The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-06-05

just keep quiet and leave it 10 me ana
Marty: we'll work it all right
Il tell you you'll have to stopit, said
Bill, firmly: either you leaves him
alone. or / leaves you alone-see that,
Marry? When was away in China IN
the winter my old mother was dying Of
cold and starvation, and he came, yes,
Grayson came, and gave her money and
food. Now she sits and blesses him all
day long, and do you think I'm going to
turn against him?'
Y.
The next morning Mr.. Hamer's clerk
announced that a man named Kent
wished to see him on private business.
"Kent? Who is Kent2 You can
slow him in"
Good morning, sir. I've come from
Mrs. Hennell."
Mrs. HenneH? Obi Yes?r
"she thought as 'ow you might like to
know how the business was going on"
"Well?.
81 mean the charge OF breach OF prom
Use you told her and her daughter to
bring against Mr.. Grayson."
Eyes. yes, | know; don't speak so
loud What has she done?'
well, | am Bill Kent, You know, who
was going to marry Marry
"Of COURSE" said Mr.. Hamer, trying
not to be impatient; but what does
Mr. Grayson say?''
well, Mrs. Hennell has gone to apol-
ogize this morning, sir, and tell him il
was all a mistake"
WHAT" shouted the lawyer.
I'VE are a-going TO chuck it, replied
Bill. calmly.
Mr.. Hamer was silent for few Sec
onds, then he raved angrily at Mrs.
nennelrs perfdy. Bill Kent watched
him In quiet amusement and made no
reply,
DO you know that I gave Mrs. Hen
nell a five-pound note and can get her
imprisoned for obtaining money under
false pretenses?' said the lawyer, in
threatening tone.
Bill only grinned, and Mr.. Hamer,
seeing he was not to be frightened with
such an obviously absurd threat,
changed his tactics.
at is very foolish Of her. my good
man; if there is time you had better
stop her, and tell her she is wasting her
daughters marriage portion. Other
wise / shall soon devise method of
making her sorry she tried to cheat me.
II it's too late, | will bid you good morn
ing for the present-unless you can
earn few pounds yourselfP'
Bill sat in silence for a few minutes,
and Hamer thought he was about to
come to terms after all. Then he said:
About the money for getting mar
ried, sir?"
Yes"
81 think we'll earn it, SIR"
"Ah, that's right, my man; thought
you would see it was best to be reasona-
ble. Grayson is sure to give you some
thing handsome
We've owned up to Mr.. Grayson, sir,
but we thought you might oblige."
I?"
YES; you see, sir, we told the parson
it was bunkum, but we thought it might
be worth something to you if we didn't
tell him, and the vicar, and Miss Byng-
ham, and all the big pots, who it was
that put us up to it."
The two men looked at one another.
The mask of friendliness was thrown
aside, and they stood there like pair
Of wrestlers weighing each others
strength and watching for a favorable
opening.
Hamer spoke first.
This is blackmail, you villain!"
81 think you told Mrs. Hennell not to
be afraid of little bluff, sir?"
When Bill Kent left that office he was
G 80 richer than when he entered it.
The marriage of Mr.. Grayson and Miss
Bingham and Mr.. Kent and Miss Hen
nell happened within week of one an
other. Mr.. ond Mrs. Grayson received,
among their wedding presents, small
gift from "Three Unknown Friends"
Mr.. Hamer did not send Mr.. and Mrs.
Kent wedding present, but he paid for
one all the same.-TitBits.