The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-29
o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.
::=: Aladdin of London, or the Lodestar e====.=
By Max Pemberton


1 bath Eh, what-you want to put me in garret? III see you the other side of Jordan first Oh, come. it's a nice game, isn't 1t? Papa away and little Anna canoodling with the Whitechapel boy Are we down-hearted? No. But 1 aiu't going, old pal. and that's a fact" He almost fell into an arm chair an l looked upon them with that bland air et patronage which intoxication inspires. Anna, very pale and frightened. was upon the point of summoning the servants. but Alban, wiser in his turn forbade her tp do so.
 You go to bed, Anna" he said quietly. Captain Forrest and I will have a talk. I'm sure he doesn't expect you 10 sit up. Eh, Forrest, don't you think that Anna had better go?"
 By all means, old chap, Nothing like bed-I'm going myself in minute or two. Don't you sit I'D, Anna. Anywhere's s good enough for me. I'll sleep in the green house-eh. what? Your gardener'l find q new specimen in the morning and get fits. Mind he don't prune me, though. 1 cant afford to lose much at my time If life. You go to bed, Anna, and dream of little Willy. He's going to make your fortune on Thursday good old Lodestar, some of emil feel the draught, you bet. Don't spoil your complexion on my ac- count, Anna. You go to bed and keep young"
 He ramhled on. half good-humoredly. wholly determined in his resolution to stay. Anna had never found him obstin- ate or in opposition to her will before, and blazing cheeks and flashing eyes ex- pressed her resentment At an attitude 30 changed
 "Alban," she said quietly, Captain Forrest will not stay Will you please , see that he does not
 She withdrew upon the words and left the two men alone. They listened and heard her mounting the stairs with slow steps. While Forrest was still disposed 10 treat the matter as a joke, Alban had enough discretion to avoid a scene If 1t could be avoided. He was quite calm and willing to forget the insult that had been offered to him.
 "Why not make an end of it. Forrest7' he said presently. m go to the hotel with you-you know perfectly well that you can get bed there. Whats the good of playing tHe fool?"
 "1 was never more serious in my life, old man. Here l am and here l stay. There's no place like home-eh, whatP Why should you do stunts about it? Whats it to do with you after all? Sup pose you think you're master here. Then give us a whsky-and- for luck. my boy
 'T shall not give you Il whisky-and soda, and I dc not consider myself the master here That has nothing 10 do with it. You know that Anna wishes you to go. and go you shall. Whats 10 be gained by being obstinate'
 Forrest looked at him cunningy.
 Appears that | intrude." he exclaimed with sudden flash which declared nis real purpose little Anna Gessner and the boy ont of Whlteehapel making match of il together-eh, what2 Don't let's have any rotten nonsense, old man. pt tri want me here. Say so and be man. You've played a low card on me and you want to see the hand ont. Isn't 1t that? Say SO and be honest fl you can
 "Its lie,n retorted Alban, quietly and then unable to restrain himself he added quickly, "a groom's lie and y1u know it.
 Forrest sobered in a moment by tho accusation. sprang Up from his chair as though stung by the lash of a whip.
 "Whats that" he cried what do you say?'
 "'rhat you are not the son of Sir John
 Forrest at all Your real name is Yves i ton-your father was a jockey and you ] were born at Royston near Cambridge That's what say. Answer it when you i. lllSe-but not In this house. for you won't have the opportunity. There's the door and that's your road. Now step out be- fore l make you"
 He pointed to the open door and drew n little nearer to his slim antagonist For rest. a smile still upon his face. stood for i an instant irresolute-then recovering himself, he threw the glass he held as though it had been q ball. and the mis- ! sile. striking Alban upon the forehead, cut him as knife would have done. "You puppy, you gutter -snipe-Ill show VOL who am Wipe that off If you cam ana then almost shouting, he cried. "Here Anna. come down and see what I've done to yohr little eve lamb. come down and comfort him-Anna' do you hear?'
 He said no more for Alban had him by the throat. leaping npon him with the feroclty of I wild beast and carrying hlm headlong to the lawn before the windows. Never in his life had such q paroxysm of anger overtaken the boy or one whlfh mastered him so utterly. Blindly nc struck: his blows rained upon tine cow ering face as though he would beat 1t ont of all recognition He knew not wholly why he thus acted if not upon some in- pulse which would aveuge the wrongs good women had suffered at the hands Of such an imuastor as this. When he de- sisted the man lay almost insensible upon the grass at his feet-and he. draw ing apart. felt the hot tears running down his face and could not restrain them,
 For in measure he felt that his very chivalrv had been faithess to one who had loved him well-and in the degrada- ton of that violent scene he recalled the spirit of the melancholy years, the at- mosphere of the mean streets. and the hg- ire of little Lois Boriskoff asking both his pity and his love.
 fH mad