Morris tribune., 1903-01-03

down ana coughed slightly and sail
that he didn't know that drop O.
whisky would do him any particu
lar harm. At any rate, he said-h,
said this with the air of man pre-
pared for any experiment in the in
terest OF science-he'd try.
Sir Robert ordered a large whisky
and gave instructions that he was
to be told when Lady Lisburn left
the hotel.
owe need not hurry until that
happens" said Sir Robert. He ex-
planned to Mr.. Bester what was re-
quired.
There was to be no fuss, insisted
Sir Robert, and no interference. All
that Bester had to do was to follow
Lady Lisburn and if she was in any
danger to wire Sir Robert at once
and himself take such steps as he
might think were necessary.
''That's the way" said Mr.. Bes-
ter, with appreciation; ''take things
calmly. Much better in the long
run. | ought to know. I've been
at it in the Yard and out of the
Yard thirty year come next Feb'u-
ary."
81 suppose you have had some in
teresting cases to deal WITH" re-
marked Sir Robert politely.
Mr.. Bester stood up and looked
at himself in the mirror for a mo-
ment and then sat down again heav-
lily.
E'The most interesting" he said,
care them that nobody don't deal
with"
Mr.. Bester took another sip from
his tumbler and essayed to rest one
knee on the other, but found the
position for a gentleman of his ro>
tundity uncomfortable and relin-
quished the endeavor.
'Look here, Sir Robert" said Mr..
Bester, ''here's case in point, just
what you may call a little incident.
Look here. This" taking a wax
match from the box and sticking it
upright on the table-"this is Mr..
BERTHE Peterborough, and this" tax
ing another and sticking it upright
is Miss-Miss Whatsher-
name. Really, I forgit the name.
However, that don't matter"
The door opened softly, but nei-
ther of the men noticed it.
every well then. Few years ago
Mr.. BERTHE Peterborough CHATS this
one) knows Miss Whatshername
CHATS this one), and she loves him
and writes him warm, rapturous let
ters-letters that she would be
ashamed now to read or for anybody
else to read. Still good girl, mind
you. Mr.. BERTHE comes uptown, for
gets her, goes to bad, slips himself
off to America and gets worse and
worse. He becomes hard up, and
what does he do then but blackmail
Miss Whatshername."
'Scoundrel!" exclaimed Sir Rob
ert heartily.
'fBlackmails her. happens to
go out to trace chap, and l meets
Mr.. BERTHE in bar, and he tells me
all about it.
"Ought to be hangedP' remarked
Sir Robert.
"But that isn't the worst. I tells |
him for a lark that Pm a bit Of a
scamp myself and brags a bit, and
then Mr.. BERTHE goes one better and !
assures me that he burned those let |
ters long ago and he was only pre- |
tending he'd still got them. That |
beats anything, don't it? There's !
! scamp for you; making a regular
income out of it too"
''Girl married, l wonder ?"
$50 I understand" said Mr.. Bes-
ter.
'Poor GIRL" said Sir Robert.
wonder who her husband is p"
"Sir Robert said voice. They
had not turned on the light, and
he room was growing dark.
"My love-" he said.
"They told me you wanted to see
me-" said Lady Lisburn, "and, my
lear, I'm-I'm not going. | could
lot have known what I was. talking
lbout just now"
''My dear heart" exclaimed Sir
Robert delightedly, ''tell me what it
vas that was worrying YOU"
''Why, absolutely nothing" an
wered his wife decidedly. "There
vas no excuse for it"
They took each others hands.
'Shall I look in again, Sir Rob
'rt ?" said Mr.. Bester respectfully.
lie had been standing aside and pre-
ending with excellent savoir faire
o look out of the window.