The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-07

really don't know what society's coming
to, Boyd" and he blinked over at me
through his heavy framed spectacles.
About 60. Of middle height, he was
slightly inclined to rotundity, with hair
almost white, a stubbly gray beard and a
pair Of keen eyes rather prominently set in
a bony but not unpleasant countenance.
He had a peculiar habit of stroking his
left ear when puzzled, and was not with
out those little eccentricities which run
hand in hand with genius. One of them
was his fondness for amateur theatricals
for he was a leading member Of the
Dramatic Club at Hove, and nearly always
took part in the performances. But he
was pronounced miser. Each day when
he arrived at Victoria station from Hove
he purchased three ham sandwiches at the
refreshment bar and carried them in his
black bag to Harley street. He there
concealed them In q drawer In the writing
table and stealthily ate them instead of
taking half an hour for luncheon. Some
times he sent Ford out to the nearest
greengrocer's in the Marylebone road for
a penny apple, which he surreptitiously ate
as dessert. s {.
Indeed, he was finishing his last sand
witch when + entered, and his mouth was
full.
It may have been that small fact which
caused me to hesitate. At any rate, sit
| ting there with those big round eyes peer
| ing upon me, I felt the absurdity Of the
situation.
| Presently, when he had finished his
sandwich. carefully brushed the crumbs
from his blotting pad and cast the bag
| into the waste paper basket, he raised his
head and with his big eyes again blinking
through his spectacles, said:
you've had no call to poor old Courte-
nay, I suppose?''
NO" replied. 'rWhy?''
Because he's in a bad way
'Worse?''
Eyes he replied. I'm rather anxious
about him. He'll have to keep to his bed,
| I fear
/ I did not in the least doubt this. Old
Mr.. Henry Courtenay, one of the Devon
shire Courtenays, a very wealthy If some
what eccentric old gentleman. lived in
one OF those prim, pleasant detached
| houses in Richmond Road, facing Kew
Gardens, and was one of Sir Demands
best patients. He had been under him
for number of years, until they had be-
come personal friends. One Of his &C.
lcentricities was to insist on paying heavy
fees to his medical misunderstanding, per-
haps, that by so doing he would secure
greater and more careful attention.
But strangely enough. mention Of the
name suddenly gave me the clue SO long
wanting. 1t aroused within me sense
of impending evil regarding the very man
4 of whom we were speaking The sound
of the name seemed to strike the sympa-
4 thetic chord within my brain, and L at
Ionce became cognizant that the unac-
countable presage Of impending misfor-
tune was connected with that rather in
4 congruous household down at Kew.
i Therefore, when Sir Bernard impaired
Ito me his misgivings I was quickly on the
alert and questioned him regarding the
progress Of Mr.. Courtenay's disease.
L nU G
Boyd exclaimed my chief, confidentially
\ "He doesn't believe himself half so Ill as
he u.s. When did you see him last?'
"Only a few days ago. l thought he
lseemed much improved" / said.
4 s'And, Of course. = the old doctor snapped