Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-08-09


go2"
"That's the funny part Of it. said
Percy. "He didn't stop to talk, and
your patec is generally so kind and nice
to me. Instead of taking my arm and
having chat and probably standing
me presently a rare lunch, he nodded.
jumped into a hanson and drove
away"
II can't believe it of old oau, Percy,
said. "You must have been mistaken.
old man; you mistook some one else for
him."
"His double, then, and another Rus
sian, too. for he answered in Russian,
'Zdravstvui; but Of course that might
be coincidence. if it were not that am
ready to swear to it that he was your
father and no other, or almost ready.
perhaps I ought to say"
jumped at the little point Of implied
uncertainty.
"Ah-almostl You are not absolutely
certain, thenH"
"Well. to be entirely straight" Per
cy hesitated-"I remember now MOTTO
ing-well, you know how very particu-
lar your father is about dress. and 30
on. Today he did look different in that
respect. He wore a Tyrolese hat and
a seedyish coat; be didn't look you
know-quite 80 distinguished as usual
that's all-and he hadn't shaved. "
.Then I'd swear it wasn't dad. 1
cried, "for the dear old man would soon
er perish than walk up Piccadilly look
ing like the bounder you described
"Oxford street." Percy corrected.
"Or even Oxford street" said l.
"But stop. old chapl You seem to be
anxious it shouldn't be your father,
said Percy. puzzled by my attitude.
wouldn't you rather know he was
over here, safe and all we'll. than-well
heaven knows whereH"
"The thing is. I tried to explain.
II shoaldn't like to think he was here,
free on his own hook, as it were, be-
cause then. why shouldn't mother know
about it, and I and all the world for
the matter Of that9 1t would mean that
the dear old man had gone dotty, you
know. and I'd almost rather anything
had happened than that.
81 see, said Percy. and we walked
on awhile in silence, taking the nearest
route to my hotel. told my friend my
intention of starting tonight, and he
promised to dine early with me and see
me off at $50.
"Hang itI' he said presently. II
wish 1 was going with you. D'you
know this is the most hopeless place in
the world to find anything to do in"
"There are nearly always matches at
Lords or the Oval. said. land there
are the theatersl"
IL mean work." he explained-"a
living I Ican get 81 week as clerk IN
the city and that's the best offer I've
had as yet. jolly prospect, isn't itF'
What selfish brute was, for the
last hour I had talked hard about my
own affairs and had never even thought
Of asking after his Yet he was very
badly off, indeed, I had heard. and, as
his words showed, he was without I'm
mediate prospect of employment.
II most heartily wish you were COM
ing over with me-" l said. "Look
here, added. why not Gomez
"Oh, couldn be laughed. MAT
ters-my affairs are too important for
that, or rather my want of affairsp'
"Well, but l said, struck with
sudden idea. 1--WE shall require stew
ard badly until the old dad turns up
again to look after things. Why not
come and help usH promise you fair
reward if my dear old mother has any
thing to do with it, which she certain
ly will. :,
Don t tempt me too sore. or / shall
fallr' he laughed. =.
Then I went at him tooth and nail
and almost compelled him to accept the
suggestion, and presently be did con-
sent. He could not be ready, he said, in
time to start with me tonight, but he
would come tomorrow or next day. BY
that time he would get his passport and
luggage together. 1t was rather short
notice and might be bit of shock to
his mother, but she would quite under
stand. Eyes, old man. he ended. "I'm
on for it. :.
This decision Of Percy's comforted
me greatly, for was very fond indeed
of my friend. At Toddlestone he and l
had been known as Fidus and Achates
He would come as guest at present
If afterward it should turn out that
mother required some one as agent or
clerk or whatever you like to call It,
then Percy would step forward and say.
Twill l dor"
So we dined and drove to Victoria,
and Percy saw me off, promising to
follow by the same train tomorrow or
next day.
l had plenty to think about during
the journey as the train flew through
Holland and Germany and presently
through my own poor, barren looking
native Countrywide mystery of my fa-
thers disappearance and the thousand
and one conjectures that grew out of 1t;
the dead days Of dear Toddlestone; OK
ford and its untried delights, long
looked forward to, now suddenly nip
ned in the bud; the match and my sud-
den revelation Of talent; sweet visions
of varsity matches saved by me for Ok
ford, foolish Dreams but consoling
things that helped ME to pass through
that trying time of suspense and uncer-