The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-12
Story Of a Lost Fortune.
IFrom Tid-Bits.l

we had planned Went as crooked as a
dogs hind leg just at the last minute.
We had worked for near a month on a
daringly-pIanned scheme to relieve Lord
Tallport of his plate, and just when all
was ready I'm blest if the sheriff didn't
walk in and collar the whole blooming
lot just to pay a few of his 1ordship's
beastily debts.
'Well," says I, were broke"
Just bit, Bill jack says Bob. He
always called me Bill Jack COS was
christened william John.
I hands him the paper, and for a few
minutes the rest was silence. Then
suddenly he says, Listen to this
WANTED-A man to wait at table and
assist butler Only those with good
references need apply. Sandilands Hall,
Egham.
THE very thing" says he. It used to
know something of Sandilands Hall.
when old John Enrol was the boss of it,
but the old chap died about six months.
ago. and I don't know who lives there
now. But if the Enrol family still live
there, the plate is worth small fortune.
What you've got to do is to go to Egham,
get this job as waiter, learn all you can,
and send the news to me"
Good enough" 1 says. "And what
about my referenceS?''
Love you, I'll write you half-a-doZen.
each more tiattering than the other, and
no two in the same handwriting
Well after long talk 1 parted with
Bob, and after dosing myself up / set
out for Egham
Acting Bob's instructions 1 made
my way to the side-entrance of Sandi-
lands Hall and asked for the butler.
Twenty minutes later / was seated in
the private sanctum of the head butler,
whose name was Bloxam, and that
worthy gentleman was busily perusing
my beautiful testimonials.
Your testimonials look all right" says
he. land 1 like the look of you, so I'll
just see Miss Cursor and get her opin-
ion She's the lady of the Hall until
daughter of the late John Enrol, Esq.
Help yourself out of this while go and
see her.
He pushed decanter of port and a
glass. towards me, and left me to my
own sweet thoughts
Mr.. Bloxam returned in a few minutes
with the message that he was to take
me to Miss Cursor at once.
Pretty? should think she was. A
perfect peach, dainty as fairy, with a
voice like silver bell.
And so this is the MANI says she.
What did you say his name wasp
Higgins, miss" answers, and I
backs out with Bloxam.
We went back to Bloxam'S den, and
he, being sociable old chap produced
fresh bottle of port and cigars just to
celebrate. as he put it, Then thought
1 would do a little pumping.
Much company here?" 1 asks.
Company! Bless you, the place is a
sinecure. There's nobody but Miss Cur
zon. But things will change when Mr..
Rupert comes home. Quite a romance
it IS. Let's see-itS about eight years
ago since Mr.. Rupert quarreled with
his father, and strange to say, it was
all about Miss CurzOn. She was the
daughter of the curate then and Mr..
Rupert wanted to marry her; but old
Squire Enrol would have none of it, and
packed him off to foreign parts Mr.
Rupert swore that he would not return
until his father gave his consent
For three years we had occasional
news of him, and then came the silence
which has lasted five years. When I
Squire Enrol could learn no news Of
Mr.. Rupert he grew remorseful, and
when Miss CurZon's father died he
adopted her and brought her to live
here until Rupert should turn up to
claim her"
s'But this Mr.. Rupert may be dead
''She is confident that he is alive, and
that is why You are engaged. She keeps
up the full staff of servants so as to
have everything ready when he re-
turns.
Soon after this interesting CONVERSE
ton took my departure, ostensibly to
get my traps, but really to report prog
ress to Beautiful Bob.
He was hugely delighted with my sue
cess, and listened attentively to all the
news I had gathered.
a week, and will arrange that every
one shall mysteriously fall asleep and
we can loot the place at our leisure"
mo, Bill Jack, I'm going to make this
something special, so you must leave it
to me.
'Why, what's the game if it amt
loot -
TT is loot Bill Jack, but not a Jenny
and dark lantern job. We are going to
pull enough this journey to last a life
time. Now, LISTEN first l want a pho
tograph of Rupert Enrol, If it is to be
had"
I'll see if can manage that" says.
''Then I must have flyer to pay my
fare to Southampton and back I sup,
pose I must do little sleight-o f-hand
in a crowd to get that
.sAnd them"
You go back to Sandilands Hall.
Today is Wednesday, On Saturday
from Southampton to say that Rupert
Enrol has arrived.
"Well?'
ga few hours later he will arrive. All
the servants will assemble to greet the
young master, William John Higgins
among them. Your business is this:
Don't attempt any private CONVERSE
ton with Rupert Enrol until he asks
you for information; and a week after
Rupert Enrol disappears from Sandi-
lands Hall, Beautiful Bob will be
awaiting you here with your share of
a fortune"
ssYou-you can never do it." gasped.
sPooh, there is not much risk You
know my skill in DISCUSSES. and Rupert
Enrol. just come from abroad, will be
sure to have a beard, and I know we
are pretty much of a height"
but, Miss Curzon?"
s'She will never suspect; she was only
seventeen when Enrol went away, and
eight years makes some difference in a
man; besides, 1 have got to know
enough of her young days to convince
her that 1 am her beloved Rupert
That night / went to my new situa-
ton at Egham, and by the first post in
the morning a photograph of Rupert
Enrol was on it's way to beautiful Bob
Enrol was not a bit like Bob except for
the nose, and they were almost as sim
liar as two peas, but knew my chum's
skill in make-r1n and felt no fear.