The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-01-04


guard on Prick, he had joined the whites
and followed them to their own settle
ments.
/ In all probability the blacks had, after
such long time, GENE to loek upoz
| Frick Is one of themselves.
When Frick reached civilization the
6sst thing he did was to ask after his
friend Davis
Yes, he had returned safely to the
Cape Colony, bxt had not mentioned a
word about any relief expedition for
Frick. On the contrary, he had given
out that Frick was dead, and had gone
straight to England He had mentioned
that he had some diamonds with him,
but he had not shown them to any one.
Frick was NOT very well pleased with
this information. as you can imagine.
He sill had q few small diamonds with
him, which he had found during his stay
among the blacks. These he sold for a
couple Of hundred pounds, and set out
for England to End Davis.
Here he discovered that the latter had
drawn all the money out of the bank,
had sold all the diamonds, and having
bought large country estate, was now
living, landed proprietor, in Yorkshire.
Prick set off to visit Davis at his country
house, but was not even allowed to en-
ter. Davis refused to deliver up any part
whatsoever of the meney that had been
deposited in the bank, or any of that
which he had received from the sale of
the diamonds.
When Friek became furious and tried
TO force his way in to the scoundrel, he
was turned away BY the servants.
Prick then applied to the police, but
they advised him to take legal proceed
ings. He would have to engage law
yer IN order to proceed against his old
comrade.
It was not difficult matter to find a
lawyer, or even lawyers. but none Of
them would take UP che case unless
Prick would guarantee them their fees
and expenses first. Davis was rich and
powerful, and would naturally use all
the weapons with which the English law
so lavishly favors those who have few
scruples and plenty of money.
Prick ragged awhile like a lion in a
cage, but happily he pulled himself to-
gether and shipped to Australia before
he had become quite mad from anger"
as he expressed it himself.
In Australia he was well received by
the third member Of the late partner
ship, and when Howell got to learn of
the story, he became just as furious over
Davis's rascslity as Prick himself. 1t
was, however, an unfortunate period
with Hewsll. His farm had just been
visited by q huge food, and the larger
part Of his Rsck Of sheep had been
drowned.
But Howell did net give In He would
not hear Of Frick's remonstranccs, but
raised, with much difficulty, loan of
$4,000 on his property This money he
forced upon Prick, and when the latter
saw that his friend would not listen to
reason, he no longer hesitated, but went
back to Englsad with the money.
There was now no difficulty in get
ting the affair taken up. A clever law
yer was engaged. and the case against
Davis was carried on with all possible
despatch.
Prick himself thought he should never
succeed in bringing him to bay. Davis
had understood how to make use of the
time to guard himself we'll, and had en-
ployed all means to delay the case.
Tricks $1,000 was fast disappearing,
when his lawyer was fortunate enough
to discover some dark doings in Davis's
life before the time when Prick had
learnt to know him.
These doings were Of such character
that Davis, who in the meantime had
been elected MP. for his county, had
to, at any price, prevent them being
made public. He was therefore obliged
to agree to compromise, and to pay
Prick half of what he was worth, which
after all was only what was tricks
due.
in the end, got such good hold
of the rascal" continued old Prick,
that he not only offered to pay all /
asked for, but he even wrote me hum
BILE letter, and begged me, for Gods
sake, not to make the affair public. 1t
would completely ruin him. he wrote.
las Davis had invested all the cash
in his estate, it was difficult to get ready
money But the affair was at last set
tied, and have not told the story to any
one. I did not give any promise to this
effect, but it's just as we'll that you, who
have now heard it, also keep it quiet.
If it can help the scoundrel to repent
of his sins in peace and comfort for
the rest of his days, it is no doubt the
best
st was not possible to get your father,
Mr.. Reginald. to accept anything more
than the $4,000 he had lent me, although
/ was now much richer than he. No,
he was as proud as Lucifer, just as
proud az he was faithful"
With the exception of Mr. Howell, we
had all listened with greatest interest to
old Tricks long story. In spite Of Mr..
Howelps good manners, his impotence
had several times been noticeable, even
a. Ill L