, 1896-12-03
A TELESCOPE VIEW.

to herr, l informed William that it was
my intention to return to town without
delay.
So William said, "Then l shall come
and stay with you."
l let him come. l knew why he want
ed to come. He wanted to com because
he wanted TO pay calls at the Jungle
and see Miss Ethel Mainwaring. Will
liam, therefore, accompanied me, and it
soon became clear to me that his visit
was to be CEo of some duration. How
ever, as he spent most of his time how
ering between Lords and the Jungle
partaking of many meals at the latter
address-his stay did not put me to
much expense. which was gratifying, AS
my income, though quite sufficient for
one single gentleman, will not stand
being divided between two single gen
tlemen. l have often remarked to the
cashier of the London-Gcrman that it is
strange how badly off most writers On
finance archie irony of fate, | presume
but his sole reply is. II zuhbozc it is
begos they braStiss vot they breach"
and pays little regard to my wistful
Chances in the direction of his strong
box.
The foregoing sentences nre supposed
to represent a period of rather moro than
three weeks. l was making some hui
morous remarks about II company which
had been started to insure young mar
ried men against twins when there came
A..r aloe. .,-.l-, - tl. 1.~, t-.. 1,Fn
less knocks, two abjcctly miserable
knocks. Mr.. Charles johnson, the clerk,
knew who it was. He is i'll love himself
with Il young lady in II Fleet street tea
shop and sympnthizcs with the cub. As
gently, therefore, as Il trained nurse did
Mr.. johnson open the door, and it was
with M air of the deepest coincidence
that he ushcred Master John Mainwar-
ing into my presence.
ooh, how are you:" cried cheer.
fully.
Ripping; Thanks he replied, in n
tone such as condemned murdorcrs
would uso in reply to Mr.. %Billington's
greeting.
Then he flung himself into Il chair
and laughed bitterly.
II wish l wcre dead-dead!' he
then remarked.
This was getting serious. Here was n
young gentleman, aged 90, possessed of
independent means. splendid health
and all those other things which make
life worth living, don't you know,
wishing he were no more-wishing he
were a cold corpse.
l knew, of course. Getting up, I
marched into Charles Johnsun's s~cullery
office to find that blushing youth deep
in q penny booklet. entitled "Woocd,
Won and Wed; or. True Love Triumpls
Der ALL" l gave Mr.. johnson some
directions, and presently he came in
with two steaks. n mountain of vCgeta-
bles and a large bottle of Lord Bass.
"Now, Mainwaring, l said, "fll
say grace to ave time, and you set to-. "
He demurred at first. but finally al
lowed himself to be persuaded. The
scene that followed fairly beggars de-
scription. When the cub had finished,
I said, as he lit his pipe:
80 she won't have you?'
To my surprise, he did not do or say
anything violent, but went on lighting
his pipe. l was inwurdly congratulate
ing myself Gu the success of the meas.
ures l had taken in order to dispense the
cubs funcreal ideas, when ho suddenly
remarked:
"This is my last pipe
"Going to train for something. them"
"This is the last pipe l shall ever
smoke"
"You'll find it difficult to give up to-
bacco so suddenly
He puffcd solemnly for n few mo-
munts, and then, pointing with the stem
of his brier to the cleared decks, he
said:
~ have eaten my last meal"
1t now struck mo that there was some
thing more tnan mere training in the
cubs self nbnegation. There wa that
in his cold Hooded speeches which
chilled me, which produced a curious
sensation in my scalp, which would
doubtless have caused my hair to stand
on end had the quantity there been suf-
ficient to undergo the process. l gazed
at him with Il paling face.
For quite three minutes he said moth
ing, but smoked steadily. Feeling thor
.oughly uncomfortable, l took up my
pen and began to write. l had hardly
covered a line, however. when the cub
observed in an offhand tone:
sin short, I am going to kill myself"
"Nonsense!'
l was determined lot to take him
seriously, you see. 49,
EYES," he continued. EITHER with
withdrawing a little white bottle la
beled poison from his waistcoat pocket
"this"-producins = razor from the
depths of the inside breast pocket Of his
ooat-"or this'-whipping. with q dex-
terity that would have done credit to
Mr.. Maskelyne, q tiny revolver out OF
some other part Of his apparel.
"You are well provided, said chaff
ingly, although I felt nervous at being
in such close proximity to 50 deadly an
outfit
Eyes" he said, toying with the re.
volver, 81 am going to make sure Of IL.
fshali nrst swallow the poison, then
cut my throat and then shoot myself
through the brain"
He tried thu odRe Of kha 80 on Is