Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-02-03
Marcellus and the
Plutocrat
~-u..-
BY H. IRVING KING

AHARCELLUS SANDERS had a
1N1 shanty down on the shore, just
above highwater mark. BE was an
aged fisherman and a clamdigger,
wrlnkled, of solitary life and grabbed
disposition. To him came Mr.. Whit
ney-Blake, one of the "rich folks"
from "up on the HILL" Marcellus had
been purveyor of clans to the Whit
ney-Blake family for years.
"MarcelIus," said the plutocrat, "you
know my daughter. Do you ever see
her down herewith a young man
going sailing7"
"Sure," replied Marcellus, comes
down to the boathouse over there
goes off In that catboat-the Glide
mOored off the end of the float"
Whose boat is it?"
young man named BaScomb,"
growled Marcellus.
ut is as l suspected" thought the
father and then: "Marcellus, the next
time you see my daughter and that
young man go out sailing together go
to the nearest telephone and call me
up. If can catch those two together
| will give you five dollars"
Cali right" said Marcellus. Then
he chuckled with what in the old
melodramas would have been called
"low, fiendish chuckle."
Mr.. Whltney-Blake was strongly
ayerse to a marriage between his
daughter and Roger Bascomb. Bas-
comb was a newcomer to the commu-
nifty; had made himself immensely
popular and had been paying decided
attentions to Caroline. The wary IA
ther had investigated and found that
Roger was fond of pleasure, deeply in
debt and might justly be looked upon
as fortune hunter. Having acquired
this knowledge he proceeded to talk
to Caroline.
"Why father" said she, II haven't
the faintest idea of marrying Roger
Bascomb. l like him, of course"
II do wish, Caroline" said the IA
Their, "that, out of your many suitors,
you would pick one of whom l could
approve. There Is Cyril Patterson,
for instance"
"Oh, Cyril is well enough" laughed
Caroline. II am afraid it's the Pat
terson money you are thinking Of pa
pa, more than of Cyril himself"
Mr.. Whitney Blake, a big business
deal engaging his attention, relaxed
his supervision of Caroline's love af-
fairs Then, one day he received a
jolt. He had been out looking after
one of his many investments and as
he got off the train he met Mandy
Budlong just getting on.
"Ah, Mr.. Blake" cried Mandy,
"'bout time you got home. You'll be
just in time for the wedding. Carrie
goes out sailing most every afternoon
now, and they do say"
"All aboardl" shouted the impatient
conductor and, with a firm hand, hus
tied the garrulous Mandy up the car
steps.
Mr.. Whtney-Blake thought rapidly
for a full minute. Then he walked
down to the shore, which was near
the station, made his way to the
shanty of Marcellus and had the in
terview described above. When he
reached home Caroline greeted her
father as a dutiful and loving daugh-
ter should. An hour or so after lunch.
con, while Mr. Whitney-Blake being
busy with papers in his library, Car
oline got into her runabout and drove
out of the grounds. II might have
been an hour or so later when the
telephone bell rang and the voice of
Marcellus said: They've gone out
sailing again. Expect em back about
five" At five the wrathful parent
was on the beach.
In the half light he could see that
the catboat's crew consisted of a
young man and a young woman. 1--WE
got EN- he thought. They entered
the dinghy and rowed ashore. Mr.
Whitney-Blake was on the landing
stage to receive them.
why father" cried Caroline. "You
here? Cyril and have had de-
lightful sail"
Good evening, sir" said the CHEEKY
voice of Cyril Patterson. "Glad to see
you back May | come up to the
house? | have something important
want to say to you regardng-er-
er-Caroline."
Certainly" replied Mr.. Whitney
Blake blaLdly.' my car is waiting
up back of the boathouse."
ali. H." came the voice of Ma..
cellus as the trio moved off.
Excuse me second" said Whit
ney-Blake and turned back to inter.
cept Marcelus.
where's that five dollars?" asked
the fisherman.
Five dolarS!" returned the pluto
crat, "you ought to get punch in the
jaw. Thought you told me my daugh
ter was going out sailing with Roger
Bascomb."
Didn't" replied Marce,lus said
twas Bascomb's boat. SO It's. Pat
lerson's chartered ii for the summer
"Why didn't you tell me thatT" de.
manded Mr.. Whitney Blake.
you didn't ask me- Give me the
live growled Marcellus.
MIR. Whitney Blake saw that Caro-
line and Cyril were watching him. He
pulled five dollars out of his pocket
and handed II to the clamdigger,
"a little bill | owed Marcellus foi
claims, he explained as he rejoined
them
THAT'S all except thai Roger Bas>
comb married u rich widow NV,
months after cyril married Crolin.
and that MI Whitney Blake looks
with admiration upon Marcellus n,
being the only man who ever got The
hNsl of him In a h.l..nn....- IL