Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-04

the city editor or the chicago paper
sem me dow to Stanchfield. IA dis
tance of forty miles, to write Il funny
story about Il misfortune which had
befallen one of the best men in the
state of Illinois. His name was Samuel
Brandon, and he was known far and
wide as q 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 a titled Briton. Lord Colewyn. whom
malicious fate had sent to the little city
of Stanchlield. This was Il source OF
pride and joy 10 Mrs. Brandon. who
was "a bern aristocrat, II of deep cha
grin to her husband, whose patriotism
was intense.
To aGd to the humor of the situation,
Lord Colewyn was to be q guest of the
Brandons on the Fourth of July. Upon
this day Mr.. Brandon always threw OPP
en- his spiedid estate to the porulace
and gave his FELLOW citizens such AN
entertainment as spared the city all OK
pense for a celebration. 1t was Mr..
Brandon's one day in the year; upon
the other 3G4 Mrs. Brandon ruled the
demesne in u fashion highly exclusive.
l agreed with the city editor that this
affair partook of the nature of "a jest.
The sense of humor Gawned Gpon the
world when one OF our 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,
n fun has not changed much in the
Intervening millions OF years.
An early train took me To Starch-
field, where my friend Tom Mason met
me at the depot. He was employed i'll
Mr.. B%randon's bank. and l depended
upon him for such of the facts rs We're
really common property and might be
told without indelicacy. IaGeed, Tom
had already given me some OF them in
a queer letter written about The time
of the announcement of the engage
ment, in the middle of June. He "een-
ed to suffer for MIR. Brandon. whom he
greatly admired, and TO expect me to
Sympathize fully.
In company with my friend 1 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 un~mistakable air of
a gentleman's gentleman. He was SUI
perintending two walters in the ar
rangement of Il table. the most favor
ably situate of all in the room. for it
was on a dais in a corner and vas AL
most surrounded by open windows.
Lord Colewyn's valet" said Tom.
His lordship evidently intends to
breakfast IN public this morning
Why sn't he at the B~randons'?" l
asked.
H doesn't want to crowd the old
gentleman too hard. l guess" replied
Tom My lord is not such a fool as he
looks"
MIR. Brandon really takes this to
heart. eh?" said 1.
Does he?" said Tom, with most ex-
pressive emphasis, IAN yet he's such
a thoroughbred; absolutely Il man of
v~s I >t{--,- .-a
is the natural n proper guardian of
her daughter. In this matter he has
advised his wife. but he would never
attempt to control her. Toward Lord
Colewyn ne is strictly just. He'll be a
model fathe"-in-law in every way.
Including the pecuniary way"
said l..
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 q check to me as paying teller
at the bank for $1,000. drawn by Cole
wynn to his W order and Endorsed by
him. Signature and Endorsement looked
all right. and 1 took the man to be tina
fiunky over there. VINO had cashed one
or two similar checks for small
amounts. 1t pDears that the check
AOiSSiS uiu Siiol oltteIS, dS Sole-
wyn is pleased to call his valet. was
impersonated by a swindler who had
had Il room in his hotel next to my
lords for about a week and has now
skipped for parts unknown. 1 could
have sworn that 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.
Bitters was undoubtedly there with his
master. And 1t was on me. of course.
ought to have lost my job. But Sam
Brandon is IA prince. He instantly mad
good Cclcwyn's loss and lighted a cigar