, 1888-11-23
"THE BITTER BIT"

Ills lace 5STlOuS' DuI n0 WdS urdWlQR dU
his cigar with a certain fierceness which
denoted anger and annoyance.
Hello. De Lancy." cried a well known
voice. Whats upg You look as grave
as an undertaken"
And you as though you would soon
require my services. | may safely echo
your question: Why, Vane, you are but
the shadow of the merry lad who Joined
US not many years ago. You're going the
pace too fast"
. II know it; but it's too late to put the
drag on"
Not a bit of it. 1t is never too late to
mend-turn over a new leaf"
81 would if | could tear out the old one,
a la Dixie; but Pm in debt n difficulties,
and cannot extricate myself"
The major continued to pull strongly at
his cigar, and silence fell between them.
Charlie" he said, looking up sud
denly. I'm off home tomorrow to York
shire. The preserves are good-lots of
young birds, and this is only the LIST of
September. l should have started yester-
day, you may be sure, but for something
which has rather put me out and detained
me here against my will And now, nv
boy, suppose you accompany me; it will
give you plenty of time to confide your
troubles to me, If you feel inclined. l
nave asked a few good fellows down, and
my dear old mother and pretty little
sister will make you welcome. They
always come and take care of me and my
friends at my little shooting box, and de-
clare they like it, although it cannot be
half so comfortable as their own home"
But they haveyour society to make up
for it."
THAT is what they say. They are
weak enough to believe in me completely"
he laughed.
Not so very wrong. either, returned
Charles Vane with a smile, ''but are you
sure they wouldn't think me an awful
bore2''
Quite; they extend their welcome to
my friends. Shall we start by the after
noon train2'
ut is awfully good of you"
"And you will Gomez"
81 should like it muchly-it was O
lucky chance for me which kept you in
town. It's an i'll wind which brings good
to no one"
"Then that is settled. It is the first
time l ave ceased to feel savage for the
past two days"
THAT is not much in your line either,
major. our circumstances and DISPOSE
ton seem generally to make life an easy
matter with you"
well, I'm a bit off the line now. 1t is
not pleasant to receive a demand from a
man you don't know, to return him a
thousand pounds which you nave never
borrowed, now is it?"
by Jove, mol Who has been trying on
that game with your
"C~heatham, the advertising money
lender of Swindle street"
"The deuce he hasl He's the sharpest
old beggar in town; Jew to the backbone,
although he eats pork like a Christian,
and would produce his baptismal certif-
cate at a few hours notice if you doubted
his assurance Of his religious views. There
is no dodge he is not up to-"
We'll, it is a case of the bitter bit this
time; he has been had, at last"
What, old Cheatham2 I'd like to shake
hands with the man who could outwit
him."
II don't think l should
I'm all curiosity, major; do tell me
about it."
"Well. the dey before yesterday I had
got my leave, and had made up my mind
to travel from Plymouth by the night
train, when l received O letter from the
money lender, telling me my bill was due,
and requesting immediate payment of the
same. l wired back that there must be
some mistake, as l had given him no bill,
and received a return telegram saying
There was no mistake whatever Upon
which took this strange communication
over to the colonel, and asked his advice,
1t was to run up to London at once, and
sift the matter. l did so, and here / am. >
"And what about the bill2"
ut had been given him by some one re.
presenting himself to be me, and very
cleverly the rascal did it. He called al
Cheatham's office and sent in his card
Maj. George De Lancy, 10th Fusiliers.
"The eagle eyed one of course saw him
and by his own account was very polite.
THE stranger seems to lave been 6
man of about my own age, of military
and gentlemanly appearance.
He told Chestham that he had indie
pendent means, but that he was for the
moment Inconvenience for a little ready
money in consequence of some family
matters, and that he had made up his
mind to borrow 81, 900, but from who
ever he might get it he should require 6
promise of strict secrecy, and the sun
should be returned in three months, but
he would permit no inquiries to be made
concerning him.
"He was not in the habit of borrowing
and it would ennoy him greatly if the
transaction became known.
mir. Cheatham promised implicit ODE
dience, swore never to betray the MAJOR
confidence, and asked when the money
would be required, as he might not b.
able to supply it for a day or two.
"His client told him with ~nonchalanct
that there was no hurry whatever-tht
affair was not pressing, a week hence
would do for him admirably, and Cheat
ham, unctuously rubbing his hands to
gether, said that would suit him exactly
upon which the stranger took up his hal
and gloves and turned to the door, but
Mr.. Cheatham was there before him
bowling him out with his extra besr
cringe.
"of course he did make inquiries, h,
admits the fact, and found that my credit
was good. and that 4 was the owner of
couple of estates, and he was more thar
satisfied.
when the sharper returned, at tn,
day and hour appointed, he entered tn,
money lenders office in a towering pas
sion.