turned the insolent .challenge af his uneoncealed van :t in the faces of the elder num by &axing a chair nP to the company ef MeTarishee and Fro- hishers and 11 etiillivrays and Mac- aed other retired venren, of tlie :teeth coentre. "1 hei eeer eanlon. env...teen." eael ' vier,eee saying te one" Aiderly;" "Talk teem' military conenests. Sir." my encl.! ecintinenl, "Why. Sir, our Teen !wive tran-fornted a e ilder- nese :leo an emeire. They have blazed a at from Lebrador on the Atlan- tic to tint rock on the 'Pacifie, 11 my esteemed kinsman, Sir Alexander MacKenzie, left les inscription of die- coreey. Mark my words. Sir, the day will eome ellen the name:- of ;David Theeenon and Simon Fraser and Sir Alexander Alaellenzie will rank high- er in English annele than Braddock's and—1 enleaci!" tailelied the eaten, amus- e -el et my uncle. vs bit had .been a lead- ing !spirit in she Xerth-W',et Company and A -hose enthueiteen knew ne beenes, "Head! Yoe gentlemen ad- vent:nee: noadn't need to have ae- conteilished niuch Brad- dock." And he paueee with s, even- tionine sepercilious -mile. "Sir Alex- ancle- A 71, it fent ceinin ef pen, was les 77, My -mele fleshed eneey. -rhm slieht- irg reference to gentlemen adyentne- ere, with just n perceptible emphsed: of the "ash -enterers". Wa, not to hi, taste. "Pardon me. Sir." lie stiffly, -yeti forget that by the terms of their charter. the Ancient and Honorable Hudenn's. Buy Company have the privilege of being known as ,gentle- men adventurers. And by the 'Lord, Sir, 'tis aaentIeman adventurer and nothing else, that etock-jobbingecoun- drel of a Selkirk has proved himself! And he. sir, was neither Noe -West- er, nor Canadian, but an .Enelishman, •the commander of the Citadel." My uncle puffed .ctut theee last words in the nature ref a defiance to the Eng- lish officer, whose ebeeks took on a deeper perplish shade; but he return- ed the charge good-hemoxedly en- ough. "Nonsense, nfaeKenzie, my good friend," laughed he patronizingly, "if the Right !Honorable, the Earl of Sel- kirk, were such an adventurer, why the deuce clid the Beaver Club down at Montreal receive him with open months an.d open arms and----" And °Pen hearts, Sir, you may say," interrupted my Uncle .MacKen- zie. "-And Vd thank you not to "good - friend' me," he added tartly. Now, the !Bearer Club was an or- ganization of ,Niee-Westers renowned for its heepitality. 'Founded in Inn originally composed of but nineteen members and afterwards extended only to men who had served in the "Pays tat Haut", it soon acquired a reputation for entertaining in regal style, Why the vertebrae of colonial gentlemen should 'sometimes lose the independent, 'upright rigidity of self- respect on contact with old world no- bility, I know not. •But instantly, Col- onel Adderly's reference to Lord Sel- kirk and the Beaver Club called up the picture of a banquet in Montreal, when I was a lad of seven, or there- abouts. I had been tricked Out in some Highland costume eepeciafly pleasing to the 'Eael—cap, kilts, dirk and all -- and was taken by. my 'Uncle Jane MaeKenzie to the Beaver Club. Here, in a room, that glittered with lights, was a table eteeming with things, which caught and held my .boyieb eyes; and all about were crowds of guests, gentlemen, who had been in - tenet in the quaint language ef the dub, ''l'o tliecues the merits of bear, beaver and venison." The great Sir Alexander 'MacKenzie, \ vith bit title fresh from the king, and his feat of exploring the river now knoen by h is name and pushing through the moue - fastness to the ;Pacific on all non's lips—nag to my Uncle Jack's right. Simon Fraser and David Thompson and other famous explorers, who were heroes to my imagination were there too, In these men and what they said ei their wenderNI voyegee I was far mere interested than in the young, keen -faced man \shit a tie, thnt came up in ruffles to hi. earn and with an imperial decoration en hie breast, whieh eat me he was Lord Selkirk. I remember