Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-16
disaster, but displayed no other signs of

disaster, but displayed no other signs O
emo tion.
The pallor deepe#ed on bis handsome fact
three days later, when he and Ballard, his
steward, sat in the panneled-oak library at
Greystoke Court as Committee of Ways
and Means. When he spread out sched,
ule of his ''debts of honor" not including
moneys which "that dear old fellow, Bret.
terly," had lent him, and learnt that his
treasury was empty and his tenantry were
bitterly complaining of rents screwed up to
meet the claims incurred by his extrava-
gance, Mr.. Constants spirit groaned within
him, and he turned pale to the very lips.
"What are we to do, Ballard, /" he asked
disconsolately, while mentally cursing his
Jolly, as the bitter consequence of his wild
career for the first time dawned upon him.
1.-THE worst of it is, SQUIRE" the steward
replied, with his hand on the rough ealcula-
ton lying before him, that these are little
more than half your liabilities.
"Quite So" Newnham reioined; "these
are only. the claims that must be provided
for Immediately. The rest must stand over"
Pardon me, squire, that cannot be. The
whole position must be faced at once. I was
Just saying that these claims are only part
OF what must.be looked at. Do you know,
squire, that when the contracts for all this
building which is going on are added to this
list of yours, the sum total, as nearly as l
can reckon, is equivalent to the rentroll OF
the estate for the next five years?"
"What" shouted Newman, springing
from his chair.
''That is so, squire, and should not be
far out if were to say that it will take ten
wears of cheese-paring economy before every
lncumbrance is cleared off the estate"
"Still, you do not say what is to be done, "
Newnham went on, impatiently, as the full
measure of the disaster became more clearly
revealed to him.
II can find way out of all difficulties, if
you will only be amenable to reason,
SQUIRE" Ballard replied. "The principal
difficulty is yourself, sir.''
II don't take you, Ballard. Pom my
word, don't take you. can't for the life
of me make out what it is you are driving at
now."
"Listen, squire. If you were out of the
way, and ! were acting under power of at
torney for you, it would 90 hard with Joe
Ballard if this estate was not as free from
all charges before seven years are over my
head as it was when you came into it. I
would raise mortgage on the rents for the
next seven years, covering the risk by a
policy of insurance. would pay off every
claim, including such of these building con-
tracts as are not voidable. Such of them as
are voidable I would break. By dint of
economy seven years time would enable us
to repay principal and interest"
Sand then the king would enjoy his own
again." Newman exclaimed, smilingly,
quoting the old Cavalier song.
"Exactlyr' Ballard replied, laconically.
Ballard, you are trump" Newnham
said excitedly. 'You have my full permis-
sion to act in this matter as you think best"
'.Have n" the steward remarked dryly.
"Wait moment, squire, until you hear
the conditions. You must go abroad for
this period. Go to Africa, ostrich shooting,
if you like. Or, what do you say to India?
There is big game to be had there, I'm told.
You might do both, for that matter. Anv-
way, go abroad and enjoy yourself in a
reasonable way. 1t sounds to sense, squire.
that fine young gentleman like you, full
of animal spirits, must have something to
do, and that's my recipe"
This was quite long speech for Ballard.
He drew long breath, preparatory to a
further exposition of his views, which gave
Newman the opportunity to ask, with an
evident look of dismay, and in low, pro-
longed tones, as Of man laboring under
the deepest astonishment and seriously en-
tertaining doubts of his interlocutor's
sanity:
"Do I understand You to mean, Ballard.
that ] am to quit England; that Is to say,
bid goodby to Lady Barbara and my chilt
dren for seven years? Man alivei wha
can you be thinking ot?"
II am thinking" said Ballard, speaking
with deliberate emphasis, ~ am thinkine,6
he repeated, show we are to avoid matters
getting worse. Trust me, squire, that as
soon as existing claims are arranged for, it
is your best plan to put the distance of the
ocean between you and too certain tempta-
jtons to add to the load. In seven years