The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-09-07
His Vindication


pants of the smoke room followed suite
in splendid style. Neale was generally
considered too lazy even to yawn, so his
action was on this dull November even
ing considered by his fellow clubmen to
be of sufficient import to call for com
ment.
You are getting too fat, Neale," ven
tured his neighbor. TRY a motor
cycle. If the exercise won't reduce
your ponderosity and cure you OF
yawns the novelty and etfluvium mixed
will"
Douglas did not this time follow his
seniors lead, but joined in the CONVEX
Eation with:
81 did my best to save him from syn
cope through laziness by challenging
him at billiards, till found that the
only vacant table was the one next to
that on which that fellow Penberton
was playing. / don't care to play even
in the same room with him. Why isn't
he at home with his wife, instead Of
thrusting his company upon u.s.
MY dear fellow, am glad you were
spared the double humiliation OF de-
feat, and the witness thereof by the
man you choose to dislike. / think,
however, YOUR remarks are at least I'M
guarded. / know / surprise you. but
must tell you that you are unjust TO
him"
20, but look at this ostentatious dis
play Of his filthy lucre!" blurted out
1he youngster. IF he can afford to sub
scribe 81 eco to the West Indian relief
fund, he need not make it so public. He
has the bearing of a tradesman, and not
that of a gentleman
softly, my lad, !" rejoined thereputed
cyuic.
Then, there is the case of poor Gus
Darrell 1t is common talk that Penn
berton was responsible in some way or
another for his downfall" persisted
lsrelentless accuser. "Then, those dia-
,aonds that were lost--there is some
thing very suspicious about that af-
fair"
"Ah! Diamonds. What would you
say if l told you all about that mysteri-
Gus problem?" aueried Neale.
Every man within hearing jumped to
his feet at this bomb thrown amongst
lhem. Neale knew all about the dia-
noads stolen from the neck of Muriel
Eoss in her mothers house, and in the
presence of the donor-Horace Y. Penn
Lerton-her aiiianced husband. Here
was the material to hand for splendid
yarn
Thought that would wake up the
s'umberers," laughed the cynic. II
won't disappoint you. Any man who
will pledge his word not to repeat my
story may follow Douglas and myself
10 the private room upstairs. Bring me
whisky and soda and good cigar, and
IN start at once.
"Thc late lamented Mr.. Algernon
Eoss left to mourn his loss" said Neale,
with a preparatory cough, "a widow
with three children. The eldest, Muriel,
who has lately married Douglass
friend Pemberton, is, as you know, a
beautiful, accomplished woman. The
1wo younger children are schoolboys
named Sid and Bert. Two greater
Iartars in one house never met.
''This worthy and happy family lived
at an oldfashioned house called THE
Homestead l have called the house
old fashioned, but internally it is not SO
now, for after a seasonable and rea-
sonable period of mourning Mrs. Ross
turned the old house inside out, and
with the aid of art decorations and
electric bells she succeeded in proGuc-
ing the most curious of curious anon
alies-a new old house.
$50 much for the house. The chief
attraction in it or around it was Muriel;
her charms, and the comfortable little
income in her own right, attracted
suitors by the score; but there were
never more than two in the race AND
those two were Pemberton and Gus
Darrell.
Darrell was the same age as MuIiel
md they had been playmates together
ile was journalist of distinct ability
and great promise; but promise is {
very unsubstantial thing to live on il
she present, and poor Gus suffered from
a chronic shortness of funds.
But it was not to be. PembertoT
came, saw and conquered. The precis,
workings of the feminine heart anC
mind which made the choice of a mar
zen years her senior, and reputeC
hard. unpublished business man to boot
] am not able to determine.
81 have heard that, when he cares tc
display it, Pemberton can furnfsh {
standard of conversational perfection
that many a college man would envy
W. has grasp, too, of subjects which
lou would pardon a man OF letters be
ing ignorant of. These accomplish
snents may furnish the secret of hi:
suHcess, or they may not--the fact re
mans that he became a devoted lover
md poor Gus had to witness the whole
STAIR with as good grace as he co,'le
muster.
1.-The first indication Muriel observ &c
of Pemberton's wealth was a magnifi
cent diamond pendant she received
from him about month after the ne
Jsothal ring, on her twenty first birth
MIA - Al h,,% 4