The Rhos Herald

I tALL EIGSTS BESSBWKD]. J The Cunning of the Fool 1 BIT ( COMRIE COLQUH.OUN, I Author of "Horatio Brown: Knight-Errant," "Love and a Motor Car," &c. | When the proud and imperious Mrs. Bran- don, in her moments of irritation, was wont to describe her husband as a fool, she knew ? that she we. guilty of using exaggerated taguage. ü. Mr. Bramlon himself, easy- going, moneyed ..nd leisured, also knew it, and was silent, if to be so inordinately fond j; .of The Grange not to desire to leave it, not even for a ief season in town, was j foolish, then Mr. Brandon smilingly agreed with his wife. I He was amiable and simple hearted to a f fault, with no other ambition in life than to j lire peaceably in the lioii.c oi his fathers. « She, in spite of her middle-age, had all'the yolatility of the society bv^terfiv. There was a cogent reason for Mrs. Bran- don's t4.Íio",Bte of the country and her love of town. It ws necessary that her daughter Charlotte should make en estimable match. A fortune with a husband was not everything to Mrs. Urandca's way of thinking. The man for Chrrlotts must have qualities which her father laehod. lie must have dash along with his wealth—that magnetism necessary to make her establishment a brilliant social centre. And it was on this very question of select- ing a husband for the beautiful, grey-eyed Charlotte, who, to her mother's regret, had all the reserve of her unambitious father, that Mr. Brandon proved, in an unmistak- ably eloquent way, that he was no fool-that, on the contrary, he was very alert for a county gentleman who had no interests be- yond the confines of his estate. He wog sitting in the library reading, when the noise of carriage vrheels in the avenue caused him to look out of the window. He gighed. It was his own carriage. His wife and daughter had returned from town. A few minutes later, and Mrs. Brandon flounced into the library hot and palpitating. "Had a good time as usual, Nell?" he asked. "Glorious!" she replied, offering her face somewhat condescendingly for his kiss. And before he could put another question she •launched into a dithyrambic description of the various functions she and Charlotte had Attended. "And that is not all," she added. "I have at last found a husband for Charlotte, a charming man, handsome, travelled, and wealthy—suitable in every way, in fact." "His name?" he asked, his eye seeking Burke, which lay on an oak table in the re- cess near the window. "Oh, I don't know that you will find Mr. Claude Petherwick in there," the snapped, following the direction of his gaze. "What about poor Arthur Barrington? Hiik family is in there, and he loves Char- lotte, and will make her a steady, sensible husband. Besides, if my eyes do not deceive me, the girl is not indifferent to his atten- tions." "Richard Brandon!" cried Mrs. Brandon, importing something like astonishment into her voice. "Would you have Charlotte shut up in that ugly ivy-clad house as you would like me to remain confined here? No, no, Richard;, she roust do better than that." "Come, oQihe, Nell; I don't know that Barrington's place is a prison any more than The Grange is one. At any rate, you will Allow that Charlotte must have a say in the matter of choosing a husband. Say no more on the subject, my dear, but let us see your Mr. Claude Petherwick." "You shall see him," said Mrs. Brandon, a fleam of triumph shooting into her eyes. "I ave taken the liberty of inviting him down for the shooting. Then you will see Arthur Barrington and him together, and will be able to institute comparisons. Tenacious as you are to preconceived opinions, I feel sure Jou will change your mind in favour of Mr. 'etherwick." At this moment the door opened, and Char- lotte tripped into the room. To her father it seemed that she brought a ray of sunshine with her. Her large grey eyes were re-illu- xuined with the joy of seeing him again; She wound her arms round his neck, and kissed his bearded face again and again. "And how is my little girl?" he asked, gaz- ing fondly into her eyes. "Very well, papa, and glad to get home again," she said. "How sweet and fresh the Air is! What a relief to the stifling atmos- phere in London?" 41 So you have had enough of town?" "For one year at least, papa," she laugh- ingly replied. "And you are not sorry to leave the new friends you have made, including Mr. Claude Petherwick, of whem your mother has just given me a glowing description. 'Pon my soul it makes me wish I was not the old fogey that I am." ttawlottc's head fell. Confusion replaced the joy in her eyes. She glanced anxiously at her mother. There was a world of mean- ing in that glance. And its significance was not lost upon her father. H}h. Petherwick will soon be here," broke in Mrs. Brandon. ".come, Charlotte, we tihal-l draw up the list of guests at once, and .send out the invitations. Our shooting party will be more enjoyable this year than it has over been before. It will be a memorable one, too. (This with a defiant glance at Mr. Brandon.) Your father will admit that." The party at The Grange was a merry one beyond a doubt. Mrs. Brandon was de- lighted. Everything was going just as she liad planned. Charlotte and Claude Pether- wick were much