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Exeter Advocate, 1908-07-23, Page 3+*+a+n++ + Cie 0•*+*****•0+*40+0+414.04-*+0et+ +*+0+0 10 • 0 A House of Mystery OR, THE GIRL IN BLUE 1A+0+tC•*+:GNiQ+1Ritt+*+l0i+0+i#+0+0+30+0+0+IOEilCE♦a0E+* CHAPTER XX. "Now," I said, turning to Gedge, "perhaps you will show rte over this new domain of mine. They seem to bo pretty comfortable quarters, at . any rate." 1 Ile looked at me strangely. "You surely don't moan, sir, that you wish me to show you over your own house 1" he sail with incredu- lity. "Of course I do," I answered. "I've never been over it. yet, and I think I may as well embrace the op- portunity uow." "But ha._n't you better go to your room and rest? It will surely do you good. I'll ring for Rayner, the va- 11vt." He spoke as though solicitous of my welfare. "I want no valets, neither do I re- quire rest," I answered impati- ently. "1 mean to fathom this mystery." "But pardon me," he said defer- entially, "there is no mystery, as far as I can see. You accidentally struck your head against the statue while passing through the drawing - room, and were rendered unconsci- ous. The blow has, according to the doctor, unpaired your mental capa- city a little. In a few days you'll be all right again. Poor Mrs. Heaton! —she's awfully upset." "I will not have her called Mrs. Heaton!" I cried in indignation. "Understand that! I have no wife —and a hag like that I certainly would never marry." He raised his eyebrows with a gesture cif regret, sighed, but haz- arded no remark. ik "Come," I said, "show me over ▪ the place. It will be a most inter- esting visit, I'ut sure." And I laughed. reflecting upon my extra- ordinary position, ono absolutely unparalleled in man's history. "But before . doing so will you not sign one or two cheques?" he urged, glancing at his watch. "The postman will call for the letters in half an hour. and they must be de- spatched to -clay.,, "What cheques V' "There are six," he answered, taking out a large cheque-book and opening it. "I've already fengiaide thein it if you will kindly "IwRign them." T glanced' t them. All six were for large amounts, each consider- ably over n thousand pounds. "They relate to business transac- tions, all of which aro exceeding- ly good bargains," he explained. "Well," I said, laughing again, "I've never before signed cheques for such big amounts as these. But here goes, if you wish. Whether they'll be honored is quite another thing." And I took up a pen and append- ed v signature to each, while he e� my flared one by one in envelopes ready directed to receive them. "Now," he said at last, "if you really wish me to take you round 1'li do so, but the whole thing seems so droll and absurd that 1 hope, sir, you'll excuse sly doubts as to your insanity." "Well, why do you think I'm in- sane?" I asked, looking straight al trim. "110 1 look like a mad- man 1" "Net at all. With your head swathed in those bandages, you look like a man who's received a PI tions injury." "Of course, that confounded old charlatan Britten put forward the suggestion that I'in not in my right mind !" I said. "But 1 tell you quite calmly, and without fear .,f cnntracfiction—indeed, 1 could swear upon oath—that never in my life have 1 entered this place or set eyes upon you or upon that enintcd old girl before to -day. Now, if you were in my place, sure- ly you would resent being called husband by a woman whole you don't know from Adam ; you wouldn't relish being condemned as a lunatic by nn idiotic old coun- try quack. and being imposed upon til round by persons in whom you Lave not ;she slightest interest." Itis fecal .'laxed into it snide. "if i nilly be permitted to ad- vise you," he; said, "f think it heat not to discuss the matter further at present. A solution moat pre- sent itself before long. Meanwhile )our intellect will be rendered the clearer by response." "I've already told you that i don't intend to, rest until i've ex- tricated myself from this absurdly false position." I said determined - Iv. "I feel absolutely certain that )t've been mistaken for sonic one of the same name." lie shrugged his shoulders. He has evidently a shrewd fellow, this n,an who said he was my secretary and was