Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-10-11
HIS LORDSHIP

iCOpyrlSnl, 1SOb, Dy Homer OpTdBue,I
Henri FIetcher's ambition was to be
an English swell. AS be was saunter-
ing across St James park one day,
head up, glass in his eye and his cane
held at the proper angle, some one ran
against him and cried out:
"Dear, dear me, but what a fortu-
nate meeting! Why, my dear fellow,
/ was just on my way to your club to
hunt you up"
The speaker was a young man like
Mr.. Fletcher. He was got up after
the same pattern.
''Now, my lord, old boy, those curios
have arrived from Egypt, and my man
is unpacking them. 1 want you to see
the collection and give me your opin-
ion. Rather have it than any other
mans in England, We knaw."
Mr.. Fletcher saw that the stranger
had made q mistake, but he blushed
with pleasure. He had not only been
mistaken for al Englishman, but for a
lord. Instead Of explaining the situa-
ton he let the other go on with:
A
.And you'll give me an hour of your
time and an opinion on my collection?
If you don't fancy it, I'll sell the whole
business at auction. Only a step, We
knaw, but here's a cab" Z.
81 think 1 should explain to you
began Mr.. Fletcher as the other seized
his arm. But before he could go fur
Their he was at the door Of the cab.
The ride lasted only ten minutes,
and during that time the stranger did
all the talking and few from one sub
ject to another so rapidly that Mr..
Fletcher had no show to explain
things. The cab ratified up to a fine
mansion, which might rave been the
town house of a duke, and arm in arm
tie two ascended the steps. An OBJ
I{1uious servant admitted them, they
.'ssed upstairs, and two minutes later
r. Fletcher found himself menaced
: a pistol in the hands of the second
an, while the first was saying:
"Be gentle with him, Billy. He's far
: from his home and mamma, you know"
He was ordered to sit down, and he
sat. His ankles were tied to the chair,
so that he couldn't get up again in a
hurry. A gag was laid on the table at
his elbow. A bottle Of wine and a
glass were also placed there. Then the
man with the pistol, who seemed sorry
that there was no occasion to shoot
anybody, Withdrew, and the other sat
down and observed:
MY lord, you may call me Jones'"
NJ tgIsr4 bannA1 tf 7 6ntv chni1fod Mr. |
FLETCHER, who was beginning to wake
mp at last.
sThen call me Brown. It's all the
anne, you know. Now, my lord
4-I"I am not a lord!w
sThere now. Mr.. Fletcher, 1 want to
have a few minutes conversation with
you. Owing to certain stock invest
ments that were i'll advised 1 am at
this moment In want of what we Amer
leans call the needful. i shall be com
PEELED to ask you for the loan of at
least $4,000. If you cut up nasty the
figures will be doubled"
'sThen you brought me here in broad
daylight to rob mel"
"As you see. No game could be
safer. Partly furnished house to rent,
and after laying my plans I took 1t
and paid o~ne-quarter in advance. l
said laying my plans. 1t did not re-
quire any great astuteness. l knew
your weak point, you see-have heard
It discussed in New York many a time"
"What do you mean by my weak
point?" asked Mr.. Fletcher.
s"Wanting to be taken for an 1t.
When 1 called you my lord back there
in the park you just glowed from head
to heel. I've been following you around
for a week, and the planstyou have taken
to make an Englishmah and a snob out
Of yourself have been highly amusing.
You have convinced several hotel wait
ers that you are,h born ass"
"You contemplate scoundrell I'll
make this outrage cost you your liberty
for the next twenty years" exclaimed
Mr.. Fletcher is he tried to rise up and
YET not coward l "'' . :" "'' '''
nifty, my lord" replied Jones
aane.wn. you may have the sense to
t.see that you are helpless. If you
SHOULD make a nuisance of yourself
! my man might take it personally. As
! vas saying
'Tll never give up a cent?
"As l was saying, my lord, I have
y pressing ne0l of $4,000. The figures
4have doubled, you see. AS 1 knew
ydG wouldn't have that sum In your
podse< Khad my man enter your room
at the hotel and get your check book.
Here 1t is. Will you kindly fill out q
check for the amount named?"
mo! You may murder me frst!'
"a check for $4,000, my lord.
Henry, you may come in with your
pistol. My lord is inclined to be a
nuisance. l will give him five minutes
to fill out this check. If he still re-
mains obdurate you may begin firing
at his fingers. Take them one by one.
Help yourself to the wine, my lord"
Mr. Fletcher must be credited with
waiting four minutes before he began
filling out the check, and he was some
81 d@AA-