when the hire(' salvers and platters were .eleared way, 1 wa• placed ym the table to execute the -cecird dance, I meet here acquitted myself is lin some credit; for the gen- thence set up a peidigions elapping, theuell 1 reeall nethiug hut a snap- ning ef my fleeces, i eave of my cap and a whirl of Hail- and faeces around tee diezy head. -rhea iny uncle took me bete ren In,, lowes, promising to let me -.11 110 tO end if I were ened, and more eine eas pit t,'1. "Thane enough for y(n, you yettee nee- sai' inv kinsnente promptly ening itt- itt wine-glaes before me. •1) Uncle :MacKenzie" ;tett I with a tire face. "dc 31 ttttt1.;irt; pew ewe wine sor Whereat, the noble Earl shouted, ellravo! here's fee yen. Mr,' efaceeen- zie." And all the gentlemen set np a laueh and my nncle ;smiled and called to the butler. 'Here, Johnson, toddy for eme, elass ef hot 5 ater, pure, fee other." lett 'A 1011 Johnnie brought back tee gensses. I observed Uncle NI Re, KeT1Zil7 kept the toddy. "There, my bey, there% \define ale for you," said he. and into the glass sit' hot -enter he popped a peppermint lozenge. "Fie!" laughed Sir eklexander to my enele's rinht, "Pie to cheat the ;nth - man!" -.Hie is the beet wine of the cellar," vowed His Lordship; and 1 drank my eeppermint with as much geese) and eelflimportance as any man of them. Then followed toasts, :itch a lief of toasts ae only men Mined to sets nf -trength •could take, Ironical toasts tri the. North-West •Pane, whine myth Sir Alexander had dispelled; toast.; It; the discoverer .of the MacKenzie Riv- er, which 'brought storms of applause that shook the house; toasts to "our distinguished guests," whose euave re- sponse dieanned all suspicion; toasts to the "Northern winterers," poor devils, who were serving the cause by undergoing life-long term of Arctic exile; toast e to "the merry lads of the north," who only served in the ranks without attaining to the honor of part- nership; toasts enough,in all con- ecience, to drown the memory of ee- ry man present. Thanks to my Uncle 'jack MaeKenzie, all my toasts were taken to ipeppermInt, and the picture in my mind of that banquet is as clear to -day as it was whdn I sat at the table, What ,would I not 'give to be hale at the Beaver ;Club, 1vimg it all over again and hearing Sir Alexander MaeKenzie with his dashing, hero - eyes .and quick, passionate .geseures, recounting that wonderful voyage of his with a sulky crew into a region of hostiles; tellibg of those long intermi- nable .winters of Arctic night, when great explorer sounded the depths Of utter .despair in service for the .com- pany and knew not whether he faced madness or starvation; and thrilling the whole assembly with a desceiption of his first glimpse of the Pncifiel Perhaps it was whet I heard that seight—who can tell—that drew me to the wild life ef after years s Gut I was too young, then, to recognize fully the greatness ef those men. Indeed, my country was then. and is' Yet too young; for if their greatness be treC, ognized, it is forgotten and untion- Geed. I think I must have fallen asleep on my uncle's knee; for I next remember sleepily looking about and noticing that many of the gentlemen .had down in their chairs and with closed eyes were breathing heavily. Others had slipped to the ifloor and were sound asleep. This shocked. me and I was at once wide .awelke. My uncle was sitting very erect and his arm ar- ound ny waist hod the tight grasp that usually preceded some sharp re- buke. I looked tip and found his face grown suddenly so hard and stern, I was all affright lest my sleeping had offended hirn. 