Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-06-12
DUKE or RICHMOND
He Was Counterfeit and Tried to
Marry a Rich American
Girl.
BY JOHN PHILIP ORTIZ.

No young lady on the face OF the
earth ever waited over ten minutes to
spread the glad tidings. and in This
case they hadn't been spread.
That Mr.. Dinsdale was calling on
Miss Temple, and with her mother
rs ~chaperon was escorting her to the
theater and other places, was a plain
fact, and that their attitude toward
each other was all that could be hoped
for, was whispered with other whis-
pers.
Then came what they call down In
Texas a "norther." The balmy vino
suddenly shifts into the north, and
those who have been swinging in ham
mocks and eating ice cream hike into
the house and build a fire In three
stoves.
1t was a "norther" that Mr.. Dins-
dale got. He had been 30 successful
had Miss June and her mother out for
a spin one day, and the pace was
moderate. He was not a young man
to take. chances with his neck. That
day there were two other necks to
be guarded. Therefore, he hadn't In
structed the chauffeur to jump the
machine over creeks and climb rail
fences.
The party was floating along on
wings of peace when another auto
came tearing up. In 1t was seated a
pompous middle-aged man and his
driver. The pompous man indicated
by a wave of his hand that he was
going to pass.
Don't you let him. said Miss June
to Mr.. Dinsdale.
Perhaps he's going for a doctor"
He should have telephoned."
"But we are in no hurry"
But he acts as II the road belonged
to him, and l don't like his style. Tell
your man to hit 'er up"
But there's a bad turn ahead, and |
don't want to race around"
"Oh, well, let him throw a barrel of
dust over u.s."
AS the road widened the stranger
whizzed by. He smiled a lordly and
p%atronizing smile as he did 1t.
Mother" whispered the girl, 81 feel
Inundated"
But why, dear?"
Because we let that man by. Mr..
Dinsdale hasn't much pride or cour-
age. / hope he never comes to the
house again"
You see what a bad spot it u.s." said
the lawyer as he reached the turn.
uNyar, Nod - roNl;nl fhn ,rDthar
IT'S as good as the rest Of the
road" sulkily replied the daughter.
Few doctors have enough confidence
in themselves to treat themselves
when ill, and when a lawyer has a
case of his own to plead he Is almost
sure to bungle it. Here was an exam
pie of 1t. Mr.. Dinsdale realized that
Miss June was miffed. But he soon
had greater cause than that. They
were passing slowly through a village
when they caught sight Of the other
auto at the curb in front Of a real
estate office. Just then the pompous
man came out and the real estate man
with him. The latter, as it happened
knew Mrs. Temple in a business way,
and he beckoned for her to stop.
When he had asked her about a GER
tain piece Of property he called to the
pompous man and said to the ladies':
Mrs. and Miss Temple, permit me
to introduce the Duke Of Richmond.
He is thinking Of buying five or six
farms of me and creating a large
estate here"
Both women gasped for breath, and
in the confusion Mr.. Dinsdale was
overlooked. Mrs. Temple was a
woman who dotted on titles. Here was
a title. Almost before she knew 1t
she had invited the Duke Of Richmond
to call, and he had replied, and he
was looking full at the daughter, that
1t would make him the happiest man
in the world.
Yes. he thought Of buying a large
estate in America and settling down
to get married and live out the rest
of his days.
AS the Dinsdale auto went on Mrs.
Temple suddenly exclaimed:
"Why-why, Mr.. Dinsdale was not
introduced to the Duke!"
why, mammal" said the daughter,
pretending surprise.
"Oh, that's all right" replied the
lawyer. "One can run across g duke
or a lord any day in the city"
"Then you know a number Of
them?" queried Miss June.
I'm a way, yes. Several hotels have
sent me bills against them to collect.
! have forgotten whether the Duke of
Richmond Is among them or not!"
1t was a mea remark and it struck
home. That was the lawyer Ct 1t.
He was befuddling his own case.
There wal a cool silence for five min.
utes following his remark, and then
both ladies complained of feeling tired
and the auto was turned about. 1t
was a very formal parting. Three
heads bowed stiffly, and after Mr..
Dinsdale was a block ahead he trusted
himself to say to himself:
IF that young lady wants to make
an idiot of herself let her go ahead"
He tried to make himself believe
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