The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-05-27
CHAPTER Y.

HemmlnGOX StTOl1eQ ltiSuTtly up 10 lnc
office of Pegram & Son. 1t was evidently
only just open. but one of the clerks, to
whom Mr.. Hemmingby was well known.
informed him that Mr.. Pegram would
be sure to be there in ten minutes.
"Oh. / suppose / am a little early"
said the manager. by the way, 1 don't
see Mr.. Krabbe; | hope there Is nothing
wrong with the old gentleman. He must
be a great age now"
Turned eighty, sir. He is quite broke
down, and don't come to the office any
more. Mr.. Pegram was very kind to him
took him off 10 the seaside somewhere
for a change of air. He is living in a
little cottage Mr.. Pegram took for him
ON the outside of the town. and a nurse
they got from London takes care of him.
| have seen him occasionally. lie Is just
rotting away from old age"
Glad to see you. Hemmingby. glad to
see you," exclaimed Pegram as be shook
hands with the manager. Come along
into my own room beyond here. Anything
We can do for you? Your house property
at Llanbarlym will turn money if you
want TO realize"
''The Llanbarlym property is a paying
investment that / mean to stick to. BY
the way, l am sohrry to hear such sad
accoun. of old Krabbe."
"Ah. yes terrible breakdown. don't
suppose the poor old fellow has many
months life left in him.
do you think il would please him IL
| went to see him." said Hemmingby.
1.-THE old chap and l were always friend
ly."
Very kind indeed of you to think Of
IT." replied the lawyer. "but l am afraid
it would be quite useless; he does not al
ways seem to know me, and as for Bob,
he takes no notice of him whatever
"Pegram," exclaimed the manager. sit
would be rather awkward for you if he
had happened TO be your nominee In the
Great Tontine' and rs he spoke Hem
mingby shot keen glance al his com
panion.
The lawyer smiled as he replied dryly
"Yes, lie would not be a good life to
depend upon just now"
You begin to look uncommOnly like
taking the whole pool. / wonder it doesn't
occur to You lucky people who are still
left in to comDromise-eight thousand q
year will stand little cutting up"
II have been thinking of that" rejoin
ed the lawyer eagerly. "You-you know
this Lord Lexington; tell me what sort
Of a man is he.f"
"Ah, you think. then, a compromise
would be judicious?" said Hemmingby.
II think it might suit me if L could
~. II chan do r,ucoff thu
honor Of submitting terms to Lord LAX
ington. 1t would be no good, you know
to put them before you; you are not EN-
powered to treat" said Pegram-
NO: you are right there" replied
Hemmingby; 'but don't you fall into the
mistake Of thinking that because Laking
ton did not know the value Of money in
his early days that he does not know il
now. If your compromise means that you
are TO have fifteen shillings out of the
sovereign, / don't think, my friend, thai
il will come of"
The lawyer sat for some time after
MIR. Hemmingby left him immersed In
thought His meditations were interrupt
ed by the abrupt entrance of Mr.. Rober
Pegram, with indications of night pass
Ell in travelling.
What. back again. Bob? Well, d.
you bring any newsT
"Yes; / have just arrived from Ire
land" said Robert Pegram. II am sorry
to say have made nothing of the Irisl
quest. 1 met lots of people who recol
lected the old fellow, yet no one haC
seen anything of him for the last few
years. This fellow Finnigan will take &
lot Of finding"
But find him We must" replied hi.
father quickly, IF ID is only to be quite
eel tain of keeping him out Of the way
for the remainder Of his life"
I'VE must do our BEST" replied Rob
ert Pegram: "and now, have you though
out how we are to play orr cards
Things are risky as they stand, you know
Surely we ought TO come to a compromis,
with Lord Lexington"
"Yes, my lad" replied old Pegram
"and Hemmingby was here only an houl
ago TO sound me on that very subjec
on the Viscounts behalf Sit down.
have thought it all out such scheme
What do you say to a compromise, Bob
by which you get half and a charmln.
wife to begin with, and the whole to wine
up with?'
What on earth do you mean, father 2
II mean this: l have sent Lord LAX
ington word that 1 am good to compro
mise II he will agree to my terms. Now
Lord Lexington has got grown-uI
daughter; l have no doubt she is pretty
although don't know anything for Ger
tain on that point. / intend you to mar
ry her."
Under which circumstances interpos
ed Robert Pegram, IL should have pre-
ferred your obtaining more precise infor
nation about her appearance" :,
Don't talk nonsense said the old gen
tleman testify; she has rank. station