The Osceola times., 1885-02-07

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for hours after dark, because your togs
out by daylight; why, If fortune ever
does turn up the ace of trumps, that
man is the first whom you ought to re-
member. Don't you agree with me,
Uncle Pebworthp'
Certainly, my dear Frank, certainly.
Gratitude is always beautiful | am
grateful for many things"
$50 that you see, continued Drum
mond, ''Dick and | are almost like
brothers; and if he leaves Waylands
shall miss him more than | can say.
He attends to my letters and accounts
and all sorts of bothering things.
never could answer letters, you know"
my dear frank, why not take me
for your guide, philosopher and friend,
unworthy me? Mr.. Drummond can not
claim to have that experience of the
world that have; he can not claim to
have that interest in your welfare that
!. your uncle on your poor dear moth
er's side, have. No. no. Ask anybody,
everybody, they will all say: 'Peb-
worth's heart is in the right place. '
That heart, my dear nephew, / need
hardly lay, is entirely devoted to your
service.
Every kind ofyou, Imust say. Some
how, nowadays. | seem to have no end
Of friends. Everybody seems to like
me. Once on time, poor old Dick
was the only friend had in the world. :"
Mr.. Pebworth shook his head in grave
dissent. "Your noble heart, Frank.
would secure you friends in whatever
position of life you might be placed
AT this moment servant entered
with card ON salyer. Dick took it
and read: 1.-The Hon. Mrs. Clack-
mannan.' Don't know her. Never
heard the name before" he added.
Zone of the most notorious beggars
in these parts,h observed Mr.. Pebworth,
sententiously.
"A beggar, unc,e!"
IL mean for so-called charitable OBJ
jects. Beware of her, Frank, or she
will wheedle your purse out of your
pocket before you know what you are
about"
In any case. suppose | must go
and see the woman answered Dick;
and with that he rose and left the room
Mr.. Pebworth looked after him with
a sneor. "A gilded puppet!' he NUT
tered to himself. But | must have
the pulling of the strings, not Mr..
Drummond. A dangerous fellow that.
He must be got away from Waylands at
any cost" He rose, ran his fingers
through his hair, buried his hands deep
in his pockets, and began to pace the
room slowly. al breathe again" he
said. This check which Frank will
give me will just pull me through my
difficulty with Starkie q Co. He will
never ask to see the coupons. II | can
only contrive to tide over the next
three months, shall be safc-safe. y
He sighed heavily, wiped his hot
palms with his handkerchief, and stood
for few moments gazing absently out
of the open French window. While he
was thus engaged, Frobisher came slow
" along the terrace. AT sight of him,
Mr.. Pebworth started, "Ah Mr.. Rich
ard," he called out. 'you were the very
person who was in my thoughts"
"Kind of you, I'm sure responded
Frank. 81 like people to think about
me-
If you have a few minutes to spare,
! would like to have a little conversa'
ton with YOU"
Il am entirely at your service, Mr..
Pebworth."
The elder man led the way into the
room. and Frobishcr followed. "Pray,
take chair, Mr.. Drummond."
Frank took one; and Mr.. Pebworth
sat down on the opposite side of the
table.
II have just had long talk with my
nephew" said the latter. "Among
other things. he remarked that it was
your intention TO leave Waylands in the
course of few days, and resume your
old mode of life in London. quite
agreed d--"
"And did dear supplemented Frank
say that?" interrupted the other. "And
did you really believe it'"
"Eh?'
my dear sir, gave you credit for
having higher opinion of me than
that
Upon my word. Mr.. Drummond,
hardly follow you.n
Il appeal to YOU. Mr.. Pebworth. as a
man Of the world. Should not be a
consummatc ass To desert my friend at
the very moment he has stepped into
eight thousand Il yearo Itwould be too
much TO expect of poor human nature,
would it not?'
Poor human nature Is weak, very,"
answered Pebworth, with melancholy
shake of the head, but with his cunning
eyes fixed anxiously on Frobsher S
face.
"And as regards dear old Frank, "
went on the other, "never were the
sweet offices of friendship more needed
by him than at the present moment
II confess that | fail to apprehend
your meaning"
"When Frank was poor, Frank could
take care of himself; now that Frank is
rich, Frank must be taken care of. He
must be protected from the horde of
harpies and blood-suckers who scent
out rich man rs unerringly as though
he We're pigeon and they so many
kites bent on picking his bones"
Mr. Pebworth moved uneasily on his
chair "And you have constituted
yourself my nephew's PROTECTOR" he
asked, with half-hidden sneer.
81 have constituted myself his pro-
tector, his adviser, and in all bus ness
matters his other self, or as we say in
Latin, his alter ego. For the present,
Waylands is my home, and here | mean
to stay-as long as ii suits me, and no
longer"
Upon my word, sir, you assume .
very independent tone in this matter"
"And not without reason. Listen to
me, Mr.. Pebworth. My friend informed