The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-01-30
Old Biggs.

Old Biggs.
Ii it were possible to reverently ap-
ply the expression, 1t would certainly
have been proper to call Warborne
Minister God-forsaken place. Not
that it wanted the outward appear
ances of religion. 1t had, as one of it's
Two leading features, "a Norman church,
which archaeologists came from all
England to visit and which appeared
to my inappreciative eye rs the most
shapeless pile of stones ever raised.
The rector of the church was, however,
an absentee and ont Of the bounty of
his heart and the comfortable propor-
lions of his income, delegated the du-
ties. and privileges of his office to
young curate who also ofiiclated at
three or four neighboring villages, and
drew sufficient sum from the COM
blned sources to support wife and
six children in respectable pepury.
The other attraction of WarOorne
Minister was OLD Biggs. The first
question put to the visitor of the town
at the "Red Lion" or the "Warborne
Arms" (which two institutions did con-
stderably more missionary work i'll the
town than the church) was, "Have you
seen Old Biggs?" Arriving as | did
at about seven o'clock in the evening
IL had come on matters pertaining to
lawsuit), l was instantly greeted
with the name of this personage, aud
before turning in for the night had be-
come heartily tired of him. He seemed
20 be kind of Admirable CrichtOn,
was the best cricketer iu town, could
crack q fine bucoiic joke, and could
outspesk, outscheme and Outdrink any
: man m the c0unty. 49,.
Accordingly. The foilowiug morning,
4 strolled over to Old Biggs' place of
business, the London and Dorset Bank.
expecting to find q typical country
banker. red-fsced. jolly, hail-feiiow-
well-met. Instead, Old Biggs proved
TO be thin man of about fifty, with a
melancholy face chiefly remarkable
for intentness and side-whiskers.
There was no questioning his ability
I found, however. In ten minutes
conversation in his private office, he
had wormed out of me the secret OF
.my business and in ten more minutes
a.e had cleared up the whole matter.
BY this time, had begun to wonder
what man of his ability was doing In
Warborne Minister and by way of
showing off my own penetration, |
asked him how long since he had left
London. He answered with great
show of fheartiness. and without the least
apparent change of tone, that he had
not seen Plccadilly for twenty-five
years. Yet l fancied that further
questions along the same line would
not be invited, SO l thanked him for
his kindness and bade him goodbye.
1t was two years later that, finding
smyself again in Warborne Minister,
remembered Old Biggs' Invitation tC
come and dine with him and went
this time to his house. This was the
beginning of friendship with him
which lasted to his death, 30 very lonG
period. l soon got to know him, as
thought. very well and found that HI
was a creature Of pure intellect, ant
that his genial manners were mash
for the most complete cynicism hat
ever encountered. was at that tim'
in the throes of my first love affair
and Old Biggs, having scientificall!
-ascertained the situation of the flame
that were consuming my breast, pro
oceeded to apply such an effectiv
douche of cold, water that the gentl
passion has ever since with me been
weak flicker. v
sWomen," he would say, in tina
sharp business-Iike tone which neve
varied, .women serve q very usefu
purpose in life; they teach as what t
avoid"
.You speak from experiencel" I haz
arded.
Certainly" he said, 81 always do"
. Again some strange instinct promp,
ed me to question him further, as !
had at our first meeting. But thi
time disregarded it and went on, sd
you keep any mementoes Of your 9,
periences ?"
fCuriously enough, / do" he al