together. Unquestionably Petherwick was the moit dashing man pre- J sent. By reason of hi# brilliant conversation, of his knowledge of, the world, and particu- larly of the Riviera, whither he went every winter, he stood out pre eminently from among the male guests, who were more or fees after Mr. Brandon's stamp—county men, devoted to the horse and the gun. Birds were plentiful in the coverts, but few fell to Claude Petherwick's gun. He was no sportsman. Mr. Brandon and Arthur Bar- jrington saw that on the first day of the shoot. At dinner he invariably selected his own topics of conversation. They had small in- terest for he men, but the ladies were vastly interested in them. He seemed to know everybody in Europe of note—Russian princes, Italia-i counts, and French barons. I "Met them at Mortto; Carlo,, you know," he would say, turning to Mrs. Brandon, who ahowed by her wide-open eyes how vastly in- terested she was. :t "Your knowledge of Riviera hotels eeeme -AixVe extensive," haxarded Mr. Brandon, who Was quietly I summing up the bold-eyed granger who, he allowed, was the best jailor's advertisement fiat had ever visited The Grange so faultless the cut of his clzrikm* I'll When I leave my property in France," drawled Petherwick, "and -go- to the Riviera, I never stay. at the same EntsJ twice. It is ouly by zxwiiag about &&s J c: gat to know people. "How delightful!" murmured Mrs. Bran- don. Fiddlesticks f muttered Mr. Brandon bet-ween his teeth. Somehow he was becom- ing distrustful of this smooth-tongued man of the orld, this friend of princes, counts, and barons. He ventured to question his wife conccramg Petherwick's antecedents. She answered him with a frown of surprise, fol- lowed by words which she had often used be- fogs—words which mildly suggested that he was a fooL The fool smiled in his good-humoured way. "To do the fellow justice," he said to him- self, "be is not so enamoured of the girl as Nell supposes. There is hope for poor Bar- rington yet." Ons morning, when the skies were lower- .in¡; a SUM portent that rain, would fall, Mr. Brandon did not join the guns, but went for a stroll rcunci the estate. fie had reached the posture rear the wb-n the storm brokz, and he sought tho inn for shelter. "This way, air, if you please," said the laxsdlord, delighted to welcome the lord of ths. manor into his snug parlcur. Mr. Brandon lit a ci £ ~r &1 was sipping <the refreshment he had ordered, when voices fell en his ear. "'I ten you this is one -)f tlia softest, cribs the captain has yet struck," he heard dis- tinctly. He looked at the end of the room whence the s-ound proceeded, and divined that a very thin partition, papered over to give it the semblance of a wall, divided him from the voice. There are loads of jewels," continued the speaker, "and they have simply to be piek<Cd up. Half an hour before you arrived this morning the captain came over to tell me that everything would be in readiness by to-morrow night. We're to be on the job at two o'clock in the morning." "But is the house not watched, Bill? Haa it not occurred to the captain that the local copper might have received instructions to keep a sharp lookout so long as guests are staying at the house!" "Yoù trust the captain, Joe, as I trust him. We have always found him a deep Tun, and you may be sure that his plans are all right. Why, the job's worth doing, if only for the lady's necklace, which the cap- tain says is at least worth a couple of thou- sand. And think of the other sparklers, not to speak of money." "Well, if the captain says it's right, I'm with him again. But you know I always am a bit cautious, Bill." "Quite right, my boy. And now let us have something to eat. To-night, when they're dining, we'll have a peep at the back of the house." Mr. Brandon rose and stepped into the bar, where the landlord was polishing glasses. "You need not mention to anyone that I have been here, Oakes," he said, "and, by the way, do not trouble your head about that little matter which I understand you and my agent have been discussing. After your lease expires you can stay on at the old rent if yoa lae", "Thank YOII very much, air." Mr. Brandon turned into the pasture, leaving the landlord showering benedictions on the rain, which ^he felt sure had prevented his rent from being increased. The guns had returned for lunch. They did not go back to the coverts. Whereat the ladies were glad. The guests divided their time between the billiard-room and the library. Arthur Barrington, who had openly shown his dislike of Petherwick, found himself alone with Charlotte Brandon. At last I have an opportunity of speaking with you; Miss Brandon," he said. "And I am going to make the most of it." As he spoke a flush mounted his clieeks, and something like a flash shot into his eyes. Hts demeanour, usually so reserved, startled the girl, who glanced at him appre- hensively. "Miss Brandon," he continued, "I have been living in torture since I came here.. I came with the full intention of having an en- joyable tins*. Your father has dona his best So male it so, but your mother is treating me as though I was here on sufferance. I am going away, but before I go I must say some- thing to you that has been on my lips for