apparently a very confi- dential eertttnt "i'd lik,, to know what to reply t , Maason's cable," lie said. "Veil really ought to take some t of good fortune. His discovery means fabulous wealth for you as holder of the concession." "My dear sir," I said, "for mercy's sake don't bother me about this fellow and his confound- ed pans. Reply just as you like. You sem to know all about it. 1 don't—nor 1 don't want to know." "But in a case like this I do not care to act on my own discretion alone," he protested. "They are evidently awaiting a reply in Daw- son City." "Let them wait," I said. "I don't want to bother my head over matters in • which I can have no possible concern. This alleged matrimonial alliance of mine is of far more importance to mo than all the gold in the Klondy'ke." "Well, the lady is your wife, so why worry further about it 1" he said. "And how do you know, pray l" "Because I was present at the ceremony." I looked at him for a moment, unable to utter further words. "I suppose you'll tell mo next that you were my secretary in my Lachelor days ?" I said at last. "Certainly I was." "And you say that you were ac- tually present at the church, and saw me married 1" I cried, abso- lutely incredulous. "1 was. You were married at St. Andrew's, Wells Street. It was a smart wedding, too, for Mrs. Fordyce was very well known in society, and had a largo circle of friends." "Fordyce 1" "Yes, that name before you." "Then gasped. He nodded in the affirmative. I groaned. The affair grew more puzzling now that he declared him- self an actual witness of my matri- monial misfortune. But how could such a tiring have taken place without my know- ledge? It was impossible. The mystery, like the strange incidents which had preceded this remark- able situation in w'hiea I found my- self, grew more and more inexpli- cable each hour. We went forth together, passing from room to room through the great country mansion. The place was handsome, of rather modern t) pe, furnished glaringly in the manner which bespoke the par- venu. It possessed no mellow, time -worn appearance, as did the dear old Manor House beside the Severn. The furniture and hang- ings were too apparently of the Tottenham Court Road type. and the art displayed was that of the art -furnisher given carte blanche to. furnish with the newest and stoat fashionable fancies in the matter of wall -papers, dadoa, cor- nices, and art -pottery. There were art -carpets and art -curtains, art -cupboards and art -chairs, art - china and art -chintzes. Art was everywhere in painful enamel and iinposisble greens. There were pic- tures, too, but different, indeed, to the long row of noble faces with their ruffles and doublets and their arms painted on shields in the cor- ners that looked down so solemnly in the great hall at Heaton. The pictures in that modern tnansion were of the queue -de -sidle French school. detibs by the miscalled im- pressionists, and some rather too d hie to be decent. That n large amount of money lead been expended upon the place 1 could not doubt. but the effect v as that of dazzling the gaze by color, and nowhere seemed there a good, comfortable. old-fashioned rifting -room. All the apartments were arranged to please the eye, and not for personal comfort. The house was just the kind that a man suddenly successful in the city might set up in the vain endeavor to develop into a country gentle- man ; for to become such is the ideal of every silk -hatted business man, whether he trades in stocks or stockings. "That I should be compelled to show you over your own house is, t;, say the least, very amusing," said (ledge. as we were passing up the grand staircase. "If people uere told of this they wouldn't. be- lieve it possible." "1 myself don't. believe what you tell nie is possible," I remarked. "But who gave orders for this fur- niture 1" "You dict." "And who chase ft—approved of the designs. and all that sort of thing 1" "lou certainly did." he answer- ed "Some of the ideas were. of course. Mrs. Heaton's." "I thought so. 1 don't believe myself capable of such barbaric taste as these awful blues and r c • ice of such a marvellous stroke ! gi erns in the little sitting -room." she I echoed, puzzled. was Mrs. Heaton':; her