The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-02-24

pie, isn't it?"
began to laugh; this commercial
innocence was novel.
''And then, of course, they'd go
away-and return the check to dear
Aunt, and all is WELL That's how it
looks to her.
And you actually got it?"
He took a slip OF pink paper from
his pocket-book, and regarded it af-
fectionately. Yes. l actually got it.
But seeing that tie banks all close
so early on Saturdays"
He sighed and returned it to its
cover.
Its playing it rather low down On
dear Aunt, admit" he said, sorrow
fully, especially as she had crossed
the thing to make it safe. She thinks
she has just lent me her signature
for few days. But suppose hap
pened to lose it, and somebody else
found it and discounted it-with a
little hard swearing thrown in
what? And that's where you come
in"
"And she'll believe all thes-that
footle?"
ITO the simple all is simplicity"
quoth he, "and l don't think the dear
lady knows what footle' means"
A violent ringing of the telephone
bell interrupted us for moment.
That's the worst of fixing up ones
rooms like some beastly Office" OBJ
served my Cousin Randolph casually
Hang on to the thing and see what
it wants. You're nearest"
"And if it's anything unpleasant"
he went on, as the bell rang again,
"say I'm away and you're my clerk.
Say I'm dead, if you like"
I'm hanged if l do" l retorted.
"Hullo!" held the thing to my ear.
A squeaky voice, small and distant,
responded. "Are you there?"
Yes, thanks. What is it?'
I'm the Grand Hotel-the-yes-
what? can't hear-the Grand Ho-
tel. Smithers, my name is, Miss
Smithers. S-m-i-t-h-e-r-s;; she spell
ed it for my better understanding.
"She says her name is Smithers
and she's the Grand HOTEL" | an
nounced. you'd better take It on
now"
My Cousin Randolph retorted brief
ly. Don't know the lady-never
heard of her-never talk to strange
ladies through the telephone-against
my principles"
Against your"
The little voice interrupted. 81
want Mr.. Randolph Strangeways," it
said. "Is that your"
"She's pleading for you," told
him; this is beauty in distress.
Come on, Lothario."
I'm Lady Julias secretary" said
the voice, land I want to speak to
Mr.. Strangeways about a check. It's
most important
Lady Julia's the Aunt, the Aunt
I've been talking about" observed my
Cousin Randolph, with deadly distinct
ness.
The voice took it up.
about that check. AS Lady Julia's
only got a few hundreds at the
bank"
"a few hundreds!" groaned my
Cousin Randolph, and then rounded
off the remark in his own peculiar
fashion.
81 don't think he ought to swear
the voice continued-it seemed to me
that laugh was borne along the wires.
"Of course, poor dear Lady Julia does
get so muddled up with her bank
balance and her pass-book. and she
hasn't been at all well, and she quite
understands that Mr.. Strangeways
only wants to show the check to his
creditors" | was quite sure now OF
the laugh. "Of course, under the cir
cumstances, it can't matter at all to
him that
My Cousin Randolph had seized the
second receiver and was listening
with all his might. Cant matter at
all that-what? Go on"
THAT Lady Julia had stopped pay
ment of the check in case It should
happen to get lost or anything, you
know. One has to be so careful.
thought Mr.. Strangeways might like
to know. What? Oh, please don't
keep on swearing so-it does unnerye
me-"
ITO the simple" began, incau-
tiously.
My Cousin Randolph retorted with
emphasis. "This is .he straw that
broke the camel's back" he said.
The squeaky voice again interrupt
ed. ~If you wouldn't mind letting me
finish," it said. Il won't be long and
then you can go away and have nice
comfortable swear all to yourselves
What? / can't hear. Yes; Lady Julia
does think it funny that the mere
sight of check will satisfy a credi-
tor-very funny; but she says 1t
would be more useful and less dan
gerous if you returned 1t to her in ex-
change for five little Bank of England
notes. Yes; less dangerous. what?
oh! What do I get out of it for spoil
ing the deal? oh, well, the laborer
is worthy of her hire, isn't she? And