Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-01
THE FORTUNATE WAYFARER
BYE PHILLIPS OPPENHEIN


/ fished there is lying a yacht hired
through a firm of agents-Ulrick 81
Cogden-the name on the flap Of thus
envelope. I wondered whether 1t was
you who were the tenant Of an old
manor house there and the charterer OK
the yacht"
Victor Porle shook his head.
While remain in this country, he
said, London is the city for me, som
in-law. I am not likely to travel so
far as Devonshire. am less likely
still to charter yacht The letter con-
tanned in the envelope which you have
was request for a Reference mat
ter of no importance.
There was a brief silence during
which Martin felt that both men were
watching him closely
And what took you to Devonshire,
son-in-law? his host asked at last.
Il went there as an ordinary tour
list. Martin replied. trying his best 70
| keep his voice steady. Il was there
for month and used to fish in the
sea nearly every day around LINTON"
IAN interesting and healthful occu-
| patton" Victor Porle murmured, "You
| look the better for it, son-in-law. You
were little pale and nervous when we
met last. Sea air and sunshine have
what brandy can do"
Great glasses we're brought to them,
| frozen and warmed. Victor Porle SPOKE
few words in rapid French to the
maitre dhotel, and the later presently
/ produced duSt-covered bottle Of
I quaint shape which he reverent!y
/ opened.
| This is the veritable brandy of
| Napoleon. Victor Porle conf1ded.
| Drink it freely son-in-law. The
/ chance will not come often
1T would be wasted on me-" Martin
warned him. Il am not used TO these
| things"
| Victor Porle. his thin hands CLASP
| ing the bulge of his glass, looked across
at his guest with glinting curiosity in
| his narrowed eyes.
/ TO what are you used. my Son-iE-
I law?" he demanded. Where did you
| spring from? What strange fate made
| you minion of Ardrington? Did no
| one ever whisper TO you that 1t was
| dangerous to cross the wills Of such
| men as Solomon Graunt and myself"
Considering that / have only just
become aware of your existence,"
Martin observed, how the mischief
| could be troubled with any such silly
| idea?"
Spoken with British common sense.
| Victor Porle aSsented. Can one az
cept the plea, Solomon? I am not sure.
You have the air of studying me. SON.
in-law. What are your thoughts?
II was thinking" Martin confessed
that it was amazing how much you
talk and how little you say"
1T is the drink in me. II unloosens
my tongue. I forget my hesitations.
I could speak as fiuently as I am
it1 I'M
not father-in-law to be proud OF,
Martin Barnes?"
"Why?" Martin rejoined coolly.
MANY of the professors at the Berlitz
schools can do that"
notwithstanding literal again."
Porle declared. Alas I am being
driven to the sad conclusion that you
have no imagination. son-in-law.
That in itself is crime. Apart from
which. you have robbed me Of my
daughter"
What are you going TO do about
that?"
What blunt, what a thoroughly
Saxon question: How could you eX-
pect that I should tell you, young man?
You drink with us tonight. You haze
put on one side your obvious diStaS6e.
| and you have dined with us. You
| tolerate our company because you imag-
/ inc yourself clever enough to gain some
| inkling of our future plans and trans
| nit to your friend and patron, Lord
/ Ardrington You are indeed simple
/ ton. It is Fortunate that you do not
/ have to live by your wits"
/ Martin half rose to his feet, but Solo,
| mon Graunt pushed him back again.
My friend Victor IS in a strange
/ mood" he said. Bear with him, beg
| of you"
! Il am in q strange mood" Victor
| Porle acquiesced, because l am mag
nifcently drunk. Son-in-law, drink
more Of this brandy. Believe me, 1t
| will make a man of you. ! am not
/ altogether satisfied with you as huS-
| band for my beautiful daughter. There
/ is something wrong with you, I don't
| quite know what 1t is. Perhaps, as
our acquaintance progresses shall dis
cover it. Solomon, what is wrong with
| our young friend here?"
| He has more conscience than
| brains" Solomon Graunt pronounced.
| In the end that always makes SIM
| pleton of man"
"A true diagnosis" Victor Porle as
sented approvingly. ingenious IS
| perhaps the adjective to apply TO our
| young friend. He has dined with Is
| in the hope of fathoming our plans.
| Many have hung round whist we were
| in liquor in the old days, solomon. but
| ii did them little good, Is II doins
you any good. son-in-law?"
Fade-Out.
Martin was gazing into his glass.
This brandy seems to have a funny
taste, somehow" he muttered
There was the slow commencement
of vicious smile on Victor Porle's
pallid lips Suddenly Martin clutched
at the tablecloth. The room. seemed
TO have taken an unexpected lurch.
He had once taken gas at a dentists.
and he felt the same sensations.
voice came to him from long way
of 1t was Victor Porle's. apologiZins
for him.
"A weak head, alas! A pity in a
public place. My Son-in-law, tool"
The other faces faded away. and he
saw only Victor PorleS. the smile
broadening, Then he saw nothing at
all