marriage with was a widiw 1" I "The morning -room, you mean." "1 suppose so. The whole place is like a furniture show -room --this style complete, thirty-five guineas and so on. You know the sort of thing I mean." He smiled in fiords. "]'our friends all admire the place," he remarked. "What friends T' "Sir Charles Stiummel, Mr. Lar- coutbe, Lady Fraser, and people of that class." "1 never heard of them in all my life. Who arc they?" I -inquired, interested. "Friends of yours. They visit here often enough. You surely ought to know thein. Lady Fraser is your wife's dearest friend.,, "Fraser 1" I said reflectively. "The only Fraser 1 know is a bak- er in Clare Market, who supplies my old servant, Mrs. Parker, with bread." Then, after a pause, I added, "And you say that these people are friends of [nine'? Have I many friends .1" "Lots. A rich man hes always plenty of good-humored acquaint- ances." "They like to conte clown he: e for a breath of country air, I sup- pose, eh l" 1 laughed. "That's about it," he answered. 'A good many of them are not very sincere in their friendship, I fear. The roan who has stoney, lives well, keeps a good table, and has choice wines in his cellar need never be at a loss for genial companions." "You seem to be a bit of a philo- sopher, my friend," I remarked. He smiled knowingly. "I haven't' acted as your secre- tary without learning a few of the crooked ways of the world." "What?" I exclaimed. "Don't I always act honestly, then 1" This was something entirely new. "Nobody can be honest in fi- nance." "Well," I said, resenting his imputation, "I wasn't aware that 1 had ever swindled a person of sixpence in my life." "Sixpences in such suets as they deal in at Winchester House don't count. It's the thousands." We passed a couple of gaping maid -servants in long -stringed caps, who stood aside, looking at me in wonder. No doubt the news that a demented ratan was in the house had reached the servants' hall. I was, in fact, on show to the domestics. "Then you mean to imply that these financial dealings of mune — of which, by the way, I have no knowledge whatsoever—are not al- ways quite strnightl" I said, as we walked together down a long carpeted corridor. He looked at me in hesitation. "It's, of course, business," he answered—"sharp business. I don't mean to imply that the deal- ings at Winchester House are any more unfair than those of any other financier in the City ; but sometimes, you know, there's just n flavor of smartness about them that !night be misconstrued by a clever counsel in a Criminal court." "Whatl" 1 cried, halting and glaring at hint. "Now, be frank with me, (ledge. Tell me plainly, have I ever swindled anybody 1" "Certainly not," he said, laugh- ing. "Why, it's this very smart- ness that has made you what you are to -day — a millionaire. If you bad not been very wide awake and shrewd you'd have been ruined long ago." "Then, I suppose, I'm well known in the city, ch ?" "Your name's as well known as Bennett's clock, and your credit ;•lands as high as any one's be- tween Ludgate Hill and Fenchurch Street." "Extraordinary !" 1 said. "What s ou tell me sounds like some re- markable fairy tale." "The balance at your banker's is sufficient proof that what i say it truth," he remarked. "There may lie a good many fairy tales in cer- tain prospectuses, but there ccr tainly is none in your financial soundness." (To bo Continued. au►usement at no TIIE £50 CHEQUE "Well?" neked 1'. •:.use, as the door closed behind the el( ik. Shuter remained) standing. ills terror was tent great for him to pretend lie was a! ease. Ile was dawn where a man doesn't care any k,nger, and tie looked It. itu1 in his eyes. bright with the tear of anxiety which was ending Item up. there came a little hope es they rested en the big. confident mart behind the tattle. Rortase and he had been gond friends these three years. The shock wh ch hnd bl)iMhed torn ceiedn't have af- fected liorlase very seriously. 