Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-05-24
CHAPTER ".


Let us now adjourn to British Burmah,
and pay a visit to the other legatee, Cap
tain Miles Brabazon. A single flight Of
imagination will land US in Rangoon,
without undergoing forty days torture
on the high seas.
Il only wish L had your luck, that's all!
But | always knew you were born with
a silver spoon in your mouth, and that
Dame Fortune had her eye on you"
The speaker, young man in polo cos
tune, long boots and dangerous looking
spurs, was sitting on teak-wood table
in an easy, degage attitude, with his cap
set on the side of his close-cropped sandy
head, a polo stick in one hand.
The gentleman upon whom Dame For
tune was supposed to have her eye
also in polo garb-was sunk in the depths
of a Bombay chair, an expression OF
growing dissatisfaction upon his naturally
gay and good-looking countenance. He
held large blue letter in his hand, and
the ground around him was Uttered with
papers and envelopes; evidently the Eu-
ropean mail had just come in. The young
man with the boots and spurs is Mr..
Gee, the other Captain BrabaZon, both
officers in the Royal Marchers, at present
luxuriating in the climate of British
Burmah. They are friends, and partners
in the struggling wooden bungalow in
which we find them.
Luck, indeed" growled Captain Bra
bacon, angrily, crumpling up the letter
and thrusting it into mis- breast pocket, Il
see no luck in it; quite the other wayI''
will ye listen to him. cried Mr.. Gee.
"Have you not always had enough foi
your modest wants?
That's because they were modest" re,
turned the other, promptly.
Have you not had the best of health,
even in this beastly climate! which Is
enough to undermine the constitution Of
Il rhinOceros. Have you not had speedy
promotion? Haven't you youth?' paus-
ing a second for breath.
Go. on; don't shirk it! Why not say
beauty at oncc?" suggested his compan-
ion, encouragingly.
'Well, I'll even go as far as that,
generously, though that was not what
l was going to remark; but everyone
knows, yourself included, that you're a
good-looking fellow, and quite one Of our
show men. And you have actually the
cheek to sit there calmly and tell me to
my face that you are not a lucky fellow,
when bank on the top of all this comes
a humping legacy of forty thousand
pounds. only wish L had half your COM
plant, that's alln'
Il wish to goodness you had," return
ed the other sulkily. You seem to for
get, my clever and very sanguine friend,
that I've only half share in the booty,
a half share and better half. Sounds
like pun, eh? You have overlooked one
little detail, matrimony, and that if l
! don't marry this girl within six months
all the coin goes to college in Calcutta.
| Did you ever know such an old hunks 20
| Now standing up, walking to the doorway
and leaning against one of the posts,
| ''Why the mischief could he not divide
the money and leave us each half?' he
demanded, angrily, of his friend.
GAY, why, indeed?" rejoined Mr.. Gee.
1T all came of my tipping him ten
pound note"
Your grandmother" calculated Mr..
Gee, with a laugh of the rudest incred-
dulity.
Great grandmother, if you like, but
it's a fact! When the old chap came
home from India, with pots of money, he
was awfully afraid of being set upon by
hordes of needy relations. a bright idea
struck him. He hastily retired to a shady
suburb in London and set up as pauper
In other words, sent round begging let
ter for Il little help, to keep him from
want in his old age. Rather grim kind OF
joke, eh?"
Rather" returned Mr.. Gee. admirinS
ly; land not a bad idea
"Any old fellow who was capable OF
that would be capable of anything, this
will inclusive" exclaimed his nephew
emphatically. However, to go on with
my story Mrs. Adrian Brabazon, my fu
ture stepmother-in-law, pleaded poverty
Aunt Jane made no excuse of any kind
doubtless she smelled rat; and l, being
just then rather flush of coin, sent hin
tenner, with a promise to do what
could for, after ALL he was my fathers
brother, and 1 could not let the old beg
gar starye," apologeticaly.
CTo be continued.)