Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-02

I remember how Mr.. Bethune came down
here one night and asked for information
about you."
Vincent looked astonished.
"And 1 was able" continued Mr.. Fox,
''to give him all the information he cared
for-namely, that you were the son of very
rich man. 1 presume that was all he wanted
to know"
There was something in the tone of this
speech-a familiarity bordering on inso-
lence-that Vincent angrily resented; but
| he was wise enough to show nothing: all his
anxiety was to have news of Maisrie and her
grandfather; this mans manner did not con-
| cern him much.
1T do not ask for information about Mr.
! Bethune himself; dare say l know him
as we'll as most do, said he with perfect
calmness. 81 only wish to know where he
| is"
81 don't know where he is, said the burly
| correspondent t. examining the stranger with
his small shrewd eyes, ''but 1 guarantee
he's living on the best Shooting stays in
Scotland most likely"
'They don't shoot stays in December"
said Vincent.
COR careering down the Mediterranean in
| a yacht-gad, an auxiliary screw would
come in handy for the old man." continued
Mr.. Fox, grinning at his own gay facetious-
ness, anyhow, wherever he is I'll bet he's
enjoying himself and living on the fat of
the land. Merry as a cricket-bawling
away at his Scotch songs; suppose that was
how he amused himself when he was in
| Sing Sing-perhaps he learnt it there
81 thought you would probably know
where he is" said Vincent, not paying much
heed to these little jocosities, ''if he hap
pened to be sending in to you those articles
on the Scotch ballads"
"Articles on Scotch balladsP' said Mr.
Fox. with bit of derisIve laugh. "Yes,
| I know. A collection of the various ver-
sions: cold collation., should say, by the
time he has got done with them. Why, my
dear sir, have you never heard of Prof.
Childs, of Harvard College,?
"I have heard of Prof. Child" said Vim
cent.
"WelI, we'll, well, well, what is the diff
ference" said the ponderous correspondent,
who rolled from side to side in his easy
chair as if he were in a bath, and peered
with his minute, twinkling eyes. "And in
deed it matters little to me what kind of
rubbish is pitchforked into the Weekly. If
nv boss cares to do that kind of thing, for
the sake of 'brither Scot, that's his own
lookout. All 1 know is that not scrap of
the cold COLLATION. has come mere, or has ap-
peared in the Weekly as yet; so there is no
clue that way to the whereabouts of your
Father Christmas, your Santa Claus, your
Wandering Scotch Jew-if that is what
you're after"
ST am sorry to have troubled you to SO
little purpose" said Vincent, with his hand
on the door.
''Stop BIZ" ssid Mr.. Fox, in his blunt
and rather impertinent fashion. "You and
I might chance to be of use to each other
| some day. 1 like to know the young men
in politics If 1 can do you good turn,
You'll remember it; or rather you won't re-
member it, but can recall it to you, when
| / want you TO do me one. Take seat.
Let's make a compact. When you are In
the House, you'll want the judicious little
paragraph sent through the provinces now
and again: I can manage all that for you.
| Then you can give me an occasional tip;
you're in Grandison's confidence, people saw
-as much as anyone can expect to be, that IS;
for I believe he's capable OF concealing
things not only from his right hand, but
from his left as well-the Great Willy One
the Artful Dodger in excelsis. Won't you
take seat?-thanks, that will be better. 1
want to know you. I've already made one
important acquaintanceship through your
friend, Mr.. Bethuns; it was quite an event