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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1899)
THE COURIER. of her four millions when she died." "Well, have ou any plan to suggest, Jack?'' asked Hie Grace. "IheTimbuctoo might be lute." "Rubbish ! not at this season of the year," said iho Duke. "Then she might be run down!" con tinued the imperturbable Jack. 'No euch lu I mean, my dear"- and Alton turned to the Duchess "no such dreadful eataetrophy Ib to be feared." The Duchess had started off again to cry, and Alton was consoling her when Jack thus interrupted his Boothing ca ress . "My dear joung people, I have alwayB been a friend in distress. Never have I failed to succor those I havo found in hn wnnfl of desDair. Trust to me and I "Now, Mr. Repton, do tell ua what you aro going to do," pleaded Lady Her mione. "Yes, Jack, tell us, that's a dear," chimed in the Duchess. But no amount of cajolery could worm out of Jack the scheme ho had devised. lie assured tbe Duchess no harm would befall her mother, and that if she would only keep quiet and not make any more confidantes, Mrs.Von Donop would never know the true reason of hor not meeting the 'most august personage.' Jack Ropton was very thoughtful the next day his animal spirit9 had disap peared; he was almost rude in his brusquosneBs; he might have beou a mathematician wrestling with a great problem. Suddenly, when he was tireBS- mill crnfcvou outof this hole. Iwilleavo ing for dinner, he dropped his hair you both from incurring the displeasure brushes, shouted out at the top of hia of a 'most aucuBt personage,' and from voice, "Eureka! I've got it at last!" per- losinc your share of Aunt Mary's four formed an impromptu pas soul and left bold about enough for one cup, and wan a rainorshaky band let three drops fall into it. Mrs. Von Donop had road in tho papers on her way from the landing place to Farley that her daughter was to entertain the "most augUBt personago'1 the next day. Was there ever such a piece of good luck? Tho "most august personage'' could not possibly refuso to receive Mrs, Von Donop in her daugh tor's house. She would have ber secre- " What's happened to your man, Mas ter Jack, that he ain't looking after your clothes?" inquired Martha. "Ob, he's been suddenly taken ill.' "Well, 1 never!" exclaimed Martha, examining the waistcoat; "if this ain't been done malicious. like! Why, some body cut that button off with a knife." "I don't know how it happened,1' said Jack. "Here'a a noodle and cotton." "Why, sakes alivo! Master Jack; what's come over you? You never UBcd to be liko that, having needles and thread about you. They've mado a reg ular old bachelor of you in this coun try." "Hurry u., Martha!" Jack passed into tho bedroom, partially closed tho dressing room door, picked up a bottle of atropine and wont up to tho table on which stood the coffeo tray. Ho lifted the lid of the Btnall silver coffee pot, that millions." "How are you going to do it?" ex claimed the Duke. "How?"' asked the Duchess. 'I haven't the slightest ideB." answer ed Jack, "but I'll do it. Only trust to me, aud twenty-four hours hence I feel Bure I shall have devised some plan. If I haven't, I will tell you so, and we can discuss the matter again. You can't at any rate, be worBe off than you are now, even if I fail. But I won't. Aftorsome discussion over p-os and itWBB deciaea xnai ue mn nans. 1 -- . should be left in Jacks hands. At luncheon that day, Jack, usually bo talk ative, wbb noticeable for his silence. "I've got it!" be suddenly exclaimed. "Got what?" asked the Duke, next to whom Jack sat. "A scheme to prevent Aunt Mary meeting the 'most august,'" whimpered Jack. "What ifl it?" Mr. John Repton ie just at pres nt keeping his mouth shut, and it you want him to succeed, Your Grace had better do the eame," and Jack got up and rang tbe bell. A footman answered. "Telephone to the stables to have the Nipper saddled and brought round at half past two." "Where are you going, .Jacur" asaea the Duchess. "1 wbb about to ask you to drive me over to the Huntingdon. ' "Sorry I can't accommodate Your Grace, but I have moat important busi ness to attend to in Warminster.'' At half past three the Nipper, with Jack Repton on his back, stopped oppo site a house in Warminster, a plate on the front door of which showed it was occupied by "WilliHm Brown, M.D." Two seasons before Jack had broken Lis collarbone and a couple of ribs in the hunting field. Young Dootor Brown had skillfully set them, and the two men bad become chuma. Half an hour later Jack came out of the house and tossed a silver coin to the boy who held the Nipper. As he was about to ride off Doctor Blown, who stood at the door, called out to him, "Be very careful, Rep ton! Not more than three drops at the most!" On his way through the town Jack stopped at a chemist's shop, pre sonted Doctor Brown's prescription, re ceived an ounce bottle labeled "Sulph ate of Atropine," and returned to Parley Towers. Needless to say, before the evening wbb over the Duchess had wormed out of the Duke tho fact that Jauk bad bit on a plan to rescue them frcm their di lemma, and that Her Grace bad found h confidante her pretty .isterin law, whom eho longed to call cousin as well. Jack admired the girl, but then, he ad mired so many others, and was such an the impression on the valet that hia master had either been drinking or had suddenly gone crazy. Jack was the life and eoul of the party that night. The next morning as soon a? breakfast was over, be was off to WarminBter on the Nipper. Ho stopped at a linen-draper's shop, and, going to the counter, asked a young woman for some "cotton or thread, or whatever you call it, the same color as this," pointing to a button on his fancy waist coat. The thread was produced. He then asked for a needle to sew buttons on with. "But I only want one," ho said, when tbe girl brought out a packet. "We don't Bell them singly," she replied laughingly. When