'T-Iis eyes were fastened on Lord Selleirk with it piercing, ang_ ry gaze, His Lordehip was not nod- ding, not a bit of it Inow brilliant he seemed to ley childish fancy! He was leaning forward, queetioning those Net? - West -s, who had eeceived him with open arms, and open hearts 'And the wiee had mounted to the heacl of the good Noe-Westers and they were now, also receiving the strange nobleman with open nuyuths, pouring out to him a 'full account of their profits, the extent ef the vast, unknown game preserve, and how their methods so far surpaseed those the litideon's Bay, their river's stock had fallen in value front 25D to 510 per .cent, -rbe more information they gave, the more His Lordship plied them with questions. "I must tay," tt teepees's! Veda. jack to Sir Alexander Manklenzie, "if any Hudson's Bay man steked steel pointed queetiene cm North - West busine,e, l'd give myself the 'Menem's, of ejecting hint from 11117: room" Then, T knew hie aneer was againsi Lord Selkirly and me stineitiet me for sleeping. "XCIIISNIAV." retorted Sir Alexand- er. who bed cut mei 1' C0110Pet1011 1V1.711 711P Nor'-Westers some years before. "there's no ground flu euspi- cion." rim lie .vented enessey nt the turn things had taken, yolIr 1.011.kilill .70111P coloniza- tion scheme that you ask quell pointed mentions?" demanded ilty unele, asi- re- the Earl, l'he nobleman tinn- ed quickly to him mid said something ;thole the llighlandere and Prince. Edward's leland, which I did not ten deretand. The rest of that cream: eides From my thoughte; for I oas esirricel home in lir, Jack 1\ fuels: en - arms. Ana all these thing'. ImPlettleti 40111e ten or twelve year; before that wordy sword -play ;between tide emelt uncle of mine and the Eit5i.h colonel from the Citadel. "We erred. Sir. through tnn great hospitality." my uncle was 4aying 10 the colonel. -How could we knnw that Selkirk %%mild perehase control - line interest in Hrelson's 'Bsty stneki How could ee know he'd secure a la»d grant in the very heart nf ovir domain?" "I- (limn object to Ili. laud, nor le yotonine, nor to ;his amen of pen- is-, and nthekets and bayonet- to ev- ery mutter's tele 1 thern." broke in anether of the retired meter, "but I do "Wert to hie drilling those same colonietn to hi: importing a field .ban tiny ated .bringing 010 that little ram of MeDenell front the Army to egg tee settler, on! If, bad enough to 1,11- 0 111' fort; hut this proclamatien ns expel 'Non -Wester, from what enimea a, eneleen'e Bay Territory--" "jun listen to this," crie1, my imele Pelline out a ropy of the obnoxieus proelemation and reading aloud -an or- der ner the expel -inn of ail rivals to the Hedemne Bey Company hem) the ninth MI territory. "Where cen fiemilton be?" ;aid 1. losing interest in the trader,' luarrel eoon 2"hty NM170 into detail,. "Home eith hi, eifie," half 'sneered the officer in it neve-ince way, that irri- tated 711P, tenetteh the remark was, doehness, trne. -Home with his wi- fie." he repeated in a sing -song' Pay- ing no attention to the elucidation of a subject he had raised, "Good old man, Hamilton, but since marriage, ntterly gone to the bad!" the what?" 1 queried, taking rim up short. , This officer, with the pentane-, cheeks and patronizing inso ..ence, had a provoking trick of al- ways keeping 'just inside the !hounds of What one might reseet. ''To the What, did you say 'Hamilton lead gone?" "To the ;doneestios," 'sans he laugh- ing, then 'to the others, as if he had listened ley every word of the explana- tions, 'and if 'His Little Encellentcy, Governor tnfaciDemell, Illy the grace of Lord Selkirk, ruler over .gentlemen adventurers in neenten's-land, expels the good INor'-Westers 'from nowhere to somewhere else, what do the good Nor'eVnesters intend doing to the Little Tyrant?' 'Charles the First him," responds a wag of the club. "'Where's your Cromwell?" laeglis the .coloeel. ! "Our Cromwell's a Cameron, tem- per of a Lucifer, cath S before action,'' answers the wag. "Tee!" exclaims Uncle Jack test ily. "We'll settle (Hie 'Lordship's lit - tis martinet of the plaine, Warrant for !his arrest! 'Fetch him .outl" 'Warrant .4431nd King !George 111, will .clo it," added one of the partnere who had looked the matter up. "413ed King !George. PH. 