Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-14


Port Said; but he guessed that 1t was more
q callinp. .place for steamers than pleasure
or health resort; and no doubt the Bethunes
had merely posted their letters there en-
route. But were they bound east or west!
There was no answer to this questlon-ior
they had not given the name of their ship.
So the wild hopes that had arisen in Vim
cents breast when he caught sight OF Mals-
rie's handwriting had all subsidized again;
and the world was as vague and as empty as
before. Sometimes he tried to imagine that
the big steamer which he pictured to himself
as living in the harbor at Port Said was
homeward bound; and that, consequently,
even now old George Bethune and his
granddaughter might have returned to their
own country; and then again something
told him that it was useless to search papers
for lists of passengers-that the unknown
ship had gone away down the Red Sea and
out to Australia or New Zealand, or per-
haps had struck north toward Canton or
Shanghai He could only wait and watch
and he had a sandal-wood necklace when
he wished to dream.
But the truth is he had very little time for
dreaming; for Vim Harris was now become
one of the very busiest of the millions of
busy creatures crowding this London town.
He knew his best distraction lay that way;
but there were other reasons urging him on.
As it chanced, the great statesman who had
always been Vincent's especial friend and
patron, finding that his private secretary
wished to leave him, decided to put the
Office in commission; that is to say, he pro-
posed to have two private secretaries, the
one to look after his own immediate affairs
and correspondence, the other to serve as
his "devil," so to speak, in political mat
fho loft ha n
cent, he having the exceptional qualifca-
tions of being a member of the House. 1t is
not to be supposed that the e1-MinIster was
influenced in his choice by the fact that the
young man was now on the staff of two i'm
portant papers, one a daily journal, the
other a weekly; for such mundane con-
siderations do not enter the sub
lime sphere of politics; nor, on
the other hand, is it to be
imagined that Vim Harris accepted the offer
with all the more alacrity that his hold on
those two papers might be strengthened by
his confidential relations with the great
man. Surmises and conjectures in such a
case are futile-the mere playthings of ones
enemies. 1t needs only to be stated that he
accepted the Office with every expectation of
hard work; and that he got it. Such hunt
ing up OF authorities; such verifcation of
books; such constant attendance at the
House of Commons; it was all hardly
earned at salary of e400 year. But very
we'll be knew that there were many young
men in this country who would have re-
joiced to accept that position at nothing
year; for it is quite wonderful how private
secretaries of Parliamentary chiefs manage,
subsequently, to tumble in for good things.
Then 1t is probable that his journalistic
enterprises-which necessarily became some
what more intermittent after his acceptance
OF the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS him in, on the
average, another e400 year. On this in
come he set seriously to work to make him.
self miser. His tastes had always been
simple-and excellent health may have been
at once the cause and effect of his abstem-
iousness; but now the meager fare he al
lowed himself, and his rigidly economical
habits in'everv way had very definite aim
in view. He was saving money; he was
building up miniature fortune-by half
crowns and pence. Food and drink cost
him next to nothing; if he smoked at all it
was pipe the last thing in the morning be-
fore going to bed. Omnibusses served his
turn-unless some urgent business in behalf
of his chief demanded hanson. He could
not give up his club; for that was in a way
a political institution; and oftentimes he
had to rush up thither and find someone
who was not in the precincts of st. Steph-
ems; but then OF the other hand, in a
good club things are much cheaper
than in any restaurant or in the members
dining room of the House of Commons. 1t
was remarkable how the little fortune ac-
cumuiated; and it was o kind of amuse-
ment in fashion. He pinched himself
and laughed. He debated moral questions
for example as to whether it was lawful
to use club stationary in writing articles for
newspapers; but he knew something of the
WAYS of Government offices, and perhaps
his conscience was salved by evil example.
What the manager of the Westminster
Palace Hotel thought of his manner of liv.
ing can be imagined-if SO august an official
cared to inquire into such details. His
solitary room, breakfast and washing: NO
more: those were small bills that he called
for week by week. And so his little hoard
of capital gradually augmented-verY grad
ually, 1t is true, but surely. as the rate oi
interest on deposits rose and fell.
In the meanwhile Lord Musselburgh had
not been very successful in his endeavors to
bring about a reconciliation between Vim
Harris and his family; nor had ne been able
to obtain the information that Vincent de.
manded.
You see, VIM" he said (they were again
walking up and down the lamp-lit terrace
by the side of the deep-fowing river), ''my
wife is awfully upset over this affair. She
thinks it is entirely owing to her misman.
agement. She would never have told you
about the e5, 900 if she had not been certain
that that would be conclusive proof to you
of the character OF those two people; and
now that she sees what has come of her tell.
ing you so much, she is afraid to tell you
any more. Not that I suppose there i.
much to tell. Mr.. Bethune and Mis-:
Bethune are no longer in this country; but
1 doubt whether anyone can say precisely
where they are"
.'Nonsensep' Vincent broke in, i'm.
patiently. "They're humbuggiug you, Mus
selburgh. Consider This for a moment Dc
you imagine that George Morris handed
over that Ell, 900. as a lump sum, without
making stipulations, and very definite stipu.
tations? Do you imagine be would be con-
tent to take the word of man whom ht
considered a thief? 1t is absurd to think
so. Do ut facias would be his motto; and
he would take precious good care to keeT
control over the money in case of non-ful
ilment-"
''But there is the receipt" put in LORD
Musselburgh.
"a receipt-for theatrical purposesl" said
Vincent, with something of contempt
"You may depend on it the money was no
handed over in that unconditional fashion
that is not the way in which George Morris
would do business. He has got some hole
over Mr.. Bethune; and he must know wei
enough where he is. Supposing Mr.
Bethune had that money in his pocket
what is 10 prevent his returning to thi
| country tomorrow? Where would be tn,
penalty for his breaking his covenant? YoI
dnn,t trnst a man whom you consider