Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-10-25
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
CHAPTER XVII (CoxTINUED).
by HUGH CONWAY.

nodIu tnon stop Oh the ittlo lhHulnS ia
front o the door which bore his name.
Some one knocked and Frank shouted
''come In. To his extreme astonlsh-
ment in walked the man who had de-
manded Beatrices address and so out
ragged d Whitaker sense of dignity.
What d. you want" asked Frank,
brusQuely.
Hervey explained that Mr.. Field had
written to him and instructed him to call.
SO Carruthers knew that the man who
was SO anxious to find Beatrice was for
ger fe on and ticket-of-leave man. lie
raised his head and coldly scrutlnized his
visitor.
Hervey until that moment had not recog-
niZed him, He did so then, and knew
that the recognition was mutual. All
questions of the original purpose which
had brought about this meeting faded
from the mind of each man. With each
Beatrice was the one thought.
''Will you give the address l wanted
when last we II ETY. asked Hervey, ia
gerly.
Il will not " answered Carruthers
shortly.
81 must insist upon your telling me,
he said; al have to make an important
business communication to Miss Clau-
son. -
Carruthers smiled contemptuously.
'.Her trustees, the Messrs. Talbert OF
Oakbury, manage Miss Causon' s business,
l believe. Or you might go to the fam
lily solicitor, whose name l will give
you"
My business is of a private nature. l
demand this address. | have right TO
ask ii. y
MY good sir, - can not You understand
that absolutely refuse to crafty you?
That a gentleman is not justified in giving
every one who asks 1t lady's address?
Go TO Sir Maingay Clauson, he is the
proper person to apply to. AS TO rights,
/ ain certainly within my own if | ask you
to leave my room. No doubt you see that
the business watch gave me the pleasure
Of this visit cannot be carried through"
''lf you wri, Q to Miss Clauson, will you
give her a message for me-" asked ler-
vey with forced civility.
That depends exactly upon what the
message may be.
'Will you tell her that | called on you
and said the matter could now be easily
arranged. There no harm in that
There seems none. When | write III
give it,"
You'd better mention my real name.
It's not Henry Morris its"
Il am acquain ed with your real name, {"
said Frank. with perfect nOnchalance.
Hervey grew very angry.
Now / wonder who you may be-" he
said, 'you who write to her. Perhaps
you're sweet on each other, and look for
ward to happy marriage"
PERHAPS so - he said carelessly. 81
can't however, imagine it can be of
the slightest interest to you The scorn-
full emphasis laid on the last word licked
Hervey like whip.
perhaps So he echoed, with his
nockng laugh. ''la, ha. do you think
Pm fool DO you think you take me in
with your studied ease? Don't l know
you're d. ing TO now who / am and all
about me!''
Il know good deal already" said
Franz. in scathng tones. If | felt any
wish TO now more I should apply to
Scotland Yard, or wherever the proper
office may be. ~
This taunt was more than even the
most amiable ticket of-leave man could be
expected to let pass. 1t finished Hervey
entirely. lie boiled over. With the VIC
lent expletive which invariable accom-
panies such an act he struck out full at
the speaker.
After parrying IIervey's blow, he simply
jerked out his right arm to the
very best of his knowledge
and agility, throwing the whole
weight of his body into it, and, in the
language of what may now lie called the
revived prize ring get well home
These were the only two blows struck,
and for this reason: Hervey, when he
received Franks blow, was standing on
the landing. lie staggered back and went
headlong down the steep stairs. 1t SEEM
ed as II his neck must be broken. How
ever, he gathered himself up, groaned as
in pain, shook his fist at the victor, swore,
and then found his way out. Carruthers
returned to his papers, bat the reflections
to which this interview gave rise made
his afternoon blank so far as literary
work went
Two days after this his friend Field
called on him. ~ say, Carruthers," he
exclaimed, you're a nice sort of young
man. l sent a fellow who wanted help
ing hand to you, and hang me! you gave
il TO him with vengeance. Helped him
down, not up, though"
''IIe's been to you, has he?''
Eyes he called to-day-in splnts. Said
you insulted him and chucked him over
the stairs. Can't think how you did it.
Doesn't seem like you either.''
81 had the rest of reasons"
$50 told him, but he won't believe
me. You've broken his fbula or tibula,
or his tib and fibula."
.'His legl 1 saw the BLACKBOARD walk
away"
'Perhaps I'm not right about the names.
His arm Is broken. He vows he will have
compensation. Go to law, ct cetera"
81 don't think he will, said Carruthers
significantly.
"Perhaps not, ie your reasons were
good ones. | don't ask them; but look
here, old fellow. He's got no money and
won't be able TO earn any for a while.
Don't you think yOu ought to do some
thing for him."
''No, / don't, " said Frank, but will.
Keep the fellow away from me. But you
can pay his doctors bill and let him have
a pound or two a week until he gets all
right again."
Field laughed. you'll find it a costly
amusement breaking bones like this"
'sMy dear Field, sail Frank, ''if you
knew all know you'd think it was cheap
at the price in this particular case"
SO by strange irony OF fate for some