The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-16

not see his way clear to drop his hand
 kerchief. With an English family his
 quest would have been easy-only trip
 to Doctors Commons and look at the
 will. But this nabob's will was in Cal
 eutta. and Calcutta, as Agernon thought,
 was a deuce of a way off," Meantime.
 Deuceace paid assdious court to both
 ladies, who, from detesting each other | before now, came cordially to hate each
 other. A Frenchman, the Chevalier de
 L'Orge, who was really in love with
 Lady Griffin and who had had hopes be-
 fore the advent of Deuceace, was in de- | spair though he still hung about his
 adored one, ran her errands. bought her
 opera boxes and bore the half civil con-
 tempt of the British aristocrat with ex-
 emplary meekness.
 1 While matters were in this state the I Hon. Algernon, returning late one night from having escorted Lady Griffin and Matilda to the opera and treating them
 to supper afterward, opened the door of
 his room in the Hotel Harbeau to find, 1 to his astonshment, the room already lighted, an empty champagne bottle roll l ing about the floor, half-emptied one on the table, the air filled with tobacco smoke tobacco always made Algernon | ilD and reclining on a sofa drawn up within easy reach of the table, his af- 1 fectionate father, the Right Honorable the Earl of Crabs. why Algy my boy"
 cried the Earl with roar of laughter,
 don't you know me? Don't you know your poor old father?' | The Earl of Crabs was a stout, red ly, whose nose seemed blushing at what his mouth was so continually swallowing He. was a most respect
 able, fine-looking old nobleman though. IL must be confessed, more than half drunk when he made his unexpected appearance in his sons apartments "but not drunker than real noblemen ought to be- declared Charles James Yellowplush, who was an authority on such matters. Deuceace was so dis turbed and astonished that he could scarcely utter a few broken sentences expressive of the "unexpected pleas
 ure," The servant. MT. Yellowplush, was sent away on ans errand-father and son sat looking at each other, the fath
 CT smiling. self-possessed and confident
 the son anxious sour and i'll at ease.
 Help yourself and pass the bottle Algy,"~ said the Earl; have a cigar" q thank your lordshp. but 1 neither drink nor smoke" said Algernon. The Earl poured out a fresh glass for himself and replied: How you must improve, with such principles and such talent! Why, Algy, all London talks of your industry and your perseverance. You are not merely philosopher. man, but you must have got the philosophers stone-look at all this elegance, and all for two hundred a year" Do you
 mean the two hundred that you do not pay me?" said Algy, getting sarcastic.
 The very same, my boy" replied the Earl, with perfect good nature. Tell me your secret, you young Trisme- gistus." My lord" cried Algernon, look ing all patience, will YOU be good enough to tell me what this visit means? You leave me to starve for all you care and then grow mighty face tious as to how l earn my bread. You find me in prospertv-" Exactly" interrupted the Earl, "and because you are in prosperity l sought you. Keep -four temper and pass the bottle. Why the devil should I bother my head about you? Did I, or your poor moth CT. or your family sever get from you a single affectionate feeling? Were you ever known to be guilty of a single l.o Deuceace, do you want your father to tell you that you are swindler and q thief? have paid thousands for the debts of yourself and your brothers and I am determined that if you pay nobody else you shall repay me You would not pay me when l asked you for loan: knew you would. not That's why l am here. So help yourself and pass the bottle."
 Algernon made a long oration, during which the Earl appeared half asleep. ter give me a thousara ounds, my boy; it will cost you morezlsesyou do not" The return of Charles James Yel- lowplush-who had not been on the errand assigned him at all. but listening at the keyhole-closed the affectionatc interview between the Earl and his son. Charles" said the Earl, take a candle and light me downstairs" What, a servant do that while your son is present?' said eAlgernon with deep, filial feeling. Allow me-" And taking a wax taper he lighted his fath- CTS rather unsteady steps down the stairs. Good night, my dear boy said the Earl, Good night, my dear father. God bless you," returned the dutiful Algernon. tt
 Algernon arose the next morning with dismal countenanoe. His fath- er's visit he knew, boded him no good. When he took Lady Griffin and Ma tilda out riding that morning Lady