13e,rlase would Fee him through. But he must know. "Well?'" tior!ase asked again, and Shut- er plunged in. "(ltd man." he said, "This Deep Mine t.tisin" d has bit me herd." "I've dropped thirty-seven thousand pv.unds myself,' said Borlase. "Won't you sit dcwn?" "No," said Shuler. Ile swayed a little and easighl the edge of the table. "Better sit down," said ilorinse; end Shuter ehe)ed the suggoetion. Ile got a Fort "f comfort in being IOW in do even so small a matter as that. for his mind was prtralysel with trouble. like the mind of a baht in a cage that can only tiering aimlessly from side to side, too much frightened, too couch ravaged to understand the futility of what it is do- ing. "A cigar?" said Berlase. "Now, wade ahead." "Twenty thousand pounds would pull :ue thr..ugh," suid Shuter, watching the other's face over the flame of the match. 110 read nothing there. "Old man," be suid, as he threw the match into the fender and took the yet unlit cigar from between his teeth, "it's this way. If can't get twenty thousand pounds I'm finished." "You should be worth more than that." "1 tun. But I'm sixty Thousand pounds dcwn. 1 can only meet forty thousand ixunds of that if 1 sell.my last slick. What ata I to do?•' Borlase whistled a little French air through his teeth, and sat regarding Shuter for halt a minute. "What security can you give me?" he asked at length. Shutter laughed out loud. "Security'!" he suid. "Yes, security," said Morisse. "My mother's income's in it," said Shuter. "My niece's marriage settlement. M) lodge's funds are in it. Securityl You're my last straw." Borlase preserved silence. "T'r'aps you think nie mad," Shuter went on. "T'r'aps 1 am. 1 ought to be, I know. It's hard enough for me to Dome to you like this. But 1 think your my friend, and—and you put inc on the Deep Mine." Ile colored slowly under Boriase's eye. "Of course, I know you've dropped a lot yourself, old man," he said, in exten- uation of his offence. "But I'd have sold cut In time. 1f i hadn't had confidence In the thing. 1 didn't think you could go wrong. You know how it. carne down. The bottom simply fell out. Ons day it was shaky and the next it was scrap." Borlase puffed his cigar. "It's not ruin 1 funk," continued Shut - 01; "but this means gaol. And the boy's just gone to Trinity." His voice broke. The big gran lay back In his chair, staring at Shuter, smoking slowly, drum- ming en the atl.• w th his finger -nails. 'II ere was not fit'ter sound in the room. The hope died out of Shuter's eyes. "For God's sake, Borlase—" "Let me tell you a story," said 13orlase, and Shuler had to listen. "About ten years ago," Borlase said, "1 was, as you may or may not know, it the very bottom, right in the ooze. It doesn't matter how 1 got there are more than It !natters how 1 got again • But there I was. My entire wardrobe, Shuler, consisted of the dark green—once black—jacket, tete cotton shirt, the tweed trousers, the boots, and the hat in which 1 stood up. You may have seen a hat just like that, and 1 re- member that my back hair used to work through the place where the brim and the crown had parted company. Did you ever see the flesh of your knee through a hole In your bags? I thought not. I did. 1 saw it every time I looked down- wards, and it made inc ashamed, as if I'd been stark naked on the scree. My Jacket was of a rather expensive alpaca. II may have been made originally for tete summer wear of a business man. If you, have ever worn such a garment, you will recognize that at its best it is ill -filled for keeping out the wind. Mine was well ventilated, too. "1 was sitting, thus clad, about two o'clock of a !rah winter morning on one of the benches by the railings of the Green Park. it was my purpose, with the kind permission of Ilio police, to snatch a few hours' refreshing sleep. The wind was strong from the north-east, but I'm not the man to complain of a little fresh air, and there had been no rain for oter an hour. In spite of all these mer- cies 1 was In a thoroughly naughty tem- per, and, if you will credit it, as 1 sat en that damp bench I was ready to curse and swear with vexation. There are some people, Shuter, who are never sat- isfied. "A man came out of one of the clubs opposite me and crossed over to where I was sitting. Ile walked past me quick- ly and glanced for a moment In niy dir- ection. Then he stopped and came back to my side and stood looking at me. He wore a soft homburg hat and a good ser- viceable overcoat. Ills hands were thrust dmp In his pockets and he hada int cigar t etween his teeth. 