The Kevin review., 1926-08-19
The Small Tragedy Of Nj. Tidd
By E. Phillips Oppenheinl

ened my books so that the inspector, who
VIII be here In about ten minutes from
now, will find nothing wrong. l am a
the window, you will see a little cloud
Of dust at the top of the hill there That
! Is Mr.. NeVins0n, my inspector, coming.
There Is your letter of credit. You will
see how cleverly l have dealt with it. You
have only to make your complaint to the
Inspector / shall deny nothing"
Then Mr.Jeremiah III. Preedy found his
tongue. Before Mr.. Tidd knew exactly
what was happening, he felt his right hand
grasped in a huge palm, and the young
mans other around his shoulders. The
latters words we're as forceful as his ac-
tOns.
IF you call youseIf a thief again." he
shouted, "I1l stuff the words down your
throat. Don't you realize you've got the
bulliest, most wonderful daughter that ever
/ breathed2 Why, there never was such a
such a father, pinching and saving up for
fifteen years TO pay for her schooling |!
| Why man, sit u pand take notice. You
account for yourself with five thousand,
if you need it, and draw what you want,
right away. l know what salary you've
been getting. You wait till get
hold of my friend Bill Netley Sylvia's
going to marry me, do you hear? Money
isn't worth a snap of the fingers beside
girl like that! And don't you think I'm
tryin gto talk money to win, but just
get this into your head: There isn't going
to be another moment in your life when
you need think about what you're spend
ing / guess I'm talking nonsense, but |
want to get this matter square You're
all right sir. Just shake hands and tell
me l may have Sylvia. Say, who's this 2"
Unheard and unnoticed, the car had ar
rived, and Mr.. Nevinson had made his
stately way into the inner offlce lie look
ed at the familiar little scene disappearing
".
Il trust 1 am not intruding, Mr.. Tidd 2"
he said formally "YOu will forgive me If
I leave my hat and coat here before COM
Mr.. Jeremiah Preedy faced the newcomer
deferentially.
Il beg your pardon Mr. Tidd," he said.
Il guess | was little carried away. Mont
you introduce me to this gentleman"
"This," the bank manager announced,
rising to his feet, is Mr.. Jeremiah II.
Preedy of New York-Mr. Nevinson, our
chief inspector for this district ~,
Mr.. Neyinson inquired, holding out his
hand.
well, I'm Jacob Preedy's son." was the
pleasant reply, "and partner In the ousl-
your folk in town and | rather guess Lord
Netley was expecting me to spend this
weekend with him. I've been laid up
though, by, slight motor accident, ana MT MT.
Tidd has been good enough to look after
me-"
II am proud to meet you, SIR" Mr.. Nev-l
inson declared, with the air of one who mas
upon royalty. 1T is great
privilege to meet any one connected with
your firm"
The young man smiled his acknowledge
nents.
stand one another, Mr.. Tidd, | think. If
you'll excuse me, I'll get over to the ten
his courts with Sylvia for an hour. When
you two have got through Juggling with
m .
,ome and take luncheon with me at the
Arms
"It win be a great honor" Mr.. Nivinsoa
ssented in a awed tone.
Mr. Tidd said nothing, but it was per-
APPS ust as well that his spectacles were
little cloudy.
At ten minutes past one, the district
nsnector closed the ledger. He smiled
miably at the branch manager.
II find your books quite in order, Mr..
idd, he pronounced, quite as l expected.
may add that / think the time has ar
iyed when l must append to my note OF
eneral approval a certain Recommendation
rhich I imagine will produce results not
together displeasing to you we must
OF keep young Mr.. Preedy waiting
a great privilege to meet a member ol
nat ilIustrious firm.
The beneficient words rang in Mr.. Tidd's
ars He picked up his own hat with trem-
ling fingers. He looked over the WIRE I
lind and he saw the fading away OF his j
IL q
aIked primly down the street, very much .
ke a man in a dream. He nodded in v
.iendly fashion to Percy Shields, he bowed U
18th dignity to the spires lady, VINO was r
otoring through, he took eOndescend1ng
ut gracious notice of Mr.. Pleydell, whose
count with the bank was standing little T
etter. But when he walked into the cor, Z
e room at the Melhampton Arms, ana
,und Sylvia holding out a glass towards
m with Mr. Jeremiah Preedy, VINO SEEM U
miracuously to have become Jere, was
ling with amber cOlored liquid from +
liver receptacle, he felt sudden spasm !
gratitude.
"Drink it down, dad" Sylvia en1oined II
m. looking curiously into his face: We've b
,en half an hour making it and 1t tastes il
xe nectar"
Mr.. Tidd drank it down and the world u
gan afresh. G.
Never in Mr.. Tidd's widest imaginings- D
ID there had been times in his younger b
Tvs when he had permitted his thoughts 7
stray outside the confines of Melhamp- .
n-had he dreamed OF occupying sucn
sition as was thrust upon him during Il
e next few weeks. He was entertained Dy, "
d exchanged conversation apparently on
ual terms with, the head of the great p
m of Netley a peer of the realm, being W
nose movements Mr. Tidd had followed ~
in the newspapers, but with
lom he had never dared converse. In
endly conversation with his prospective CT
n in Jaw he was actually offered posi- II
N in their head bank in New York and =,
salary of four thousand pounds year: ~
Perhaps the most wonderful tnlng OF
however, was his appearance at st. tT
orge's, Hanover square. FOR many If
ars he had cultivated the walk with -
lich. after having tested the charity of
! Melhampton congregation, he had made w
, dignified way up the aisle to the altar /.
the parish church. He had fiattered m
nself that the walk contained all the - ~
,entiaIs of distinctinon, reverence and III
rsonaIity. In clothes concerning which w
had no quaIm, and with Sylvia upon at
arm, he felt however, that he mad left =. -
previous records behind him.. 1t was u
of iRtoxication, the elimination d.