Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-04
The British Invader.
BY HOWARD FIELDING.

The city editor OF the chicago paper
sent me down to Stanchtield. a dis
tance of forty miles, to write a funny
story about a misfortune which had
befallen II of the best men in the
state of illinois. His name was Samuel
Brandon, INC ne was known far and
wide as a genuine American. a man
whom great wealth had not spoiled. In
every WAY broad minded and thorough
ly democratic in the best sense OF The
word.
The joke was that MIR. BrandOn's only
daughter had recently become engaged
to Il titled Briton. Lord Colewyn, whom
malicious fate had sent to the little city
of S%tanchiield. This was n source OF
pride and joy TO Mrs. Brandon, who
was Il born aristocrat, and of deep cha
grin to her husband, whose patriotism
was intense.
To aGd to the humor of the situation.
Lord Colewyn was to be n guest of the
Brandons on the Fourth of July. Upon
his day MIR. Brandon always threw OPP
en- his spiedid estate to the populace
and gave his FELLOW citizens such an
entertainment as spared the city all OK
pense for a celebration. 1t was MIR.
Brandol's one day in the year: upon
the other 364 Mrs. Brandon ruled the
demesne in a fashion highly exclusive.
l agreed With the city edito: that this
affair partook of the nature OF a jest.
The sense of humor dawned upon the
world when one Oh u monkey ances-
tors pushed another Off the limb of II
tree and was amused to see him light
upon his head instead of Oh his feet,
and fun has not changed much in the
Intervening millions or years.
An early train took me TO Stanch-
field. where my friend Ton Mason met
me at the depot. He was employed in
Mr.. B~randon's bank. and l depended
upon him for such of the facts AS were
really common property and might be
told without indelicacy. IlGeed, Tom
had already given me some of them in
a queer letter written abou .he time
of the announcement of the engage
ment, in the middle of June. He Gem
ed to suffer for MIR. Brandon. whom he
greatly admired. and to expect me to
~synlpathize fully.
In company with my friend / went 10
the Stanchfield hotel for Il bit of break
fast. AS soon as we entered the dining
room my attention was attracted by a
person who had the un1nistakable air of
a Gentleman's gentleman. He was SUI
perintendiag two walters in the ar
rangement of Il table. the most favor
ably situated of all in the room, for it
was on a dais in a corner and was al
most surrounded by open windows.
Lord Colewyn's valet" said Tom.
His lordship evidently intends to
- 80 NHAo AaAC Ais
Why sn't he at the Brandons'?" l
asked.
H doesn't want to crowd the old
gentleman too hard. 1 guess" replied
Tom. My lord is not such a fool as he
looks"
MIR. Brandon really takes this to
heart. eh?" said L.
Does he?' said Tom. with most ex-
pressive emphasis, and yet he's such
a thoroughbred: absolutely a nan OF
principle! He believes that a mother
is the natural and proper guardian of
her daughter. In this matter he has
advised his wife. but he would never
attempt to control her. Toward Lord
Colewyn he is strictly just. He'll be a
model fathe--in-law in every way.
Including the %pecuniary way
said /.
Tom smiled bitterly.
"A to that" said he. ''let me tell you
a story-not for publication. of course.
for we are keeping 1t quiet. His lord
ship had about $1,000 in Mr.. Brandon's
bank. One day last week a man pre-
sented a check to me as paying teller
at the bank for Sc. 1000. drawn by Cole
wyn to his own order and indorsed by
him. Signature and Endorsement looked
all right, and I took the man to be that
flunky owe there, who had cashed one
or two similar checks for small
1t appears that the check
was a forgery and that Bitters, as Cole
Wyn is pleased to call his valet. was
impersonated by a swindler Who had
had Il room in this hotel next to my
lords for about a week and mas now
skipped for parts unknown. l could
have sworn hat the man was Bitters,
but he wasn't, because Bitters was at
the Brandon place at the time"
Who says so?" I demanded.
Everybody" answered Tom gloom.
lily. Miss Brandon among the number
Bttters was undoubtedly there with his
master. And it was on ne, of course
] ought to have lost my job. But Sam
3randon Is Il prince. He instantly mad:
good Cclewyn's loss and lighted a cigar