The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-30

lay back on the pillows with the tired air of the vertable invalid which he seemed able to assume at will But Tor once he did look as though bed was the the best place for him; and l used the fact as an argument for my own reten- ton in defiance of Dr. Theohaid The town was full of typhoid, l said, and certainly that autumnal scourge was in the air. Did he want me to leave him at tho very moment when he might be sickening for serious illnessY
 You know I don't my good fellow" said Rallies wearily; but Theobald does and l can't afford to go against him now. Not that l really care what hap pens to me now that the woman knows I'm In the land of the living; she'll lot it out to a dead certainty, and at the best therell be hue and cry, which is the very thing l have escaped all these years. Now, what I want you to do Is to go ana take some quiet place some where, and then let me know, so that l may have a port in the storm, when 1t breaks"
 Now you're talkingp I cried, recov- ering my spirit q thought you meant to go and drop a fellow altogetherl' Exactly the sort of thing you would think" rejoined Rallies, with a contempt that was welcome enough after my late alarm. No, my dear rabbit, what you've got to uO IS 10 BO anu ildiAo uoW burrough for Us both. Try down the Thames. in son.- quiet nook that llt- erary man would naturally select. I've often thought that more use might be made of a boat, while the family are at dinner, than there ever has been yet. if Rallies is to come to life, old chap, he shall go a-Rafflng for all he's worthi There's something to be done with bicycle too Try Ham Common Or Roe hampton, or some sleepy hollow trife off the line; and say you're expecting your brother from the colonies.'
 Into thls arrangement I entered without the slightest hesitation, for we had funds enough to carry it out on a comfortable scale. and Rallies placed sufficient sharo at my disposal for the nonce. Moreover, I for one was only too glad to seek fresh fields and pastures new-a phrase which I determined to interpret literally in my choice of fresh surroundings. l was tired of our submerged life in the polky little flat, especially now that we had money enough for better things. I myself, had of late, had dark dealings with the receivers with the result that poor Lord Ernets Belville's successes were now indeed ours. Subsequent complications had been the more galling on that account, while the wanton way in which they had been cre- ated was the most irritating reflection of all But 1t had brought It's own pun
 
 lesson would prove salutary when we again settled down.
 'If ever we do, Bunny!' said he, as l took his hand and told him how l was already looking forward to the time.
 But of course we will" I cried, con- eeallng the resentment at leaving him which his tone and his appearance renew ed in my breast.
 I'm not so sure of it. he said. gloom fly. I'm in somebody's clutches, and I've got to get out of them first'
 "Ill sit tight until you do."
 well" he said, If you don't see me in ten days you never will"
 "Only ten days?' I echoed. That's nothing at all.
 "A lot may happen in ten days" re- piled Rallies, in the same depressing tone, so very depressing in him; and with that he held out his hand a second time and dropped mine suddenly after as sudden a pressure for farewell.
 I left the fiat in considerable dejection after all unable to decide whether Raf- fles was really i'll, or only worried as knew him to be- And at the foot of the stairs the author of my dismissal, that confounded Theobald. flung open his door and waylaid me.
 Are you gong?" he demanded.
 The traps in my hands proclaimed that was, but I dropped them at his feet to have 1t out with him then and there.