The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-10-08
4 Clever SW|NDLE
Working the Game at an English
Watering Place.
STORY OF A WORRIED WOMAN.

fe cxSsf1t the !nterest and Sympathy
of the Prosperous Lounsers at tho
Fashionable Hotel, and tho Rest OF
tho Scheme Was Easy.
"The prosperous" were lounging on
the terrace Of the leading hotel In the
fashionable watering place summing
themselves. It was magnificent aft
ernoon. Everybody was lazily good
tempered and contributed to the gen.
eral air Of we'll fed contentment- And
then 'the woman" put in an appear
ance.
For moment she stood on the stone
steps that led up to the terrace, hesi-
tadng. THE prosperous gaped at
her and wondered why she was there.
They probably classified her as one OF
the respectable poor
"The woman" could not disguise thej
fact that she was in trouble Of some
sort. She advanced upon ''the pros
porous" and glanced timidly from face1
to face. Then, gathering her couragea
in both hands. she walked right past
them into the vestibule Of the hotel.
4 little buzz Of speculation arose.
There was no doubt about It They
found "the woman" interesting.
wonder what's worrying her" said
one.
perhaps she thinks Of putting up,
and is a bit doubtful about the cui- +
sine" cackled a would be wit. The
cold stare with which his remark was
received told him that 1t was consid.
cred to be in decidedly bad taste. As
a fact. "the prosperous were inclined
to feel sympathy for "the. woman.
They had been we'll fed, and it was u
| magnificent afternoon: also they were
genuinely curious.
Soon she came out again, looking
more detected than ever. She looked
around as If for less public means Of
escape, but, finding none. strobe des-
perately forward.
MY good woman. You seem to be IN
trouble. Can I do anything?'
1t was the elderly military looking
man in the corner who Spoke-spoke
grufly as one who is in the lnbit OF
doing favors ungraciously. 'The pros
porous thought it trihe daring. But
they were secretly glad And they lis
tened.
"No, sir. thank you" replied ''rhe
woman"
And then she belied her words by
mufled sob.
"I-I-it's nothing. sir-nothing ut
ALL" she added
The military looking man rose from
his seat.
"Haye the goodness to take that
chair he said peremptorily, "and tell
US the truth. | have no doubt that We
shall be able to assist you"
When she had partly composed her
self ''the woman" stammered out her
story, with the aid Of much prompt
ing from her companion.
81 am a widow, a color sergeant in
the Welsh Grays my husband was. I
let lodgings in the town. There was a
gentleman called Colonel Morrish
boarded in my house nigh on six
months; said he'd pay me as soon as
| his dividends or someth1n' came In at
the half year.
81 managed to hold out and gave
him the good table as he was accus-
toned to. though it meant owing the
landlord. But I'd do anything to have
the gentry in my house."
1.-The prosperous" murmured sympa-
thetcally.
"Just before the six months was up
| he said he'd have to come an stay at
this hotel to meet one of the directors
| who was going to pay him his money.
An now they tell me that there never
was no one here by the name Of Colo
mel Morrish. And-and-the bailifs
come into my house this mornin'. an
they'll take all my furniture for the
s12 owe the landlord"
Twelve poundsr' repeated the mill
tary looking man. BE hesitated and
then fumbled in his pocket. well,
dash it, here IS 52 toward it." And
his voice was grufer than ever.
he glared fercely at the meek little
| man by his side, who promptly began
| the fumbling process to cover his con-
| fusion.
Others fum5led. too, and at the end
Of a couple Of minutes the s12 was
there.
"I-I-can't take 1t, sir. p
Madam, don't talk like foolr'
| thundered the military looking man.
Run home and pay out those-bsil-
IFS"
.
Late that evening in room In the
poorer quarters Of the town "the wo-
man" was lingering the sovereigns.
That's ten quid to the good. any
howw she said complacently. "Where
shall we try ne1t?"
Don't know. old girl. But ! was
thinking Of Brighton"
It was the military looking man who
answered.-London Answers.
Appropriate.
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