Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-03-08
Wopyrsh,. laos. by w r. uearstl

left to Norman Delafoy but work
/ he wanted to continue his existence 1
. this n His ancestors had com
over with the Conaueror. had bee
presented by a grateful monarch wit
extensive ands. az a token OF esteem
and by many centuries OF %strenuou
living spent In teaching others tn
dignity of scanttly enumerated labo
had acquired that tone and polls
which are the hallmark and the prid
OF q territorial aristocracy.
But OF avail is territorial prid
without territory. or polish as a defens
70 an acton for a tailor's bin. Fo
Norman was not an eldest son, ans
tho most liberal allowances will b,
swallowed up very soon II treated a.
In amount and bills and sucl
though they may be FIRE
auently renewed Con terms). yet hav,
not the secret OF perpetual youth.
These truths had been impressine
themselves upon Norman for som
weeks past: and a certain inability to
pay the rent of his fiat had brough,
matters to q head. 1t was particularly
distressing to the mind OF one who
been trained In a firm belief in tn.
dtvine right OF landlords to evict. The
letter on the subject which he had JUS,
received was very formal. very polite
ana most Enthusiastically determined.
So he swore sincerely, and dressed
for dinner.
Lady Mildred. whom he loved, was
wonderfully proud. Her ancestors. like
the ancestors OF Norman. had always
been careful not to soil their fingers by
contact with trade. or anything useful.
Feeling chippy. old boy? ?" said Lady
Mildred.
Rocky as they make EN-" said Nor
man. dolefully. using an expression
which 10 no doubt a relic Of medieval
F'rench-as modern English 1t has no
meaning.
Been having a talk with tho Dad 40
shall. now"
Lady Mildred looked at him quickly.
u telling him?' she said.
Norman laughed a dismal laugh.
Who's the bounder in the corner?"
Lady Mildred looked at the direction
Indicated. and her lips curled visibly.
MI. Byne." h said abruptly.
"Byne's Bilious Pills." asked Nor
man. and she nodded.
The Dad thinks he ought to see
something of all sides of life" she has
tened to explain.
II Norman and Lady Mildred were
proud. the Earl OF Bradshaw. her IA
Their. was prouder still. That a man
with vulgar creditors. a man who could
not pay his rent. who had parted in
with all his allowance and had
raised money on his expectations should
come to him as n sutton for his dauEh-
ter was unthinkable.
Norman knew this we'll, and when,
next morning a county court sum-
mons for a paltry cigar bill VAS served
by an tmpudent clerk. he knew 1t better
still. He swOre at the clerk who made
a note OF the exact language used. to
refresh his memory when called to the
witness box
So he swore at everything. and only
paused for breath when his man an
nounced Mr.. David Byne.
Good morning" said Mr.. Byne.
Norman looked at him with @ naughty
stare.
I think we met yesterday at the Earl
OF B~radshaw's."
Il was there" said Norman, cautious
ly. admitting one-half of what was
asked.
II you could spare me a few minutes
On q matter of business"
"Egad!" thought Norman. Il have
had many things on credit. but surely
not pills. He motioned his visitor to
a chair.
Mr.. Byne. who really was quite a
nice a but had no ancestors worth
speaking of. looked at him a moment.
and then began: Il understand"
"One moment" interrupted Norman.
Have you come to say l owe you any
thing"
NO." said Mr.. Byne. smiling: and
Norman vas . little sorry that he had
suggested such a thing. NO: quite the
contrary. 1 want a man who would be
willing to earn fve thousand ponds
with a very little trouble. and IL struck
me last night a you might be willing
to undertake the job"
Norman looked at him in surprise.
a Ave thousand pounds." h
echoed.
1T Is simple. I myself will hand over
the check. But I am a business man.
and never give away money without
getting its value"
No" said Norman impatiently:
quite right: it's not my principle I'm
afraid. but its quite right"
Very we'll, we understand one an
other"
Mr.. Byne looked at him keenly for
q moment n then said: you will be
at the ball at Bradshaw House on
Thursday"
Precisely. 1t will be a magnificent
affair. I'm told-one OF The verss Of
the season. eh?"
Possibly" Norman spoke hauxhtily.
as who should say. What a that to
do with a worm k you?"
Now 1t is on Thursday night that
you can earn Ave thousand pounds"
Well. we'll! What do you want me to
You have but to 10 to Bradshaw
House. spend two hours in and about
the ball room IN the ordinary way.
dance with Lady Mildred"
Z shall do that or not without your
orders. SIR"
wearing on your shirt front. in
black letters n inc Iona. the words
Buy Bync's Bilious Pills."
You Internal scoundrel!" said Nor
man. Get out OF this. or III kick you
through the window"
To which Mr.. Byne only replied by
placing his card on a table and saying:
This Is my address: an answer any
time before Thursday afternoon will
do"
You miserable cad" said Norman,
Inc tore up the card.
Mr.. Byne held the door open. My
telephone number" he murmured. lis
e0.793 Westminster"
Norman. in a loud voice, mentioned
q place to which he might CO.. 1t was
not Westminster.
II increase my offer to 10000 pounds
said Mr.. Byne. as he retired hurriedly.
n disappeared.
On Thursday evc:.ing Norman sat
with his arms on the table and his
head on his arms. groaning. His hair.
once brown. was streaked with gray.
For two nights he had not slept.
Mildred! Mildred! he n,oaned, and
again "Byne's Bilious Pillf!" savagely
humping the table at each word.
Thomson thought no was summoned,
and opened the door. ssSirs"