, 1889-01-01
Mr.. DAWBARN.
HI 7. W. ROBERTSON, AUTHOR OF SOCIETY"
SCHOOL ETC
CHATTER I.

clerk 10 a young man whose dress and man
pers were "A vulgar compound OF groom,
betting man, and rugilist The sporting
gentleman staggered by the desks and the
clerks, looking infinite disparagcment at tho
whole concern. and was ushered through the
double doors into presence OF Mr.. Dawbnrn.
Mr.. Dawbsrn was the principal banker in
B~ramlingdon, and Bramlingdon was the
county town Of the little county OF Milford
It consisted Of one long, struggling street,
beautifed by Eve old churches, each n
splendid specimen OF architecture, which
contrasted strongly With the Town Hail,
the Corn Exchange, and the Market Place,
which were modern buildings, and unpleasant
20 look Mt
M. Sudden said Mr.. Dawbarn to the
young gentleman Of sporting appearance,
u have TO talk TO you, sir, very seriously
sit down, II you please"
Mr.. Sudden sat in a chair as " II were n
saddle, shut one eye knowingly, and cx-
nmined the thong Of his whip with tho other
MIR. Sudden" continued the banker
solemuly, u have been Informed that you
have overdrawn your account TO the amount
Of
'Ycs; ! know all about that, governor
broke in Mr.. Sudden. 1--WE been tod SO
twice"
Il therefore gave directions that tho next
time you presented a check, you should 10
shown in here TO me, said the banker.
THAT is-a check OF my own drawing
quite so.H
"Woll, now / am hcrc,H said Mr.. Sudden.
goading the side Of his imaginary horse with
his left heel, ~'rssPsc.ful comps. mud should
like TO know your little game, Whats 70 DO
doneT'
"Mr. Sudden, l have known you from n
boy
"Wer, / know that
And / now sec you n ruined mnnn-
"Hold hard, Matilda interrupted Stud
den; mot r~uincd-pushed for the momcnt-
on my knees, but not staked Two been I'M
lucky on the races this last year-unlucky Mt
play. Why, last night lost n pot at loo.
md then that girl behaved to me in"-
Mr.. Sudden said the banker, closing his
eyes, II cannot listen TO n catalogue Of your
cri-cri-imprudences. l am tho father of a
family, and
"Cut that, govornorfr broke In the amiablc
Mr.. Sudden. "Whnt | want Is money, and
not preaching-no preacheo and hogCeo too.
This is the state OF tho odds. Ivc ovordrnwn
my account, good; will you let me have
some morel tin, / mean. II you will, | nm
suro 10 retrieve myself. I've some splendid
things on, but must have the ready-ti-id-
a.ty-rhinc."
Mr. Sudden" said Mr.. Dawbarn, II do
not understand your jargon. nor Is such Ian
guage the sort OF thing | am accustomed to
hear. You have lost the fortune left you by
your father in gambling, horse racing, and
and tho like. For the last seven years l
have seen going TO irretrievable ruin. As you
had n long minority, and no friends to advise
you, / havo tried to help You, but l
regret TO say, your complete ruin is incvita-
ble-inovitable."
"Bet you fifteen TO ono it isn'ti7 said Mr..
Sudden.
what you owe me, continued the banker,
not noticing tho interruption-"what you
owe mo | shall never trouble you for.n
"Bless your said the irrevercnt Sudden.
Mr.. Dawbarn's facc redeemed. "AIr. Stud
den,n he chokcd out, Il am not accustomed
To be treated with rudencss, and l don't mean
To begin now. l would have given you some
ndvice. sir"
Don't want it, thank you"
Good advice, parental advice; but it will
boot no use, l can scc.n
Not n bit"
~ shall leave you therefore to the pursuit
OF your career OF proligucy, aud may it
may it'-Mr. Dnwharn stammcrcd, for he
felt that he WA proposing n toast at n public
m~eeting-'may it provo to you that-that-
That
"Ou with Il, governor said the i%nsolcnt
young sporting man.
mo, sir, l will not out with it, said tho
banker, majestically. Il will not say what
! was going TO say
Are you quite clear what you we're going
TO snyf' inquired tho young man, who re-
Epccted neither age nor wealth.
Mr.. Dnwbarn covered his defeat Ernndly.
81 will not detain you any longer, Mr.. Stud.
den" lie rang the bell. ~ wish YOU good
day, sir; my servant will show you out"
VERY good, governor said Mr.. Sudden.
dismounting from his chair, or saddle. "You
throw me ovor-very good; and just at the
moment when l could make a colossal for
tune. II had your capital, or you had my
talent and spcculated-ka fOcziluml-what
might not be made with the tips l have. |
know tho way out, Chawlesn-this Mr.. Stud.
den addressed TO the servant-"you needn't
show me Mr.. Dawbarn, / have the honor
to L., sir, yours truly, ever to ct
cetera-cetcrn-ceteran
Mr., Sudden departed with n flourish,
leaving the banker in q state Of the most
wrathiul Indignation. Mr.. Dawharn was a
great man in Br~amlingdon and accustomed
TO be treated with respect and Difference and
scrvillty, and though 50 excellent IA person,
Mr.. Dawbarn was something of a humbug,
and the young mans manners had convinced
m that he knew it, and it is very nunoyinr
to men OF 80 years Of age to be found out by
their juniors. Mr.. Robert Sudden. or, as he
was called, Mr.. Bob Sudden, or Mr.. Rip
Sudden, staggered past the cashier and
clerks with the ease OF a jockey and the grace
Of a groom a dozen steps from the door OF
the hank he met a clerk whom he stopped.
"Halloay' he cried, with graceful badinage,
"Munro, how goes itT'
How do you do, Mr.. StuddenF' inquired
the clerk.
Don't be in such a hurry. Wen, how is
she, chr
Mr. tud-In-
"Don't be afraid, my boy. I'm not the
man 70 spoil sport Why not bolt with herl
Boltl Ia land you my last fver to help you.
saw You the other morning. Ri-tol-do-rol,
lol-A-day."
MIR. Sudden closed one eye, thrust his
tongue into bus cheek and strolled down tho
one long, struggling street OF Bramlingdon,
the pink Of sporting self conscious vulgarity.
CHAPTER II.
In q small country town it is impossible
that anything can be kept secret, except
murder, and then rumor points to s.
many probable criminals that justice END
detective policemen become lost in surmise