Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13

Letter. from WnOm. I've MI NY
the last was the best-what?
Waiting? From Mr.. Honeyman? Why
he's the man at the county bank. Have
1 overdrawn? Tell him it's after banking
hours. Tell him I'll settle it tomorrow
tell him I'm in bed-tell him I'm drunk
tell him I'm dead-tell him anything.
"Opens door,. Go away! Fraser. go away!
/ want to be left alone. Very important,
Ell? Well I'll open It'll don't care
something for anythins-(whistles a tune
Dear Sir: Not hearing from you up
to closing time. I venture to remind you
that l sent you a most important com
munication yesterday. Thinking that the
venture now to call your attention to IT
and to request the honor OF your COM
mands. l am, dear sir,
"Your obedient servant.
GEORGE HENRY HONEYMAN."
Well. just wait q minute. Fraser and
I'll see what 1t is. Uooks over letters
on table, Oh. yes, here's a letter to be
sure-County Bank "Opens letter.
Dear Sir: 1 have the honor to inform
you that before leaving for Australia MI.
Fudge, of the firm Of Messrs. Fudge &
Mcpherson, deposited with us. for SAFE
keeping. securities, ETC., standing in your
name and of which Messrs. Fudge & NC
Pherson had charge" What! What!
Mr.. Fudge desires us to inform you OF
this and to say that Mr.. Mcpherson being
in very delicate health. he thought 1t
wiser, subject to your consent, to put
your affairs for the present in our hands.
Mr.. Fudge was obliged to leave In great
haste for Sidney by yesterdays steamer.
to attend your uncle. Mr.. Mortimer Al
wyn, the great brewer ohm. I've never
hjY111 understand
suffering from an incurable disease ana
whose heir we believe you are. We are
sending you check book under separate
cover. and awaiting your instructions
your obedient servants.
LONDON & COUNTY BANK, Ltd.
per G. H. Honeyman."
Good Lord! Fraser. bring me whisky
Fraser. tell the messenger I'll call at the
bank tomorrow morning and see MI
Honeyman. Bring me a whisky and soda
il you want to save my life? Hurrah-
what larks. This all comes of not at
tending to business. But how on earth
is it that-that Fudge didn't tell McPher-
son before he left? There's something
queer there. I'll wager? 1 suppose Nc
Pherson was non compos mentis and
Fudge told him and Mcpherson forgot.
Let's look at the letters again. All, here's
one from old Ryan-old sawbones Ryan.
"Opens letter.)
Dear Sir: Mr.. Fudge wishes me to
inform you before leaving to wind up the
affairs Of your uncle In Australia that I
have been called in by him in consulta-
ton with Drs. Clark & Sorrywait. and
that we have come to the conclusion that
Mr.. Mcpherson will not be able to at
tend to business for some time. his men,
DRY being so severely affected that It is
serious disease of the BRAIN Him, Inn,
etc., etc.
Poor old beggar-so that's the reason.
Algernon Alwyn. you are a frst-class
idiot. And yet what lesson your mis-
take has taught you. Knock at door.)
All right, I'll take it. Goes to door and
takes tray with whisky and soda to
table, Who's to blame? I am. I'm q
careless. hairbrained imbecile and I de-
served to lose my fortune. never looked
after it and it came very near running
away, and then I expected everybody to
lend beggar money. Shall I turn my
back on the world and become a misan-
thrope or shall in future take the world
as find it? Why, you owe every one Of
those old fOgies an apology for upsetting
their everyday methodical, run-in-a-rut
apple carts. BY Jove. they shall come to
dinner after all-every mothers son and
daughter Rings beli) Fraser, tell Tom
and Virgins and that little monkey,
Spotter. to get ready to take some mes
sages for me. Tell them to come here
at once and I'll write the notes. (sits
DOWN. Lucy first (writes):
Dearest. dearest, dearest Lucy: It's
all right. We've found all the money and
more. Ny apologies to your mother. Tell
her to leave everything-I mean leave
dinner-and come and dine with me. and
to bring all her guests-and not to forget
yOu---mOre anon.
YOUR ALG1E."
(Takes another sheet of paper:
Dear Old Nunkey-It was false alarm
the money is all here-every penny and
ner at once or never speak again to your
affectionate nephew, ALGIE."
(Now for the American!)
Dear Mr.. POynter-I'm sorry to have
troubled you-it was all mistake-I am
still in possession of my fortune and /
hear that it is to be shortly much in
creased. Put off that important business
engagement and join.
Yours very truly. with many apol-
ogies. ALGERNON ALWYN.'
* x
Folds letters up and addresses them
knock at door-goes to door-leaves
door open-stands outside)-
Here. rush these off-one to Miss Lucy
one to uncle-one to Mr.. Poynter-hurry,
You imps, and the first one that gets
back shall have a sovereign.-Fraser,
We'll be nine to dinner-what. chef going
to leave?-Let him! but not until he's
cooked the dinner or I'll have the hounds
after him-Eh? Master Harry arrived?
In his room?-(shouts )-How are you, old
chap? All right!-everything's hunky-
in room. sings 1.-THE Flow
ers that Bloom In the Spring. ira Ia. Have
Nothing to Do with the Case"-I'l write
a check for a thou for Harry and he'll
have something in hand-only l really
must brighten him first-yes-Ill brighten
him first-badly-no. ! won't-rH tell him
about what I've suffered for hina-and l
fancy it'll sober him up a bit-no more
gambling, Harry, my boy-and Algernon
Shaking his fist at himself In the glass;
we'll have to attend to business! (knock
at door, All, yes. thank you, Fraser
(goes to door, brings in coat)-Id for
gotten my coat-rll change here-(takes
of smoking jacket-puts on dress coat
goes out)-Here Fraser, just chuck this
upstairs-(comes inland oh, give this to
Master Harry before dinner-it'll case his
cocktail-(puts check in en-
to door. stands outside) -
Here come those imps!-I thought So
Spoilers first and he's the littlest-Bravo,
Spotters-theres your sov.-(comes In with
letter.
Dear Old Boy-I'm so glad-for your
coming and we're bringing
Del n1J Ro1x