Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-14
The Fortunate Wayfarer
BYE. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM

out looking up. - a.,
The less civilized countries Of tht
world we're on the whole. unkind tc
us" Victor Porle went on success
came where we least expected H. we
/ amaSsed in New York the modest com
potency which enabled US to return &c
! this country,
Never been there" Martin con-
feSsed. You need to have your wits
about YOU though. should think.
"You need initiative and you need
ENTERPRISE" the other pronounced: we
became the pioneers Of a new INDUSTRY
We devoted ourselves TO an enterprise
nhj1anthronic and yet remunerative.
assuaced the thirst Of a parchca ma
tion"
''Bootleggers" Martin yentured'
Victor Porle smiled.
IN American parlance. my young
| friend" he admitted, you nave spoken
| a morthful We we've also, however, in
business as wholesale fruit merchants.
| The conjunction was admirable. 1t en-
abled us 10 charter steamers without
suspicion"
/ "A very interesting way Of making a
I fortune" Martin acknowledged
we had adventures. There were
/ times when we were obliged to use our
wits Still. We came safely out Of it
You have treated me with a GER
| tain amount Of confidence" Martin re-
/ marked. why won't you tell me what
/ / really want 10 know?'
/ MY dear young friend" Victor Porle
murlnured Pray enhghtcn US as TO
/ this curiosity of yours"
Where the devil had you come
from" Martin asked, when picked
YOU up on tie heath the other side Of
Thetford1"
glanceS. There was the slightest pos
sibe nod Of assent from Solomon
Graunt
About that matter" Victor Porle
confded. there is less mystery than
you might think. We hcsitated to an
swer your previous inquiry because VIC
were still Smarting from the iGnOmlny
of the affair. We had been made the
victims Of a practical joke"
"A practical joke, Martin repeated
obviously.
"A most understandable one" Solo
mon Graunt growled. looking up from
A practical joke TOO. instituted-if
YOU please. by this boor of a man
Lord Ardrington"
Martin was for moment, tempted
10 smile. He. of all people in the world,
was capable Of approaching the plausi-
bility Of the idea
1t had come TO our knowledge" Vic
tor Porle continued-'we were staying
in Norwich at the time-that among
the pictures at Ardrington Hall were a
reputed Peruglno. several Corots and
the Van Dykes have spoken of. There
is also a screen in the private chapel
brought from Italy in the fifteenth CEN
fury We addressed ourselves respect
y4sff 81 ArS
permission to inspect these treasures at
any convenient day upon which the
house was open to the public. His lord
ship vouchsafed no reply to cur in
ouiries"
He ignored our letter. in fact. damn
hinl" Solomon Craunt observed. re-
turning from the sideboard which he
had visited in search of some bread.
ITO be brief" the other went on.
we wrote again without result We
motored over here and applied at the
porter's lodge. What sort Of a recep-
ton We met with you yourself may
imagine. Finally. from Norwich we
made one last effort. We wrote again.
and. TO our surprise. We received a let
ter stating that a car would call for us
on the following morning to take us
out TO Ardrington."
Did it Gomez"
1T did and you shall hear what hap
pened. The chauffeur-just an ordinary
chauffeur he seemed 10 us-certainly an
Englisilman--told lis when we started
that the direct road To Ardrington was
up for repairs and that he would have
10 take us some way around. We
thought nothing of that at the time.
but when we had been motoring at a
very high speed for more than an hour
{r.n n huf III
wrong We tried to communicate with
the chauffeur through the speaking
tube but he took no notice. Both the
doors were locked We were puzzled
but action on our part was almost i'm
possible. We could have attracted the
attention Of pasSers-by, but as we were
travelling at between 40 and so miles an
hour it seemed scarcely worth while
Arrived at the spot where you found
US, the car was brought to a standstill.
The chauffeur unlocked the doors, in
vited us TO descend, handed us a note
and Immediately drove Off
And the note?" Martin inquired.
Victor Porle stroked his long chin.
"Ahl" he murmured. THE notew
THE note does not concern any one
except ourselves" Solomon Graunt de-
clared, helping himself literally from a
bottle Of whisky which he had some
time before ordered.
In other words" Victor Porle said
smoothly. you must pardon us. my
young friend, If we decline to disclose
anything further. The note contained
single offensive sentence and was the
sort Of communication which. consider
ing our previous acquaintance with
Lord Ardrtngton, we might have ex-
pected"
so you actually know himI" Martin
observed.
Il think We may say that we have
had some acquaintance with Lord Ard
Eington many years ago" Victor Porle
assented. 1T was long way away
from here and there was no question
then Of our friend ever occupying so
dignifIed position. An agreeable
young man In those days, but unprin-
cipled"
You're talking too much. Victor"
his partner warned him bluntly. ANY
way" he added, turning to Martin, my
friend and I are not accustomed To fall
IRE. We've made up our minds to see
those CorOts and 10 renew our acGuaint-
ance With his iordship. That is why
We are here. that is why We intend to
remain here for the present"
II should think you'd find Ii difficult
Martin remarked.
Victor Porle's smile was menacing
His eyes had narrowed, his tone was
almost contemptuous.
We have overcome greater difficult
ties In life" he said