The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-05


Better than thdt Jack" said the vi
car. Take these two letters Show then
| to Molly and ask her to wait while tn,
captain makes enquiries. If Lord Flying
enquiry. If not, then We are well rid OF {
/ took the letters and ran across tn,
empty market place. On my way / saw
! the captain. He was walking toward tn,
| Crown, with hanging head
| Let us first deal, With the captain. II,
entered the room. hung up his hat on this
usual peg. and l put hisostick in its accus;
| looked around
Il am glad" he said that there is
none present except you two. My
frs s0 am hes asd at tbd he yirsr Ru,
on, captain"
of what has been arranged?"
There are rumOrs of many kinds
| The place is full of rumors. 1t is ru-
| mored that a certain Colonel Lanyon is
| a sharper. 1t is also rumored that Sam
Semple is a villain. 1t is further rumored
that the Rev. Benjamin Purden is a dis
grace to the cloth. and there is yet anoth-
er rumor What is your rumor. captain? -
Lord Fylinsdale proposes to marry
Molly, and | have accepted, and she has
accepted. but it was to be a profound Sc
cret"
1T is so profound secret that the
company at the gardens this evening
are talking about nothirg else
The captain groaned. 81 have received
a letter. ne said. Il 20 not believe it,
but the contents are disquieting. There
is no signature. Read it."
The vicar read it: Captain Crowle-
Sir. YOU are a very simple old man. You
are so ignorant of London and of the
fashionable world that you do not even
know that Lord Fylingdale, to whom you
are about to give your ward, is the most
notorious gambler. rake and profiiSate
in the whole of that quarter where the
people of fashion and of quality carry
on their prodigate lives. In the interests
OF innocence and virtue make some en-
qulry into the truth of this statement
before laying your lovely ward in the
arms of the villain who has come to Lynn
with no other object than to secure her
fortune"
1T is an anonymous letter" said the
vicar. but there is something to be
said in support of it. From what source
did you derive your belief in the virtues
of this young noblemau?"
From Sam Semple.
''Who is in the service of his lordship.
! know not what he does for him. but il
he is turned out of that service he will
infallibly be clapped into a debtors
prison.
There is also that grave and rever-
end divine"
THE man Purden. He is notorious for
writing ribald verses and for leading
life that is disgrace to his profession.
There is also the Lady Anastasia.'
L KNOW nOtn1nE aDOut ner iauy snip
except that she keeps the bank. as they
cali 1t. every evening and that the gam
ing table allures many to their destruc-
tion "
My friends" said the captain. what
am | to do2'
You must make enquiry You must
tell Lord Fylingdale that things have
been brought to you: that you cannot
believe them If. as is possible, you do
not, but that you must make enquiries
before trusting your ward to his protec-
ton. You are her guardian. captain.
Il am more than her guardian. / love
her better than If she was my own child"
we know You do. captain There
fore write letter to him. Tell him these
things. Say that you must have time to
make these enquiries. | will help you with
the letter. And tell him as well that you
must have time to draw up settlements If
he is honest he WIFI consent TO this inves-
tigation into his private character If he
wants Molly and not tier money bag. he
will at once agree TO the settlement of her
fortune upon herself
Il am an old fool, | suppose" said the
captain 81 have Believed everything and
/ cannot think that this man. so proud.
so brave, who risked his life for Molly, is
what this letter says
Other letters say the same thing. Now,
captain. let US write
The letter which was dictated by the
vicar duly written. signed. and seal
ed. Then il was sent up stairs to his
lordship's private room.