1 have had severe! of those very cigars since. They are the best in his club, and ho never r,ntokes any other. 1 didn't know that al the time; but I met him, Shuter. later on at a City Banquet, and he froze on to inc. and, as 1 recognized him. I accepted hiP invitation to dinner next evening. And we became great pals. Ile didn't remem- t er me, though. No, by Jove, he didn't remember !net "Ile stood. es 1 say, looking down at me as if 1 were some new Least, rind I stared up at hint defiantly, for, although I'd been in tite gutter some time then, I tsdn't got used to the Insolence of the rich. Ile look the weed out of his mouth, and AOM. in a silky voice: "'My friend, you seers to be down on your luck.' "I thought tie might give me some men- ., if I was civil to Will, so i said 1 was. 1 even called Wm 'sir.' "'You don't kok as it you'd much of a balance at (:Dolt's: he remarked. el meld have struck him to the ground. I:ut 1 said 'No, I have not.' Shuler, when the hunger fiend has you in his grip yeti ll take a good deal trots a man who smokes cigars that entell like that one did. 'You haven't been making out many cLeques lately?' says he, with n simper. I began to wonder what on earth he was driving al, with his Coults's and his cheques. "'Y' -u haven't got such a thing as that fifty -pound cheque on you, 1 euppuser h' asked. and then It suddenly flashed upon me what he wanted." "Let me gtor' said Shuter suddenly. (i.,rlase held up his hand. "You've got to hear my story through," he snit. And 'hater snnk back in his rhnir and Weird halret at him for the rest of the tale. "You remember, Shuler, just nbnut That time one of the mngazines had devised n rather clever scheme of advertising. 11 !tent tett a lot of sten with ten.p and benknotee and mentioned the fact. Any. one who hit tin one e•i These je,hnnies end nskcd him. 'Have you got that ten- i.eurttt note?' get it given him to exchange fiir his signed receipt. Then (hc mega - tine ruble -hid the lucky nian's name end address. Lemke] went n little mad over it, and everyone was asking every - SHREDDED Try a Seasonable Diet and (live Your Stomach a Chance. Shredded Wheat with Strawberries will be found wholesome, appetizing and much more nutritious than meat ; also with raspberries, peaches and other fresh fruits. It Will Tone Up Your Liver and Stomach. Sold by all grocers body else if they had got that ten -pound note, and was saying what a clever dodge it was. \Vell,'as you know, when ono of these magazine publishers goes at good a one as that, his rivals simply have to go one better; so in a very few days this daily was giving away gold watches, and that monthly was promot- ing its circulation by the gratuitous offer of diamond -rings, and at last here was a weekly plunging heavily with tifty- pcund cheques. I had heard of the things, of coulee. Dowry in the mud we had talked the matter over, and some had tried desperately for the prizes; but they all seemed to be won by people who lived in Brixton and Hampstead and had plenty of money already. "This last paper, though, had been very tricky, putting its cheques In the custody of all sorts of unlikely -looking people— women dressed up like old bodies up for the Oaks, or down -at -heel -looking fellows like myself. This chap in the Homburg bat, 1 thought, was trying me. By Heav- en, he had conte to the wrong shop! "I could have killed him for his mis- take, but I thought he might give me six- pence if 1 could keep him talking a min- ute or two, so 1 eimply said, with a grin, '!lave you got it yourself?' "He laughed merrily, and dived Into his breast -pocket. "'Yes,' says he, 'b have. Would you like it?' "I nearly fainted where I sat. Fifty pounds—he was going to give he fifty pcunds. Do you understand, Shuter? Ile was going to give neo new clothes and food, and a hot bath and a clean shirt and tobacco, and a chance to make some money again. I had made my first pile on a smaller beginning. "I said, 'You're jesting.' "'Not a bit; says he, fishing out an en- velope. 'Ilere it ie.' And he pulled it out. 