Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-05-31
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continucd.)

CHAP Elk lN.-(Contlnued.)
''Go on, go on: I'm just boiling to heal
the sequel" said Mr.. Gee. nodding his
head like a mandarin.
Give me time. my dear sir. In a few
days back came letter, saying that the
other was hoax. and he had only sent
it TO try me, and feel the family pulse,
so to speak; and as l had responded in
a liberal spirit | would never have any
cause to regret my generosity"
Il wish to goodness a relative would
play me the same trick A sprat of ten
pounds landing salmon of forty thou
sand IS plenty good business as they
say out here. And, by the way, about
your cousin; did she tip him too?" grin
hing.
Not that l am aware of. She must
have been in short frocks at the time Of
this particular episode"
''And have you never seen herr" inquis-
itively.
Not to remember distinctly. There
were two little girls at Aunt James when
l went to say gOOd-by, years ago. l rec
ollect chasing one of them round the gar
den. and kissing her tremendously; but
which it was 1 don't know, and l suppose
it would be q delicate subject TO inquire
into"
Pretty picture. But if she were as
ugly as the pig-faced lady herself, I'd
marry her and never think twice about
It." said Mr.. Gee resolutely. There's a
lot of spending in forty thousand pounds;
but l can't fancy an old stick-in-the-mud
like you chasing and kissing any girl,
young or DID," grinning. "Teli me some
A,I,| Oh
when she is at home? Has she any sis
ter that would be likely to come in for
money? Come, don't be so glum, man
alive"
Il would have to go into our family
history" said Miles. Il will read you
letter and enlighten you, for [ know very
little about her myself. There are lots
to choose from. See what it is to come
in for a fortunei There's Mrs. Braba
zon's frightfully gushing and full of de-
light, cOngratulatiOn, and consent. 1t
would be manners to wait till she was
asked. There's Aunt James, that looks
as if it were written with pin, crammed
with advice. There's my sister Annie's-"
That's the one for my money" inter
rupted Mr.. Gee, loudly swapping his fin
gers. Mrs. Curzon will tell us all about
it, so fire away" and his companion, hav-
ing picked out the letter in question, be-
gan to read the following effusion:
My Dear Miles-Of course you have
opened and read Mr.. Barker's letter, and
know the great news, that you are now a
rich and an engaged man! l wonder
how you are taking it? I'm sure your
face is a beautiful study this minute;
wish l could see it. Do you know how it
happened? No, Of course you don't; and
you shall hear without further delay.
Three years ago, when Esme was return
ing from school, just as the train was
starting from Victoria, an old gentleman
and his man servant came scuff1ing up.
He was the Queerest old fellow you ever
bebeld, i'll 4 white beaver hat, a blue
cutaway coat and a checker tie, and car
ried an umbrella that would frighten you.
The carriage door was flung open, but the
inmates showed no flattering desire for
his society; very much the other way,
squared themselves and ScOWled. But
Esme, who is good-natured, made room
for him; in fact, did the honOrs of the
compartment so agreeably, and comport-
ed herself so worthily, that when he de-
scended at a station he begged the favor
of her name and address, which she gave, /
little dreaming that the yellow-faced old |
fogy was the renowned Uncle George. /
About six months later came an invita- |
ton, asking her to spend three days with
the old gentleman. 1t seems that she |
made a very favorable impression on I'm. |
Gle g., and the conclusion that she was /
to be rewarded with your hand, and that /
it was pity to divide the money in the !
funds.
Seriously, my dear Miles, she is a very j
nice girl-pretty and lively, or would be /
the latter, only for her stepmother, who |
keeps these poor girls strictly in the back
ground, and is the embodiment Of a dozen
wet blankets; consequently they are shy !
ar any. rate, Esme is-and countrifed
should like her for q sister-in-law very
much; and you have my full and free
consent. OF course, you will come home
at once. By the time this reaches you
six weeks of the six months will be gone.
You will never be so mad as to let the
money go to the college in Calcutta; if
you do, l shall consider that you are not
for your actions. Mind you
sell off your little effects without delay,
and come home Immediately to your affec-
tionate sister, ANNIE CURZON."
Sell off my little effects. | think l See
myselfp' exclaimed her brother, folding
up her letter with deliberate contempt.
With the snipe just coming in, and the
races on next month";
But there are heaps Of racing and
shooting at home," observed Mr.. Gee.
''No sport to hold candle to what we
have out here. Thirty brace of snipe
within four miles at Va Goo; or if you
ike to go down the river to Liriam, there
are couple of hundred actually expect
ng you! Besides all this, I'm going to !
nave shot for the gold cup with Des-
my, and I've promised Patterson to ride
Fyphoon in the hunt steeplechase, so L |
lon't stir for month"; then" I
"I'll tell you WHAT Mr.. Gees favor I
te preamble, you are too old to be talk {
ng such nonsense. A child would know |
Better than to be playing with his-his /
ate in this way! And, as to Typhoon- l
! bad-temPered, pulling little brute, with '
IS much mouth as whale, he'll nearly +
ill somebody yet!'' a
CHAPTER V.
True to SIR. Gees doleful prophecy, Ty- T
bOnr fbrarxy lic rid -, +b. 81 N