'doesn't give jurisdiction for trial in Lower 'Cana- da, if offense be committed else- where," interjects a lawyer with allow of importance. Al District come to j Detainee t," laughs the colonel, .winking as my uncle's wrath rose. '"Pah!" says Mr. !jack MacKenzie Ill disgust, stamping on the floor with both 'feet. 'Toe lawyers needn't think yoti'll have your pickings when fur companies gunnel, We'll ship hint out, that's all. Neither of the companies wants to advertise its profits—" ,"Or its methods—ahem!" inteejecte the colonel. "And its private ;business," acids my uncle, looking 'daggers at Adclerly, by going to court." Then they al! rose •to go to the din- ineeroonn and es I stepped out to have it look dawn the street for Ham- ilton, T heard Colonel Adderly't last fling --"Pretty rascals, you gentlemen sadveii,teretr;,s:are, to shy and coy it,A.cabout It was a dark night, with it few lonely Ater.; in mitt -heaven, a cheek moon cutting the horizon cloud -rim and it nein, ;Mare!) wind that boded enow from 'rile Labrador, or elect from the Gulf. \Viten Eric Hamilton left the Idea snas Ilay Company's service at York Factory on dindson 13e3' and 'ame to live in ;Quebec, I was but a snide -in at Laval. lt Wat at my .lincle al acKen- eie's that I itIct the tall. dm*, sinewy, taciturn ma 11, whose hill melee wn, to play such a strange part in my life; and 'when these 11V0 talked of their adventuree in the far, Inne land of the north, I could no more conceal my awceetruck admiration than a girl could on first sliecovering her own charms in a looking -glass. I think he nmst have noticed my- boyiell rever- ence, for once he condeecendell to snk abate tlic velvet cap and green stied) and lone law coat which made up the Laval cosetnie, end in a moment I was taiking to him as .voltibly as if he were the hoy and 'I, the great Hud- son', Ilav trader, "It make, nw feel (mite like a boy again," he had -aid on resumintt coin ree:a tine e'il ii elle lla ele' ttt %ie. "31 5! Sir, I can hardly realize 1 wont into eliat country a lad of fifteen. Iikc your nephew, and here f am, ont of it, an old Mail." -Pat, Eric man," says my uncle, "you'll be finding a stile one of these days and renewing your youth." "nick," 7 broke nut ellen the lintleon's Bey man had gone home, "how old, is Mr. Hamilton?" "Fifteen years elder than you are, bey, and erae Heaven you may have hal 1 a: -much of the man in you at thirty at he hae." rennin my uncle mentally meaeuring rin. isith that stern eye of kis, 1 that information. 111y heart gave a 1711i -ion,. jubilaiit flied. Henceforth. I no longer loeked mem Mr. liamilton with the settle awe that it choir boy entertains for it bishop. Something of comradeship sprain: lip between lie, and before that year had passed we were as boon ecenpanions as man and boy could be. But Hamilton presently 'polled it all by fulfilling my uncle's .prediction and finding it wife, a beautiful, fair-haired, Frail slip of a girl, near enough the twee tie, to patronize me and too much of the young lady to lind plea- -'tire in an 'awkward fad, Tint meant an end to our rides and v'alk s .and sail, down the St. Teaverence and long evening talks; bet I took my revenge by .assuming the airs of a man of for- ty, at which .Hamilton cmizzed me not a little and his wife, Miriam, laughed. When f' surprised them all by 'jump- ing suddenly, from ificiyhood to tnan- hoed---"like a tadpole into a mos- quito," as my' 'Uncle jack facetiously remarked. 'Meanwhile; a son and heir came :to my ,friendnetronie end I had to he 'thankful eir a .huninle third nace. And so it came that I was Waitine. for Eric's arrival at the 'Quebec Club that night, 'peering from the ,porch for sight of himnand .calculating how long it would take to ride front the Ohateau Gigot aboye Cherleshotten, where he was ,staying. ;Stepping out- side, 1 Was streprised to see the form of a horse beneath the lantern of the arched gateway; and in'y ,eurprise itt- creased on nearer inspection. As I walked up, the creature gave a whinny. and I recognized Hamiincens , horse, 'Rebored With sweat, .uniblanketed