Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
As You Find It-By Richard Mansfield

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your money on. Why didn't I think of
it before? Pen and Ink. too to be heard
from yet. But can't wait. If / know
anything of the world. William Persever-
ance Poynter is the most likely man to
help me and for Harry's sake I shall
have to take a mean advantage of an
Americans Partially Tor titled English
man. Writes:
my Dear Mr.. POINTER: Bad news
travels fast and therefore no doubt you
have heard bv now of the serious finan-
cial loss l have sustained. l am in i'm
mediate need of Il won't ask for thou
this time. only enough to save Harry
six hundred pounds and / venture to ask
you if you will assist me: If yes. will
you please send me your check by
bearer? 1 should not write If 1 had not
known you all my life as an old and
valued friend Of my father and of. Yours
very truly, and with many thanks in
advance. ALGERNON ALWYN."
addresses envelope) 1 don't see how
he can refuse-thanks in advance. (Rings
bell) Fraser. send somebody with this
to Mr.. Poynter and have him wait for an
answer. Reply from DR.. Penryck? All
right-(comes down. hope it is all right!
1t must be? Pen and Ink, my old tutor
my fathers most intimate friend-he
can't have refused me. Just wait
minute. Fraser. it may not be necessary
to send that letter to Pressed-I mean
to Mr.. ,vnter-Tll let you know in a
jiffy. Clears open letter. Long letter
jected voice to Fraser: You can send
that letter, Fraser. (Reads):
'"rhe Rectory, Tuesday.
This is no time, my poor boy, to
preach honily or to point a lesson. BY
now, / imagine, your spirit is sufficiently
chastened not to need from my lips any
word of reproof, reproach, criticism or
condemnation. Your money was your
own, but 1 must say that if my beloved
friends fortune was to be scattered to
the four winds in SO brief space of time,
I would have prayed heaven to direct its
flow into a course more worthy of his
hallowed memory. Think, too, what suf-
fering you entail on him who has known
and loved you since your were an infant:
who held you in these old arms and
whose now palsied fingers first guided
your baby eyes across the animal alpha
bet! I can not feel that I am to blame.
Had you listened to my precepts early in
life and later benefited by my counsel.
had you taken full advantage of my still
more recent after-dinner talks, when.
with a light and playful touch I none
the less earnestly endeavored to sow in
your mind the seeds of wisdom, you
would not now be seated upon the stool
Of repentance, contemplating the crumb
ling ruins of an erstwhile regal fortune!
Alas, your life at Oxford was but the
prelude to your present fall! Let him
that is without sin cast the first stone,
but still 1 must decline to become
particeps criminis by lending you money.
No, it may be that what appears to be
now a great affection may become the
corner stone of your salvation! Perhaps.
my dear Algernon, the loss of your
your knapsack and your wander-staff
and sail for America! Would / were
young enough to accompany you!
Heaven forbid that I should deny you
consolation or advice. and L Will come
at and take parting glass with you
and wish you godspeed and better life!
Your true friend.
So! This morning I was a worthy and
respectable member of society - well
coined everywhere, highly regarded.
prominent and influential. This evening
am without friend. stunned by
every one, cold-shoudered and Tilted! l
am avoided as if there were scarlet fever
or whooping cough in the house, and L
have finally become criminal to whom
the parish priest will this evening adj
minister the consultations Of the church!
"a knock at the door. He goes to door
comes down with letter. Answer from
Pressed Beef All rght-it's hardly
worth while opening it know by now
Je connais mes gems. Wait a minute.
Fraser "opens the letter.. To be sure:
Dear Sir: l am in receipt of your
favor of this date. l shall be happy to
,,a1 f1irarp fI,l
collateral or security you propose TO offer
is first-class. 1 regret to say an important
business engagement will prevent me
from accepting your invitation to dinner
this evening. Yours faithfully
"GUILLAUMEPE RSEVERANCEP OIN-
TER
There! That is the last straw. Fraser,
We'll be three to dinner. that is, II l can
get Master Harry here in time.Pll nave
to become the INSCRIPTIONS villain l am
painted; by hook or crook 1 must bring
him here! Wait a minute. Fraser (writes
rapidly:
Dear Hal: I'm sending William with
the dog cart for you. Leave note for
here after dinner and I'll satisfy them:
/ inclcse a line for them. Don't fail
to be here by O'Clock for dinner.
YOUR ALGIE."
"Sir Algernon AIwyn presents his COM
pliments to Lord Rock and Sir Winslow
Sharper, and he will be glad to see them
at Alwyn Hall this evening. when he Will
satisfy any claims against his brother TO
the full extent of his, Sir Algernons S, Tor
tune
There-(folds both letters-puts them in
one envelope)-Fraser, tell William to put
Spinning Top in the dog cart and to
drive like the devil and bring Master
Harry here in time for dinner. Tell him
to give Master Harry this note. Fly:
Spinning Top can do it if its within
equine possibility. So far so good. What
to do with that gentry when they are
here remains to be seen. We won't at
tempt to cross the bridge until we come
to tat all events Harry isn't going to
shoot himself If I can help it-Door chap
what will he say? He'll have to leave
College, wonder if he'll round on me.
too? Things are about as black as they
can Ec-and I don't see a streak OF light
If only, If only Lucy hadn't thrown me
oyer-Tm glad didn't go to her. Shed
despise me for crawline-no. III smut
up the hall and live alone. j suppose
could grow vegetables and hens and eggs
enough to keep me alive? But l won't
give a sign-I won't hang out any flag
Of distress. I may be pauper. but l IL
be hanged if I'll be a. beggar. l sup
I ov>rfD cr<N