Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-02-04

turn became Sir Algernon Marjoribanks AlWyn, seventh
baronet, of Alwyn on AlWyn-with an income ueIMeu
from railroad stocks-principally Amer1can-accorulns
to Fudge and Mcpherson, our family lawyers, OF nearly
10000 year.-Fudge says, to be exact, nine thousand
eight hundred and siXty-eight pounds, nine ShiilnSs ~
six pence, after deducting commissions-Who draws inc
commissions? Fudge, l suppose, and Mcpherson!
Let me see, what did he explain? In the first place
he demonstrated, quite unnecessarily, that l was Sole nelG
to the title and estate. Estate consists OF l,5OO acres OF
park land. Dad had a row with his tenants some ~
wears ago and evicted the lot-tuTned every inch OF
ground into park and garden and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
lakes, and so on. Result very charming. out without Pc
cuniary advantages. Moreover, AlwyE hall and park, etc.
etc, entailed and can't be sold or rented, and, according
TO terms of dads will, there are to be no farms and no
tenants. The chap that happens to be oaronet must i've
on his income of 100000 derived from railroad STOCK,
bonds, etc.-he must keep up the hounds, the chapel the
Conservatives, the nursery, etc, etc. So If 1t were not
for the railroads Sir Algernon Alwyr, Fart, would be
Sir Algernon Alwyn, Beggar. However, the bonds are
there, safe enough in a tin box, at the law once il
Messrs. Fudge and MCPHERSON.
There are Harry's letters-drat the boyle never
writes unless he wants something (sitting down and ta-
king up %letters) .-Immediate' urgent!-very urgent! de-
liver Immediately! forward at once!-well, he's certainly
in a hurry-Id better open the last one-no use reading
the lot.-The devil!-whats this?
"Algie-This is simply to say that if the money is not
here by nine o'clock on Tuesday, / shall blow out my
worthless brains
Tues-why, to-day's Tuesday!-and it's five o'clock!
let's see the first letter "opens and reads}:
played with Lord Rock, Sir Winslow Sharper-oh, Of
course-got up-G65O in debt to Rock and Sharper
~honor,-family honor!-will repay all from small income
you must send at once, etc"
Of course-of course, and I'll send for Master Harry
to keep out of the clutches of my Lord Rock in future
college life!-nice place for innocent boys-brandles ana
sodas- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS here goes-tele-
graph blank
"Will honor your draft Fudge and McPherson-G6O0
Algernon Alwyn."
What? Oh, a note? Just come? All right. Be off with
the telegram. Oh-Fudge and Mcpherson? Business, /
suppose? A woman's hand? Fudge and Mcpherson al
ways typewrite. "opens letter. What's this?
"My Dear Sir Algernon-I am addressing myself to you
in the hope that dreadful as this communication must
necessarily be-and-believem me, no less dreadful for you
to receive than for me to write,-it will come less harsh
ly from one whom you have known so long and who was
once your dear mothers devoted companion and friend
My poor husband is so stricken by the blow which has
suddenly blasted our happiness, that he has fallen into a
stupor from which, I fear, nothing but a miracle can rouse
him. Dear Sir Algernon, I will not keep you in suspense
but tell you briefy-and perhaps you will say brutaHy,
that our senior partner, Mr.. Fudge, to whom my husband
looked up with such childlike confidence and pride, left
suddenly last week for Australia-yesterday my husband
found it necessary to go to your box for some papers, the
interest being due on several of your investments, when
he discovered that the box was em~pty!-every security
of yours which had been in the hands of Fudge and Nc
Pherson had disappeared! Hoping against hope my hus-
band searched everywhere but no trace of your papers
could be found,-he came home in the evening-pale,
distraught, confessed his trouble to me and then sank into
the stupor from which nothing can rouse him. My heart
is bleeding for my h~usband-my heart Is bleeding for you
II am hoping, hoping still that there may be some mis-
take. But Mr.. Judges sudden departure-the disappear
ance of all your securities, so easily converted into cash,
and the fact that Mr.. Fudge drew nearly every penny
standing to our credit In the bank, can, l fear, point at
but one conclusion: Mr.. Fudge, whom we so honored and
revered in this community, is a thief!-Wlth tears of sor-
row and shame, l am your most distressed servant,
Harriet McPrehson."
(Rises) Ruined! gone! everything gone!-not a penny
left!--cleaned out! Impossible!I cant realize it! How
do / feel-a beggar! A few moments ago / was rich-or
thought l was-now Pm a beggar--with a mansion and a
park-here goes-(writes):
Dear Old N~unkey-Can you let me have a cheque for
a thou by bearer-Looking forward to seeing you all at
dinner this evening! your afectionate nephew,
Algie."