'I've been trying to plant it all day, but nc one's asked me for it. Thought ltd be more handy to you than to most, eh?' "1 was very nearly crying with happi- ness. 1 tried to master my voice to thank hirn, but he cut me short. "'No thanks, no thanks, my man' Sign this receipt and put down your address, it you've got one.' ' 1 took the piece of paper he held out to me. it was a typewritten receipt for fifty pounds. acknowledging that it had been gained under the conditions men - heeled ejn 'Watherapoon's Weekly.' !le gave me n pocket -pen, and 1 signed my name, writing on the top of the bench. Then 1 said, Do you want my address in full?' "Ile said he did, so i wrote 'London under my name. Ile read it, and laughed again. 'I.ike a club guest's address, eh? Here's the boodle.' "It was an ordcrrheque for fitly pounds en the Oxford Street branch of the Great Northern Batik. signed William Welber - spoon, and at the top was typewritten. 'Account of the Fifty -pound Cheque Com- petition.' 11 was dated two days pre- viously. 11e tilled in my name on it, and then he said: "'Present it to -morrow morning after len They won't have notice of your name tilt then. Goodnight!' "'1 beg your pardon,' 1 cried, 'but could you advniice me a couple of shillings. 1 crust confess 1 could eat something. and ! could do wtih a bed to -night. "'No; be said, '1'11 see you hanged) fire!! Haven't you got your cheque. Ilere's fcurpence for you, though. By Jove, your lace just now was worth ill' "Ile dealt out four pennies into my palm. 1 longed to throw them in his teeth, but 1 had stronger longings than Ibat. 1 thanked him instead. "'Good -night,' he said again; 'sleep well r 'Then he walked nwny quickly, and 1 ,r,uld hear him laughing to himself as he went west along Piccndiily. "I weighed in my mind the respective advantages of food and shelter. 1 could- n't have both. After careful considera- tion I decided that, as 1 had gene with- out anything to eat for only twenty-four hours. I would stand it for another nine. But 1 hnd to get out of the wind. 1 was always a luxurious dog, Shuter, and love 1' sleep warns and soil. " 11 don't twitter touch where 1 spent the night. 1l wee somewhere In the neighborhood of King's Cross Station, and my bed was as good es my circum- stances permitted. \\ hat with the trains and other !hinge 1 didn't sleep very much; 1 simply lay warm. end told my - set; what 1 was going to co with that money. First of all I devised a little menu for the breakfast to which 1 would sit down obeut ten -fifteen n.m.. in a ut- ile Swiss restaurant not five rntniites' walk from the bank. There was an • me - tette in it and some hot coffee and French bread and good butler. 1 knew just the kind of cigar 1 simould buy in the tohnceti.n►st't opposite the bank, and I knew just how 1 should lean back in that little restaurant and *melte 11. et en Anticipated the trouble I should have ae first with the little fat man, who kept the place, about going in at all, and 1 smiled to, myself as 1 saw his back bend double when 1 should pull "jilt a fist full e f gold to show him. '\-hen 1 thought of the best place to go and get a decent suit ef reach -me -deans and sone fresh linen and a weatherproof hat and boots. and I reckoned That when I had got all 1 wanted 1 should !ewe about forty-five pounds b. start life ?win. "1 Flayed in the do'•slveise RP tong as 1 could 01141 then went right off to (Weed Street and mewled up and down the streets nenr the bank till it should be siting nie enough for a bed. I told my- self that I should have spoiled my appe- tite with stodgy bread al a coffee -stall the night before. But that omelette be- gan to seem prodigiously attractive. "Ten o'clock came round somehow, and 1 went ink, the bank with a bursting heart. Among other sensations 1 was ashamed of that cut in the knee of my bieechets. The cashier looked at me doubtfully, as you can imagine, and fold mo to clear out. !he'd nothing for me, he said. "Shuter, I was so happy that 1 jested with him. "'Ort, yes, you have,' says 1, 'you've got (Illy pounds.' "1 tock out the cheque and endorsed it with a hand which trembled most ridi- culously. Then I threw it across the counter to the cashier. 