and shivering. The poesibility of an .acci- dent hardly suggested itself before Obsenved the 1bl-idle-rein. had .been slung .over the hitching -post and teazel 'steps hurrying 'to the .side 'doer' of the 'club-honse, 'Is that you, Eric'?" I .called. There was no answer; so T led the horse to the stable boy and hurried bank to see if Hamilton were inside. The sitting room was !deserted; but 'Eric's weeleknown, till figure .was en- teriag ehe .dining-roone And a ourious 'figure he presented to the Questioning looks .of the club men, In one hand Was his riding whip, in the ;other, his gloves. He wore the buckskin coat of a trapper and in the ;belt were two pis - tole, One sleeve was torn 'from wrist to elbow and .his 'boots were scratched as if they ;had 'been 'combed by an iron race. His broad -brimmed hat .was still on, 'slouched down .over his eyes like that of a scout, lOadt Hamilton," exclaimed Uncle jack MaCKenzie, who was facing Eric as I .came up behind, "have you 'beett in a race or a light?" and he gave him the look of .suspition one might give an intoxicated man, ".Is it a e‘old night?" asked the col- onel punctiliously, gazing hard ae the still -strapped hat. ,Net it word eame from Hamilton. "How's the cold in your head?" con- tinued Adderly, pompously trying to stare Hamilton's hat off. "Rene 3 am, ad!' 'Whees kept you?" and1 !rushed forward ,Int 'quickly checked myself; for Flatnilton turned slowly towards nte and instead of er- ect bearing, clear glance, firm mnuth I saw a head .that was tbowed, eyes that burned like 'fire, and parched, parted, e'ordless lips. .11 the colonel had not been etuffiing himself like the turkey guzzler that he was, be would have seen sotnething unspeakably terrible written 011 Ham- ilton's silent .face. "Did the little wifie let him off for a night's .play?" sneered Adderly. Rarely were the words out, when Hamilton's teeth clenched behind the open lips, giving him en ugly, furious expression, strange to his facie. Ht. took a .quiely stride towards the °fin see raised his e hip and bronght it down with full strength of his shoul- der in one cutting hlow acroee the baggy, purplish cheeks of the in speeker. Cl /Arnim 11, The %Oleic thing WR, 7,0 111101:007.171:11 that for one moment not a man in the room drew breath, Then the colotiel sprang up with the bellow of an en- raged bull, overturning the table in his rush, and a dozen club member.; were 'telling him back from Eric. "Eric liamihnnarc you mad?" I cried. "Whet do you mean?" But liamilton stood motionlese if he saw Ilene of tis. Except that hie breath wee labored, he wore .precieely the same strange, distracted air he had on entering the club. "Hold back!" I implored; for ,Ayl- derly was sirilting right and left to get free fromj the men. 'Hold back! There's a mietake! Something's wrong!" "Reptile!" .roared the colnnel. "Cow- ardly reptile, you shall pay for this!" ['here a mistake," I shouted, ab- ove the clamor of exclamations. -.Glad the mistake landed where it did, ail the same," whispered .Uncle jack 11 acK ethic 'entity ear, "but get hint eut of 'this. Drunk --or a scandal." says my uncle, who alwaye eapreseed hinnelf in explosive., when evened "Side ream-- here —.lead him drunk 1" "Never," I returned passionately. I knee both Iiatuilion and Ilk wife loe well to tolerate either ineinuation, liti We led him like a dazed being into a side offiee, where Ale leek .ManKen- see promptly turned the key and took up a poetere with liis bark against the door. "Noe.. Sir," lie broke out sternly, 'if lee neither drink, nor a scancial—" There, he stopped; for Hamilton, ut- terly untonscious of us, moved, rather than walked, automatically across the room. Throwing his hat CIMA711, he bowed his head over both arms above the mantel -piece. My uncle .and 1 looked from the si- lent man to each other. 