a long time. I love you, Charlotte, and I can- not bear to think that that fellow Petherwick, who seems to have impressed your mother deeply, will steal you from me. Come, tell me that he has not hypnotised you, that he has not come between you and me?" He seized her hands. She did not attempt to draw them away, but shyly raised her eyes to hia. Then Arthur Barrington knew that the legant Petherwick, with an estate in France, with foreign princes, counts, and barons as his friends, had not made the least impression on Charlotte Brandon. ou will not leave now," she said, after their lips had met. "Who talks about leaving?" a voice broke in upon them, and the next moment Mr. Brandon stood, a satisfied spectator of their confusion. "I cams to look for von, Barrington," said Charlotte's father. "I want to speak with you. "I also would like a few words with you, sir," said the young man, his eyes seeking those of the blushing Charlotte. Of Ah, I understand," said Mr. Brandon, leading the way to the rustic summer-house "Ig at the bottom of tho garden. f e e "I want you to help me in a delicate matter," began Mr. Brandon, after they en- tered the summer-house. Arthur Barrington glanced at Charlotte's father iu amasewest. "Yew, I want a little assistance," Mr. Brandos continued, "and of all the men here it is you alone whom I should like to help me. Can I rely on you?" Yon do not say what you want with ma, Mr. Brandon," the young man replied, "but if you think I can help you in any way, you have only to command me." "Very good, Barrington. I camiot go into the affair now. All I beg of you is not to go to bed to-morrow night. Conceal yourself in the thicket outside the garden. Remain there until you see two men pass through the gate. Then you can leave your hiding- place, Bat on no account follow them. Just stand oatside the gate. You will remember that. I particularly want you to bear that in mind. Don't enter the garden, not even it you see the two men running towards you. Afterwards it is probable that you will hear me calling out to you. Then you will act as I direct. Have I made myself clear?" "You have and you haven't," ventured Baxrisgtoo. "I gather from what you say that some mystery is afoot, though you do giT* Tie the ghost of an idea what it is." mind the mystery. I have youl promise that you will do as I suggest?" "You h.~ • repln.i 1:n "7'; :+"1 im- pressed by Mr. Brandon's They left the summer-house, and returned to the billiard-room, where Petherwick was carrying everything before him. Next day the guns rang out, the sportsmen returning with heavy bags, elated at their success. More guests had arrived, and Mrs. Brandon assured herself at dinner that even- ing that the shooting party was a huge success. Petherwick was the life and soul of the company. There was not a woman present, excepting Charlotte Brandon, who did not vote him charming. His story of how he came to the rescue of the Russian prince at the tables of Monte Carlo brought the ad- miring glanc-skof the women full upon him, The prince was gambling heavily, and it seemed probable that he would have to send to St. Petersburg for money to take him hemp, when Petherwick whispered directions in his ear. The prince took the hint, and when he left the table he found that he had wo-i a small fortune. j "Never shall I forget the look of gratitude J in his eyes and the clasp of his hand," added j Petherwick. "Of course, he insisted on my i dinirtg with him on the following evening." Mi". Brandon's eyes s>parlded as she listened to this story. Her bosom heaved with satisfaction. Even her diamond neck- lacc seemed to be perturbed, the agitation producing added Mght from the facets. Music, cards, billiards, and conversation, and then the guests retired one by one. Mr. Brandon remained in the library reading until one o'clock. Then he extin- guished the light and retired to a small ante- room leading out of the spacious hall. About an hour afterwards he opened the door noiselessly and passed into the garden. He entered the summer-house and waited. By- and-bye the noise of approaching footsteps fell on his ear. He glanced out of the win- dow. The light of the stars revealed two darlc figures moving stealthily towards the house. In a few moments they had passed through the French windows, which had been obligingly opened for them by someone within. Mr. Brandon left the summer-house with heavy burdens under either arm. One of these he deposited a few yards from the gar- den gate, the other just within. Noiselessly he crept to the house, and entered by the side door. He made straight for the ante- a i room and waited. In less than half an hour he fancied he heard deadened footsteps. 