The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-27
"A Royal Dilemma

tete rooms of the -1yacnlth club
Bob Thurlow, of the guards. to his
friends-Lord Robot Algeron Marah
Thurlow to the society papers and
the world in general. He was a good
fellow, but a trifle democratic in his
tastes.
Il am going to cut the army he
commenced slowly.
Jolly sensible, too" l muttered
soto voice
I'm stone broke" Bob continued,
gathering courage from my undis-
turbed tranquility. My pay is five
hundred pounds, and tn Gov'nor
allows me another five hundred. 1t
means starvation
For your creditors" l ventured
softly.
Bob stroked fair, silky mustache,
and refreshed himself with long
drink from the whisky and Apolin
arts by his side.
Don't be rude he said. "Of
course, it has been rather rough upon
my creditors, but their patience is
about to be rewarded. I'm going into
trade
The mischief" 1 calculated.
I'm going to join firm of wine
merchants" Bob went on steadily.
1T is to be Hobbs, Son, and Thurlow.
Richard Hobbs. James Hobbs, and
Lord Robert Thurlow, you know, In
small, black letters up in the corner.
They are paying me good deal
for my name, and, of course, l shall
draw a salary. | hav sent in my
papers and l am going to pay up
and make a fresh start. There"
l held out my hand, which Bob
grasped warmly. He appeared both
relieved and gratified that l approved
of his action. He, doubtless, forgot
that. l. too, was one of his creditors
You stick"
Great heavens"
The cigarette dropped from my
fingers, and lay smoking on the floor.
Only a few minutes before / coula
have sworn that we were alone in
the room. But some time or other
during our conversation the man who
stood before us must have made his
noiseless appearance. No wonder
that we were startled. His eve
ming clothes were all awry, his white
tie had slipped up behind his ear,
and the flower in his coat was
crushed into a shapeless pulp. his
shirt was crumpled, and his clothes
were splashed with mud. He stood, a
grim, dramatic figure. only few
yards away from our touch, glazing
at us like wild animal face to face
with his captors. The clock on the
onds, and still our lips were seaie".
Then Bob rose from his chair, and
gasped out his name.
BY God. it's Reggie" he cried.
"What-what, in the name of all
that is horrible, is the matter boy?
Are you ill?'
| caught up my half filled tumbler
of whisky and Apollinaris and forced
some down his throat. He drank it
with little gasp. | helped him into
a chair, and drew it up to the fire.
He was still shaking all over but his
appearance was more natural.
CLOSE the door, Maurice!" he
gasped.
went and closed it. He followed
me with his eyes. and then looked
searchingly around the room. l be-
gan to fear that the boys brain had
given away.
Something has happened at head
quarters?" / suggested.
Yes. have been robbed. There
A light commenced to break in
l was robbed of some papers"
was burglary at the EN- bassy. and
upon me. ."State papers. 1 suppose?"
He shook his head with groan.
Worse than THAR
The light faded away. I was more
Worse than state papers," 1 re-
peated vaugely.
Yes
His voice sank to ? husky whisper
His eyes were afir-..
They were the letters-of a wom-
an--whom / loved-who loved me!'
"A woman." Bob exclaimed with
visible relief in his tone, why,
Reggie
Reggie held out his hand.
You do not understand! Those
letters were mine! They have been
stolen from me! 1t is plot of her
enemies. They. written by a
woman who cared for me; they were
written impetuously. without pru-
dence, signed with her name! 1 told
her that they were destroyed. 1 lied,
for l kept some of them. l could not
bear to part with them al. They
were precious to me! If / do not get
them back at once, l shall blow out
my brains. But, God help her! God
help her,
Have you any iuea where they are
gomez" I.asked You have come to
England. Do YOU think they have
been brought here?.'
she has enemies!" he muttered.
zone of my servants must have been
N their pay. It. must nave he, and
he has come to England L followed
but l cannot find him--I cannot find
h M
Are they very bad?" I asked; "or
are they only ind street2"
They are more than cor1pro1nis
ing!" he gasped. But it is not that
they are so bad, it is-who she isl"
We were III silent. Reggie's face
was ashen. Bob and I looked help
lessly at one another.
IF l am to be of any use to you,
Reggie" l said, Il must know---her
namet'
He half rose from his chair, clutch
ing at the arms. His voice was ays-
terical.
TT is little packet he cried,
with sob. There are 3niy fnu:'
letters and a ring! Bnc with them
goes the honour of queenp
This is too serious matter to be
discussed in club, even with closed
doors!" l said, gently. Come ZONE
with me. and let us. ia k it over.
My car is waiting. We SHALL be there
in a few minutes"
He obeyed without hesitation. We
drove swiftly through the grey,
Burton street.
The car drew up with 4 jerk at my
door, and taking Reggies arm. I
hurried him upstairs into a little sit
ting room, leading out of my dressing
room. First of all, 1 made him
sponge his face. Then 1 rang for
some sandwiches, and opened a bot
tie Of champagne. lie ate them and
drank two glasses of wine, one after
the other. A faint color came into
his cheeks.
Reggie" I said, dragging UP a
chair, and sitting opposite to him.
II want the whole story, please! II
I am to be of any use to you, must
hear it all! Out with it,.
He began at once.
1T is a pa ,ket of letters and a ring
which have been stolen from my
room. They were kept"
l held out my hand.
Reggie. forgive me. but I must
know! Were they written before h er
marriage or after?"
"All save one, before. I have had