'That's all right, 1 think,' I said; and I winked at the fel- low out of pure good nature. "He picked it tip and glanced at it., 'What's all this?' he asked, "'Why,' I said, 'it's the fifty -pound! cheque oompetition. Ilaven't they sent in my name yet?' My heart sank a little, for 1 thought my breakfast was going to be put oft for a few minutes. 'Whet's your game?' asked the cash- ier 'We've no one of that name on our books and no account of that name either.' ' 'Oh, nonsense!' 1 cried. The fifty - pound cheque competition In "Wather- spoon's Weekly," you know. Don't try; any of your tricks on with Inc.' "'You'd better cornu in and see the manager,' he said. "'All right; said 1, quite pleased. 'He'll' know all about it.' It seemed to are rea-, sonable that n cheque like this shouldn't! he cashed without some safeguards. "He led the way into the room of the, manager, who looked up in some sur- prise at seeing a seedy tramp like mo Doming in. "'Dear me, Pullet; he cried, 'what's this, what's this?' "This person's got some story nixed n fifty -pound cheque competition, sir,' replied the cashier. 'i don't know what he's talking n1out. Ile seems perfectly henest. He'd have Lolled it it had been a plant.' • 'What's your tale?' said the manager. "1 told him the whole story, and the cashier showed hint the cheque. "'Very sorry,' said the manager, 'but you've been had. It's a hoax; do you ur.derslnnd? \Vatherspoon doesn't bank herr, and we've no account of any sort. What a shabby Irick, though, to play on n Moor devil like you,"That's what the hank manager thought of it. You can Imagine how I io ,kcd at it; es he finished I turned turtle—fainted bang off across the table. 'They put some brandy down my throat, and 1 came round. end then they were. 1 must say. very kind. The man- ager said he lead never heard of a crueller thing. The cashier snict that the man was a ruffian. The conmmiss:onaire, who had been cnllcd. Paid he was Moved. 1 was idled), kneekel out, and 1 remem- bered I'd le 1 tees there, and 1 got up lo clear. "Then the ntanag,r dived into his po^_k- et and forked nut len shillings. 'Look here,' says lie. 'i believe your story, and I'm thundering sorry for you. Pullet, fiend me my hat.' Ile put the ten shillings into it and handed it to the cashier. `!'oke that round the bank. Pullet,' he said, 'and tell ern about this poor chap. I've no doubt they'll add rornething to it: "Pullet put. In n shilling and went round among the other clerks. eemne of them told hits to ewe to the deuce, but others forked out like men, and between therm they tnade up the tnm►nager's ten shillings to seventeen shillings arid four - pence. There was a young chap paying .11 some cash at the counter. end he asked what the hat was going round far. The other cashier told him, and he said he'd. mode n good thing out of the National, end he'd contribute! And lie did; n whole sctereignl So that 1 got my breakfast, niter all. you ace." Borlase took n fresh cigar. for the first had gone out during the tale. "And 1 kept the -Ii ;ine," he said. "M remind me of their kindness, and of other things." Then he opened a drnwer in the tnb'o end tank oft an cnv"top,•. From It he drew a crumpled cheque. lie leaned over and spread it out carefully in front of Shuler. "Do you recognize it?" he asked. Shuter muttered an inaudible reply as Ito reached blindly for his hat. "Slop a minute," said liorinse. "I -vel somettiing else to show you." Ile tuck not n scw>nd envelope and Inld it, un- nl:ened on the table. "Look ?nide," he said. Shuler unfastened It rnechanically. and found in It n second cheque. It was made out to his under for forty thou`nnd iwunds, and was signed "John Defense," "'No." said Shuter. as he dropped it en the table. "You cha'n't gel any nitro hen out of ate. Net Ihnt way." "It's n1I right." snld itorinse. "Tick It up. I'm not plogiarlsing." "Do you swear--" began :Shuler, as he grabbed at the thing." "i'nu're a cad and it lend, Shu,tor," snld Bet "but your l%y:e a nice boy." Then he rang the bell. and said to the c'erk who answered 11: "Sts w Mr Shuter out."—London Ans- w•ers. !lkel marrirsl !men growl just ft, •tt frrg'lhnq b ew. "Thet tent n t Pry good Acture of to keep the lime to get my me ney. 1 believe i act- baby, is It Lydia?" "No, air; but he tsn % welly blessed that cheque loan for only a very good may"