Jack was told the price of the packet of needles he laughed too, and blushed at the same time. "Your aunt's takon very elck, and I'm going to send for tho doctor. But don't toll MIbb Blancho I moan Her Grace Mnator Jack." "Sond for Dr. Brown, Martha. Mind Dr. Brown," called Jack, as the maid disappeared. Tho doctor arrived at the Towers. Ho thought it was a case of Rotholn, or Gorman inoaelrB, but would not bo ablo to toll for certain until tho next day. Meanwhile, thoro was not tho slightest dnngor. Ho put up some medic. tin for tho patient and advisod that hor room should bo kopt dark and quiot. Tho Duchess who by this time had heard of hor mothor's sudrlon attack ho advisod to keep uwuy from tho sick-room, When Hor Grace told tho guests what had happened, nono of thorn buliovod hor, but admired tho tact sho had shown. Tho visit of tho "most august person ago," who wbb very gracious to tbe young DuchoBs of Alton, was a groat success. Dr. Brown discovered that he had made a wrong diagnosis of Mrs. Von Donop's case, that the rush had been caused by a disordered digostion, and she wub aB well as evor tho noxt morn ing. That evening tho Duko came into Jack's room as ho waB dressing for dln nor, to ask him so mo question. As they wore chatting ho carelessly picked up a tary cable the story to the news agen- small bottle from the dressing table, ciesinher own country, and her poBi- "Give mo that, Alton!" exclaimed Jack, tion in society would no longer be equiv- snatching tho bottle from tho Duke's A large party of eminent persona ar rived at Farley Towers the evening be fore the day on which the "most august personage" was expected to arrive. There was the Prime Minister and hia wife and daughter, a couple of Dukes and their Duchesses,' a celebrated beauty, the wife of a foreign Prince, the Ambassador from the DucbeBS of Alton's native country, a noted poet and some lesser fry. Mrs. Von Donop, with two maids and a secretary, came very late, by spec ial tram. She was at once shown to her apartments, which, as bad beon arrang ed between Jack and tbe Duchess, look ed out on the same corridor as hie room did. When the Prime Minister's wife was goiog to bed her maid told her Mrs. Von Donop's arrival. "What Duchess's nvother? She will ruin her position if she attempts to force that woman on the "most august personage!" Jack Repton was up bright and early the next morning, and, before he was half dressed, dismissed hia valet. He stood in his shitt sleeves at the half opened door of his bedroom, watching tbe staircase. A long acquaintance with hia aunt's habits had taught him that in a short time her maid, Martha who bad been with Mrs. Von Donop ever since that lady married the Duch ess's father and had known Jack Bince he was a child, would come up that staircase with his aunt's morning cafe au lait. He had not long to wait. As tho maid approached his door be threw it wide open. "Why, hullo, Martha! How aro you?" Oh, Master Jack, j ou did give mo auch a start!" "Martha, I want you to sew a button on a waistcoat for me." "Well, wait a minute, Master Jack, till I'.ve taken the coffee to your aunt." "No; I can't wait I'm in a deuce of a hurry! It will only take you a second, and the coffee won't get cold," and he ocal. "I'm rather tired, Martha," said Mrs. VonDonop, as she finished her cup of coffee. I'll try and get another hour's sleep and ring for you when I want you. An hour or so later Martha wbb start led by the furious ringiug of her mit tresfl' bell. She rushed up to Mrs. Von Donop's apartments aud found that lady in tbe greatest state of agitation. "Pull up the blinds, Martha! Some thing dreadful has happened to mo," she exclaimed, brbathing rapidly. "I'm feverish! I've a dreadful headache! My throat's dry, and haven't I a rash on me?" Whon Martha had pulled up the blinds she discovered that her mistress was as red as a lobster. "This ishorriblt!" cried Mrs. Von Do nop. "And to think it should happen just at this time! ' and tears of vexation poured down Mrs. Von Donop's cheeks. hand and hastily putting it into his pocket. But Alton had read on the label "Sulphate of Atropine" He went to the library and, taking from the shelves a medical dictionary, turned to tbe word "Atropine." He read: "The moBt prominent effects from small rem edial doBes are dryness and stricture of the throat, frontal headache and a scar let raBb." "It was rather risky," whispered the Duke to Jack, as the guests wore assem bled for dinner. "For goodnoss .sake, don't ever let Blanrnn know!" "Not I." replied Jack. "Swear you will not give me away." "I swear!" answered tho Duko. And when dinner was over tbe Duch ess and Lady Harraiono got hold of Jack and begged him to tell them what he would have done had Mrs. Von Donop not been taken so suddenly ill. He re-" ,r of "n "oDee, Mirth., tut fused to answer, and has kept hi. coun the don't let Her Grace know. It my be eel to this day.-Town Topics. some contagious fevjr, and the babios- The poor woman burriei her head in tbe pillow, and cobbed. Jack happened to come out of his bed room a. Martha hurried past. "What', tbe mittei, Martha?" Gillilan can assist you in finding a de sirable home. If you intend moving call at bis ground floor office 110 south 12th street. IIMIIIMII MMMIMHMMIIIUIM IIIMIIMIIMMIH MMMMi incorrigible flirt that, in spite of bis pushed me woman inrnugn iuo open youth, raatch-makers had almost given door. "Put the tray down there!" he him up in despair. "id, pointing to a table. "Now come The two women in the secret "corner- here!" He led Martha into the dress od" Jack in the drawing-room after din- ing room, deposited her in a chair and nor handed her the garment and button. Courier Readers Are cordially invited to call at our NEW WARE ROOMS and inspect out Fine stock of SHAW, WBBBR, MATTHEW, ju,XJ-l WIG and SHIIIvER Piano Sheet Music and Musical Instruments. Hh pVWmiLb I'm sbI v "' MATTHEWS' MAN(D ?(D 1 uiTT"tllllMMMMMMMMMMM IIIIHIH
