The suburban citizen., 1900-12-08
AHEAVY RANSOM
NO Judge by his haggard looks
and the monotonous way in
which he was pacing up and


which he was pacing up and
down the room, Honorable
Robert Spenceley was evidently un-
der the influence of a nervous mental
depression when his particular chum,
Tom Langton, favored him with a
morning call.
"Halloa! What's up, Bob? By Jove,
you are looking seedy."
Honorable Robert stopped in his
purposeless walk, languidly extended
his arm, lightly touched the tips of
his friends fingers, and heaved a deep
and bitter sigh.
Are you i'll, chappie, or has the peer
less, patrician Penelope"
"Sit down, Tom. The fact is, I've
been a fool"
"And how did you discover it?"
"Well, as you know, I've been mixed
up a bit with Lord Templeton and his
set Jolly fellows, but inclined to go
the pace a bit too fast. Hang me, if
: can say No to anything they pro-
pose, and the upshot of it all is that in
two nights have lost upward of three
thousand pounds sterling playing
cards at the Junior Aborigines-at
least, that's the amount they hold my
10 US for"
"What confoundedly bad luck you
must have had"
II posted down to the family nest
yesterday, laid the whole affair be.
fore the governor and vowed that
would never touch card again If he
would help me out of this scrape."
'And he has refusedY
Point blank. He reminded me that
on several occasions he had paid off
my legitimate debts-small in compar-
ison to this One-but he considered
playing cards for high stakes so out
rageously foolish that he could not
and would not help me. told him
they were debts of honor, but he said
it was a most dishonorable way either
of making or getting rid Of money.
"In concluson he told me that as it
was most desirable that l should
break off from this connection, he pro-
posed to reduce my allowance to five
hundred pounds a year, during which
time l am to travel and see as much
Of the world as 1 can on a paltry ten
pounds week"
"And what did you say?"
in the matter. l have made up my
mind that l will not go to the money
lenders, and so l must get these fell
lows to wait until l can redeem my
paper"
Look here, old chap. I'll come with
you for a time, and wen go in for a
walking tour"
tom, you're a brick. Let US start
this week"
Three months had elapsed since
Robert Spenceley's departure, during
which period frequent communications
each bearing expressions of regret
for the past and promises for the fu.
ture-kept Lord Methwick fully ac,
aualnted with his sons doing The
absent one seemed to be thoroughly
enjoying himself judging from his
graphic descriptions of the scenery
and incidents of the walking tour
Then the letters ceased altogether.
Several times lately the doubt had
arisen in Lord Methwlck's mind as tC
whether he had not been too severe
remembering that his son had hitherto
borne an irreproachable character
Fvincing deep dislike to all the worse
Iorms Of dissipation, and there was
no doubt that this unfortunate affair
pt the Junior Aborigines was not the
result Of inherent or newly-acquiret
viciousness, but rather brought abou
by a false position, in which, sur
rounded by his companions Of wealth
and repute, he had been led away by
the excitement and his inability to SAY
mo"
Now that no news came from him
his fathers resolution rapidly CAV
way under the disquieting influence
Of foreboding and the continuous en-
treaties Of his mother until at las
his recall was decided up so soon a
the next intimation of his addres
should arrive. The next letter dit
disclose his whereabouts, and this wa
the-thunderbOlt:
Most Illustrious Signor: The son 0
your excellency is doing us the homo
to condescend our humble hospitalit
to partake and has to.us your addres
given so that we may impart his vel
being. He now his departure desire,
but we would that your illustrlous ey
cellency to us sending the sum O
pounds four thousand Engllshe tina
we may be soiaced for his loss"
Then followed an address to whlc
a communication was to be sent, an
the missive concluded:
ANY information to the gendarme