The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

sport from ne true type.
Richard. the last Of all of them. was
the most uncompromising, the most
indomitable of the lot.
What good are you?" demanded his
uncle. Major Anthony. What can
you do?"
"T have to thank circumstances"
smiled Richard. Il can swim, I can
ride. and / can sail a boat against any
man I ever met"
That's IT," swore his uncle. blow
ing up with rage. sail a boat! That's
all you can do! That's all you own
beyond a suit or two of clothes! Sail
q boatI
81 mean to-" said Richard. I'm only
waiting for you to talk business first"
What business? Balderdash! What
d'you think I'll do for you?-a failure,
"a disgrace to the Anthonys! Not one
penny, Not one ha'penny"
You're disinheritedi Its automatic.
The estate provided for you while
there was a chance to pass an eXami-
nation. That ceased when you failed
for the Indian Civil. To inherit, an
Anthony must enter one or other OF
the services. You know that. You
failed What are you here for I'll
support no able-bodied man,
Did you ever fight one?" wondered
Dick.
-" nat q Sc mean
I'm giving you your choice. You
fight or you pay me a thousand
pounds: a thousand bounds was pro-
vided in the will for every Anthony
in line of succession on entering any
OF the services. l want that thou
sand"
You want-rve heard of impu-
dence." his uncle stammered.
You either fight or pay" smiled
Richard without moving.
What dye mean"
Il mean I'm entitled to the money
and I've come for it. Don't answer
yet. Listen, Just before old Mac
Dougal died he told me how much
you paid him to break my leg by
accident He quoted your actual
words-If he's not there. NacDougal.
at examination time there1l be hum
dred pounds for you He showed me
the actual hundred-the actual bank
notes you gave him He offered them
to me. His son Andry has the hun
dred now; he knows where 1t came
from and for what. and he has tried
to get me to take it"
The Majors jaw dropped. but he
spun on his heel in an attempt to
bluster.
what mares nest is this?" he
spluttered.
He admitted that you bribed him,
and / thrashed him for it just three
weeks ago today. He and I are quits.
He put the admission in writing and
/ had it witnessed; my lawyer has 1t
now"
The Major said nothing. thought
fully. An officer-presumably a gen.
tleman-found out at such expedients
for saving money. is perhaps wiser
il he does say nothing.
Under the circumstances" contin-
ued Dick. 81 applied for a commission
in a hurry. and saw a lawyer. l know
where I am and where you are. I've
come for that thousand, and I'll take
IL now or fight-now, understand-not
tomorrow or the day after-now! And
give you from now exactly FIVE
minutes to como to a decision, No,
don't try to leave the room-Tve got
my eye on the bell, too-thirty sec
onds are up. Think, man-you'd bet
ter think"
After one wild glance around him
for a way of escape Major Anthony
sat down and thought deliberately.
Til pay" he said quietly. pulling
out his check book. just as Dick snap
ped his watch shut IT'S extortion.
but I'll pay"
Dick watched him write the check.
and watched him write and sign
letter to the Lamlash bankers in con-
firmation of it.
Now I'm off," he said, putting both
into his pocket. You'll pay my four
hundred year to my lawyer. or he'll
be after you to know why. There's
only one thing more before I go-the
sword-I'm heir-rve a right to it
want it"
No" said Major Wallace Anthony.
Possession" said Dick, walking to
the mantelpiece. rs nine points of the
law"
He took down wonderful old clay
more, basket-hilted with a beryl set
in the top of the hilt. and characters
etched rather rudeIy down the blaze.
1t had no sea cabbard; and though the
blade had been kept polished by al
most unnumbered generations, the
weapon looked older than the mantel-
piece.
"Iu take il with me-" said Dick.
land if you want II back you'll have
to fight for it-eXcept on one condi-
ton, of course. The day a direct heir
is bokn I'll bring it hack if I'm at the
other end of the world. Failing an
heir-remember the written evidence
! hold against you-and-don't-let-m
catch-you-again. Good day
Holding the strange sword by the
blade. he strode out. straight up the
road to Lamlash.
Where away. Mr.. DicRy. sir?"
The voice and the accent were
Scotsmsn's speaking English with the
p-ideful accuracy of learning newly
won.
Away, that's ALL" said Dick. Just
away"
we have the sword. I see. I'm glad
yc have it Yerl he goin' in the
yacht"
Dick nodded.
Andry was six full inches the taller
OF the two and looked even bigger In
his uniform.
where arc We goin' Mr.. Dicky?
Where awa'?"
"Africa-Tunis-Alger = Egypt any
where"
TAX. me-"
No"
There was Il pause while they eyed
each other. Dick uncompromisinE. An
dry recognizing the fact.
Forgetful of his uniform. he held
ont a great fist like a club with hairs
and freckles on it. Then he remem-
bered and changed to salute. Dick
reached his own hand out tand 1t was
only very little whiter); Andry seized
it, and was satisfied.
"If I could have gone into the old
regiment Andry. ] would have been
proud to have you for a servant. II
was decent of you to enlist on my
account As II is. you're in and I'm
out; you can't get ont and I can't get
in. Do your best to be credit to the
regiment Good-by.''
Andry saluted him again and stood
at gaze as Dick walked off. Neither
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