The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-06

into the hall, and then took hold of one of MT. Preston's buttons
 Sir" said heJ this kind old lady asked me into her carriage and I rode in it to please her, not myself But don't be frightened. Pm not a-going to dine with you; only if you play the same joke upon other parties-on some of the chaps in our office, for example-I recommend you have care, or they will take you at your word!''
 MT. Preston broke away and flung him. self into his study in rage. Lady Drum, eager for dinner, was for hurrying away her nieees at once; but Lady Jane came forward very pale and trembling, and apologzed, while Lady Fanny held out
 her little hand and gave his such a squeeze that he blushed to his ears. As soon as they had disappeared he slapped his hat on his head, brave as a lion, and stalked past the footmen ready to knock them down. Then he went home and 'dined off boiled mutton and turnps with Gus Hoskins quite peace fully.
 lie O1Q not I6ll 1IuS dDOut lflc ldHilly quarrel, but merely said that the old lady was a cousin of his. You may be sure that Gus told all the clerks and MT. Tit
 1arsh was not sorry that these gents
 should hear it. The next day, when he came home from the office, he found his landlady and his landlady's daughter and his landladys son standing with hushed awe before the table in his rooms. There between Gus copies of "Don Juan" and
 the "PeerageY were a basket of red peaches, another of grapes and a noble haunch of venison, and three cards-Dow- ager Countess of Drum and Lady Fanny Rakes; MT. Preston and Lady Jane Pres ton, the Earl of Tiptoff. Lady Fanny and the Earl of Tiptoff had brought the gift in person. And all this, thought MT. Samuel Titmarsh, came to him because 1 his Aunt Hoggarty had given him a dia-
 mond pin!
 He gave a great spread to the chaps from the office, who felt immensely 1 proud at dining from provisions supplied l by the tiptop nobs of the kingdom. When l he entered the office next day the chief 1 clerk, who was very high and mighty in- l deed to others, invited him most pressing l ly to dinner at his house, which invita- i ton Mir. Titmarsh promptly accepted.
 adding that he would not only come with
 pleasure but would bring Gus Hoskins.
 too.
 The luck brought by the wonderful pin l did not end there. MT. Brough heard of
 the haunch of venison and at once in- ] vited MT. Titmarsh to his great villa in | Putnam to the ball that he gave each
 year to the greatest people of London, l MT. Titmarsh wore his diamond and his 1 splendid blue coat, and he had the honor
 of dancing with no less a person than
 Lady Jane Preston.
 The people crowded around to look at him, for he cut the very best of capers, quite different from the rest | of the gents, who walked through the ! quadrille as if 1t were a trouble and
 started at his activity. After the ball l she took him home in her carriage with i Lady Fanny and Lord Tiptoff, and i he told them all about how the dia- mond pin was bringing him luck, and
 how all the chaps in the office look ed
 up at him because he knew Lady Drum and her relatives.
 q know" said MT Titmarsh, thai Lady Drums memory is not very accu- | rate, for you remember that she said
 my friend Gus Hoskins was her cousin l too. And so I told Gus; but he Is very fond of me, and he will have it that
 am related to you, and say what I may | to the contrary. he tells the story
 everywhere"
 l Mr. Titmarsh did not receive any
 more venison, but about a month aft
 erward he received a great piece ol 1 plum cake with card, Lord and Lady
 Tiptoff" and Gus Hoskins ate a grea
 deal too much of the cake,
 The magic of the pin Twas not over
 yet. MT. Brough called him in on the
 day after the ball and informed hon
 that he had been made third clerk witt
 salary of f150 year. He then Tn quired most kindly about his aunt
 Mrs. Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty
 When MT. Titmarsh informed him tha she was very we'll of, having jointur,