The Washington herald., 1912-05-19

T HE luncheon table around which
the four men were seated pre-
scented all the unlovely signs Of
a meal where conviviality has passed
the bounds OF license. A magnum OF
champagne, empty, another half full
stood in the middle of the table; viii IS
key, brandy, liquors of various sorts
were all represented; giasses-sonle
full, some empty, some filled with cigar
ash and cigarette stumps-an ugly
sight
The guest, in chief arose, Short
thick-set, red-faced, with dubious eyes,
he seemed, indeed, a very fitting per-
son to have been the recipient OF such
hospitality. He stood clutching a lit
tie at the tablecloth and swaying upon
his feet. It was obvious that he was a
person of entirely different class from
his three companions.
Gentlemen" he said. Il must-be
off / thank you very much for this
hospitality. Honored, I'm sure, to
have sat down in such-such company.
Good afternoon, all y
He lurched little toward the door,
but his neighbor at the table-whQ was
also his host-caught hold of his coat
tail and pulled him back into his chair.
mo hurry, Masters" he said. 'One
more liquor, Ell? lisa raw afternoon.
"N-nOt another drop, Sir Richard.
am very much obliged to you all, but
l must be off. Must be of" he repeat
ed. making another effort to rise.
His host held him by the arm. The
man resented It.
On it all I'm not prisoner, am
Il" he exclaimed angrily. Tell you
I've got-appointment-club."
That's all right, Masters" the man
whom he had addressed as Sir Rich
ard declared soothingly. I'VE want
Just word with you on business first,
before you go-Col Dickinson, Lord
Merries, and myself"
Masters relapsed sullenly into his
chair. So they wanted to talk bust
nessl Perhaps it was for that reason
that they had hidden him sit at their
table-had entertained him so well !
The very thought cleared his brain.
Sir Richard lighted cigarette and
leaned further back IN his chair. He
was a man of apparently about fifty
years of age-tall, well-dressed, with
good features save for his mouth,
which resembled more than anything
a rat trap. He had the air of man
who was a careful liver. One would
have Judged him to be what he was
a man of fashion and a patron of the
turf.
Masters" he said, I'VE want to
speak to you plainly. We three have
had try, as you know-MerrieS, Dick
inson, and myself-to make the coup
of our lives. We failed, and we're up
against it hard"
Masters was sitting tight, looking fix
eddy at his host.
Take my own case first" the latter
continued Il am Sir Richard Dyson,
ninth baronet, with estates in Wiltshire
and Scotland, and a town house in
Cleveland Place. There isn't 4 bit of
my property that isn't mortgaged for
more than its value / have 10000
pounds to pay you on Monday. To
save my life, could not raise 5000
farthings!"
Take the case next" Sir Richard
continued, of my friend Merries here.
Merries is an earl, it is true, but he
never had a penny to bless himself
with. He's tried acting, reporting,
marrying-anything to make an hon
est living. What is the amount of your
debt to Mr.. Masters, JIM"
Eleven thousand, two hundred
pounds" Lord Merries answered.
I'VE come now, Mr.. Masters, to our
friend, Col. Dickinson" Sir Richard
continued. Col. Dickinson is, per-
haps, in a more favorable situation
than any of us. He has a small but
regular income, and he has expecta-
tons which it is not possible to mort
gage fully. At the same time, it will
be many years before they can-er-
fructify. He is, therefore, with US in
this somewhat unpleasant predicament
in which we find ourselves"
Cut it short" Masters growled.
Whats it all mean"
1T means simply this, Mr.. Masters"
Sir Richard said, I'VE want you to
take six months notes for our indebt-
edness to you"
Masters rose to his feet
so that's why I've been asked here
and fed up with wine and stuff, eh?"
he exclaimed thickly. We'll, my an
swer to you is soon given. Mo-"
Sir Richard rose also to his feet
MIR. Masters, l beg of you to be
reasonable" he said. You will do
yourself no good by adopting this at
titude. Facts are facts. We haven't
got a thousand pounds between US"
1--we heard that sort of talk before"
Masters answered, with sneer. Job
Masters is too old a bird to be caught
by such chat. I'll take my risks, gen.
tlemen."
He moved toward the door. The