Middletown transcript., 1898-01-08

last dudiEs CuocIcV up Wuou cue
came out and spoke to me, and 1 fell
sure Warde or anybody else in the
world was quite unworthy to touch her
hand. Excepting me, of course.
''Have you any brothers or sisters.
Master Burleigh?''
l wished she had called me Sidney
but didn't dare ask her to do 80.
"I'm the only one, Miss Gurdon."
"You don't know what it is to care
for ones brother very much thenP 1t
is my great sorrow that my brother is
not strong"
"Still," said, "he can't expect you
to nurse him all his life, can hep"
eyes," she said simply, "he can."
She looked through the French win
dows into the room where her brother
was.
''Rather tie, surely, Miss Gurdon,"
l said. "Doesn't it sometimes get jolly
irksome?"
'Not at all, +" she answered quickly.
"Since Mrs. Gurdon died it has been
my duty to look after him."
"It's part shouldn't care to play.
If it was my case, should simply go
to him, and 1 should say, Look here.'
l should say''-
"Master Bu:lcis' . She sid, placing
her hand lightly on my shoulder. "Do
you mind if tell you that you have
much to learn yetP"
"I'm not so sure about that" said
quickly, "Besides, Il Don't go,
Miss Gurdon. 1 like talking to you."
81 must see to my brother"
Bother your brother!" l thought.
"Chap's nuisance.
wasn't feeling on the best of terms
with anybody, and it therefore rather
gratifed me when, day or two later,
1 found out, by looking at telegram
which one of the men was taking to
the postofice, that Mr.. Warde had a
deep scheme in hand, and was arrang-
ing it, as he thought, very cautiously.
had to think over the matter a good
deal before l decided what to do; little
Gurdon was rather upset because l
wouldn't play cricket with him. a man
can't give his mind to cricket when it's
fully occupied elsewhere. Although
I'd a pretty tidy experience of the
world, had never had to deal with a
case like this before, and my idea, you
understand, was to work it all out in
the most effective way possible.
The chance came one evening, when
we were all on the lawn. Mr.. Gurdon
had been brought out on his invalid
chair; little Gurdon was close beside
him, and Gurdon's aunt and Warde
we're near the house talking in an un-
dertone.I had been very quiet for some
time, only answering "Yes" and mo"
when 1 was spoken to. ] was leaving
the following day, and what 1
had to say had to be said now or not
at all. looked at Gurdon's aunt, in
her white serge dress and l told myself
that what l was about to do was for
her good, and that quieted any COM
Function that may have had in doing
it.
"Mr. GurdonW
"BurleighI"
''Do you mind do you mind calling
Miss Gurdon and Mr.. Warde2 have
something to tell you.
''Of importance?"
"Of great Importance"
whats it about2" asked little Cur
don curiously.
Nothing to do with you." 1 said
sharply. sect indoors. It's not
subject for youngsters"
"Shall l go in, fatherP"
"May as well, my boy" Little Cur
don ran off. "And send your aunt and
Mr.. Warde here.". He turned slightly
on his chair. snow then, Burle igh."
"Wait till they come"
stMy DEAR" said Mr.. Gurdon to his
sister, good-temperedly, "this young
man has statement to make that re-
quires an audience. 1t is either a de-
claration of foreign policy or protest
against the pitch of our cricket field,
Pm not sure which,"
''Mr. Gurdon,n said. Il can tell
you felt beastly nervous standing up
there in the dim light with those three
grown-up people before me; but 1 put
on my Debating Society voice, and
gripped the back of chair "Mr.
Gurdon, since I've been staying here
I've discovered something about Mr..
Warde's proceedings that I think you
ought to know"
my dear WaIde," said Mr.. Gurdon,
laughing, 81 have alway said that
you special correspondent were capable
of anything"
II am sorry to say, sir" I went on,
"That Miss Gurdon is also concerned
in it;but should like to add that she is
entirely bIameless in the matter. What
ever have to say must not be taken
as any censure upon her.''
"Brotherl" she said, hurriedly going
toward him.
"My dear" he said, ''take my hand.
Let US b ear this young gentleman. /
think his story promises to be interest
ing"
''It is my duty, conceive, sir as
guest in your house., to bring to your
notice anything that is going on under
your roof of which you may not have
cognizance. take it, sir, that in do
ing what 1 am about to do. am only
doing an honest, manly. and straight
forward act.
"Never mind that, my lad. Get to
the facts.''