'Raising Ins .brows in question, Mr. Jack 'efaoKen- zie touched his forehead and whisper- ed across to nie--"Macl?" At that, through the word was spok- en barely dabove a 'breath, 'Eric turned slowly round and laced us with blood- shot, gleaming eyes. He made as though, he .would speak, sank into the armchair ;before the grate and pressed b-oth bands a.gainei his forehead. enlace" .he repeated in a voi PROFESSIONAL'CARDS Medical DR. E, A. MeMASTER—Graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Univers- ity of Toronto, and of the New York Post Graduate 'School and Hospital. Member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Office on High street. .Phone 212, Office fully equipped for x-ray diagnosis and for ultra .short wave eleeteic treatment, atm violet ;sun lamp 'treatment and infra red electric treatment, Nu.rse iis attendance. • DR. ,GILBERT C. JARROTT — Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, Un- iversity of Westenn !Ontario, Member of College of Physicians and'Surgeons of Ontario. Office 43 Goderich street west. Pthone 317. Hours 2-4.30 p.m., 7.30-9 p.m. Other boors by appoint- ment. Seecessor to Dr. Chas. Mackay DR, H. HUGH ROSS, Physician and Snegeon Late •of Lindon' Hos- pital, London, 'England. Special at- tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose ard throat, Office and residence behind Dominion Bade Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104, DR. F. J. BURROWS, ,Seaforth. Office and residence, ,Goderich street, east of the United Church. Coroner for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46. DR. F. J. R. FORSTER— Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. .Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 17. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and Golden Square throat 'hospi- tals, London. At Commereial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesd'aiy in each month from 1.30 p.m. to 5' P.m, DR. W. C. SPROAT Physician - Surgeon Phone 90-W. Office John St. Seaforte Auctioneer. GEO'RGE 'ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News, Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed. F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Aucelon- eer for Perth and Huron Counties, Sales Solicited. Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and real estate property. R. R. No. 4, Mitchell, Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office. HARVEY MeLLWATN, Licensed Auctioneer fen County ,of Huron. Sea - forth, R.R. 5, Phone 228 r 26. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in -First-Class Companies. THE vkialloP Mutual Fire Insurance Co HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont OFFICERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; yiet President,' Widiiate Knox, Londeshoeon Fecretary. Treasurer, XL A. Reid, Seafoitie. ' AiGENTS F. e1ereei:en6ie Dublin; Jahn E. Peptic'', RAI, Brucefield; X. R. G. Janneethe .I3eodltagen; James Watt, Blyth; C. F. Hewiet, Kincardine; Vie. Yen, Holmesvale, DIRiEcToRs Alex, Broadfoot, Seaforth No. 3; James •Sholdice, Walton; Wrn. Knox, Lon d es boro ; George Leonhavdt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank McGregor, .Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, God- erieh; Alex McEwing, Blyth No, 1; Iltomas Moylan, Seaforth No. 5; Wm, R. Archibald, Seaforth No. 4. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications 'to any of the above eamed officers addressed to their respective post - offices. as a moan, 'framing his words slowly and with great effort. "By jove, men, you should know me better than to mouth such rot under your 'beeath. To -night I'd .sell my soul, sell my soul to be mad, really mad, to .know that all I think has happened, hadn't hap- pened .at all—" and his speech MIS broken by a sharp intake 'of ;breath. "Out with, it, erten, for the Lord's sake," 'shouted my 'uncle, now con- vinced that Eric was not drunk .and jumping tO .conclusions—as '1,4 was wont to do when excited—regarding a possible .scandal. "Out with it, man! We'll stand by yin] Has that blasted red-faced Inc. key-----" ' (To be continued) •