Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-10

Dl -.
THE CURIOUS QUEST
~ -
The lawyer knitted his browsS in
puszled fashion. :
II n. not sure that I quite follow
your lordshfp." he murmured.
DO l employ you.'' his patron con-
ltinued, ito manage my estates, to
coutrol my finances; to act as agent to
all my properties, and yet need to
Keep aaperspective myself Of my vari-
Gus assets II eighteen thousand
pounds is required, it is for your firm
to decide from what quarter the
money should come. Personally, as
you know, never interfere"
Mr. Wadham coughed in somewhat
embarrassed fashion.
AS matter Of fact, your lord
ship,S. heTconfessed, with. a most il
logical sense that it was his duty ito
apologies for his clients impecuni:
osity, as ! matter of fact, neither my
partners nor l can at the present mo-
ment see where Of eighteen
thousand pounds can be raised"
a Marquis rose to his feet and
shook the cigarette ash carefully
from his coat. :
our conversation, Mr.. wadham.'
he said, lis reaching, a stage which
bores me-. have just remembered,
too" he added, with a glance at the
clock, that MY daughter. is entertain
insa q few ~frineds'to lunch. You must
write to Merridrew, He is really a
mo- excellent agent. He will tell
you what balances are likely to be
available during the next few
months" "
Mr.. Wadham received the susses-
ltion without enthusiasm.
we made Al application to Mr.,
Mer1drew some few weeks ago." In.
remarked, "as we needed some ready
money for the purpose of briefng the
oa7risters. Mr.. Merridrew's reply
was not encouraging" r~
"Ah!" the Marquis murmured.
.Merfidrew is "a gloomy dog son.e-
times. Try hin, again. 1t Is astonish-
ing how elastic: he can be If he is
squeezed -.
II am afraid your lordship has done
~ the squeezing" the solicitor OBJ
served ruefuliy.
A little triil- Of feminine laughter
rang through the room. Two smartly
attired young ladies were seated up
n a divan near the door, surrounded
by a little group Of acquaintance.
One OF them leaned forward and nod
ded as the Marquis and his COM
panion passed.
How do you do, Mauuis?" she
said, in distinctly Transatlantic &C
cents.
The behaviour of his client, under
such circumstances, remained an OBJ
ject lesson to Mr.. Wadhan for the
rest of his life. The Marquis gazed
with the ~faintest expression Of sur
prise Yat. or perhaps through, the
young person who had addressed him.
Funding fora moment in his waist
coat pocket, he raised a horn-rimmed
monocle of his eye, dropped It. almost
ct once and passed on w%ithout@.the
flicker of an eyelid. On their way to
the outside door, however, he shook
his head gravely.
What a singular exhibition" h.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. perhaps
I should say-of the crudeness of
rnoaern social intercourse! ~ Was II
my fancy, Wadham. or did the youna
person up there address ,me?'
She certainly did" the other as
sented. She even called you by
nare.H
They were standing in the court
yard now, waiting for a taxi, and the
Marquis sighed.
In a public place. too" he MUIR
INJURED. "Wadham,.I am afraid tina,
we are living in the wrong age. i
came to that conclusion only a few
days ago, when I was invited, actual
~ invited. to dine at the house Of
But forget, Wadham, I forget. You,
grandfather would appreciate thes,
things. You yourself are somewhat
%in1bued. I fear, with the moder,
faint. A handful of silver, if YOU
please" he added, holding out his
hand. Il am not accustomed to these
chance conveyances."
The lawyer searched his trousers
pockets, and produced a. couple o,
pink notes and a few half-crowns. Ii
some mysterious fashion. the whole
seemed to pass into the Marquis!
long, aristocratic hand. He turned tt
the porter who was standing bare.
headed. and slipped a ten-shillinl
note into his palm.
We'll, good morning, Wadham," h,
said. stepping into his taxicab. ..
have no doubt that you did your best
but this mornings unfortunate hap
pening will take me some time to &c
over. My compliments to your senior
partner. You can say that I am dis
appointed-no more
The Marquis crossed his legs ant
leaned back in the vehicle. Mr.
Wadham remained upon the pave
raent. gazing for a moment AT. hi
empty hand.
Taxi. sir?" the hall porter asket
obsequiously. .%
Mr.. wadham felt in all his pockets
THANK you" he replied gloomily
"IM walk"
CHAPTER III.
Lady Letitia Thursford. the. onl,
unu.1rried> daughter Of the Marquis
stood in a corner OF the spaciou,
drawing at "a Grosveno
Square. talking to her brother-in-lAw
Sir Robert, although he wanted hi
luncheon very badly and, owing I,
some mistake. Had come a quarter q
Ian hour too soon. retained his Gus
tomary good nature! He always en-
joyed talking to his favorite relation
tn-law. Z
s. say, Lefty he remarked, screw
ing his eyeslass into his eye and look,
ing around, you're getting prett,
SHARPLY here, eh7
Lady Letitia smiled eonsposedly.
THAT Is the worst Of you nov.
veaux riches" sha declared. you d
not appreciate the harmontdng inau
ence Sof the hand OF Time. This ISM
shabbiness. it's tome" i
"Nowveaux riches, indeed, he re-