1 He jumped up and placed' his ear to the keyhole. Then the swinging of the French windows on their hinges told him that his visitors were lcav- ing. He entered the drawing-room, and, moving quickly towards the open windows, saw three dark figures speeding across the j lawn. The next moment he was rushing after them. Suddenly two of them were abruptly pulled up. For a moment, the third man, who was some twenty paces behind them, stood as one stupefied. "Now, Barrington, do not let him ea- j cape!" shouted Air. Brandon. Arthur Barrington heard the command. He stood in the gateway, saw two men wrig- gting on tho ground, and, held his arms wide apart- in order to prevent the third man from passing through. On the fugitive came, and soon got into grips with Barrington. There was a struggle between the two men. It was short- and sharp, and ended in Arthur Bar- rington falling to the ground, stabbed in the arm. The groan he uttered was followed by a loud report. It was now the turn of the fugi- tive to fall. The bullet from Mr. Brandon's revolver lodged in his thigh. The stillness of the night was broken by a shrill whistle, and a few moments later lights appeared, bobbing up and down as N they advanced. They were lanterns carried by the groom and the gardener, who had been ordered to keep vigil. You, Brown," said Mr. Brandon to the groom, "keep an eye on these two rascals." The light was flashed upon them as they lay wriggling on the lawn, making frantic efforts to rid themselves of the mantraps which held their feet in a vice-like grip. I 'Pón my soul, I am forgetting Barring ton," continued Mr. Brandon, snatching the lantern from the gardener's hand, and rush- ing towards the garden gate. "Weil, Bar- rington," he added, "are you much hurt?" "Not so bad ae I thought," was the reply. "I believe I have stopped the bleeding by tying my handkerchief round my arm." "Good. We'll now look to prisoner num- ber three. Ah, just as I supposed—Mr. Claude Petherwick, the friend of princes, counts, and barons. You thought you would Iiiave us unceremoniously, Mr. Petherwick. And, of course, you did net intend to leave empty-handed." "What is this, sir?" asked the gardener. "I have just stepped upon it." He handed a black leather satchel to Mr. Brandon. "Just what I was saying," replied Mr. Brandon, opening the satchel. "Mr. Pether- wick thought he would take something in lieu of his luggage. Here are my wife's neck- lace and rings, my daughter's diamond I bracelet, and other jewels, which I fancy will be claimed by some of my guests. So this is your way of repaying my hSspitality, sir." Petherwick's reply was a groan and a curse. I He and his confederates were taken to the stables and locked in, after being securely bound. The groom and gardener kept watch at the door all night, with revolvers in their hands. "We have had a most exciting night," said Mr. Brandon to his wife at breakfast next morning. "An exciting night! What do you mean, Richard?" The voices of the lady guests in the hall delayed his answer. "My rings have disappeared cried one. "Mine, too, are gone!" exclaimed another. "I beg you not to distress yourselves,' said Mr. Brandon, walking briskly into the hail, and leading his excited guests to Mrs. Brandon. "Your rings are quite safe. I as- sure you. I was just telling my wife v.e have had an exciting night." "For Heave-t's sake, explain yourself, Richard! Whut has happened?" And Mrs. Brandon shot him the old look he knew jlCJ v.cn--that look which told him as pl as words that ho was a fool. ] "Simply this, Nell. Our guest, Mr. Claude Petherwick, the authority of th Riviera and its hotels, thought he would re- pay the intere.it you have taken in him by stealing your jewels and those of our friends. He is loeked in th_' stables with two of Wf confederates. I have telegraphed to SccJtlatoH He is loeked in tii2 stables with two of Ilis. confederates. I have telegraphed to Scotlan4 Yard, and expect officers will come down by the midday train." On hearing words Mrs. Brandon utt-ersd a pathetIc wail, and sank on the arpet. A eotiplo of defectives duly arrived, and Iter* ".i i:j in pris "Ihis is a iiae haul, sir," f>Md the chief to Mr. Brandon. "You have succeeded where we hive £ a:'?<?d. Yon hr.~e captured Henry Rankiae, alias Count IW-tini, Baron Geni- ALIX, toe., the leader of a band of inter- national thieves, wuo have terrorised Riviera hotel-keepers. We heard that he had come to London to play the gentleman, combining business with ple-w.re, of course. He was tracked to more than one reception when the seasrtm was at its height, but he always eluded ns. He's a mighty clever thief, but his day is over." From that moment, until the trial and sentence of Henry Rankine, Mrs. Brandon was in indifferent health. But she speedily recovered. Eagerly did she welcome the mateh between Charlotte and Arthur Bar- rington. Her husband appeared to her in a new light. The word "fool" was eradicated from her vocabulary, when applied to him, at iihy rate.

A MAEVUuLOXJS MEMORY. An imbccile boy of ten ye.An with a most marvellous "almanac" tncniory !1Ø.3 bc-cn in- troduced toO tho Yicsinestr Psychological Society. Armed with calendars of various years and kinds, lie 3eh-nut>in plied the boy with questions «m dates, covering all the centuries from tho tenth to the twentieth. Without a moia-.tt's pa;is3, aiid always cor- rectly, the boy ii.?wered such questions as: When is Easter Sunday in 1917? What day of the week didh lith June, 1803, fall on? When is Ascension Day, 1923? How long is the carniva1 sea sou hi 1924? Besides all this, the bey could give right off the patroa .sašt of any day in the year. Doctors from 010 wjfst as/!«jn -vl-ere the boy is an icniaf? said "Zé} impossible to explain his extraordinary Mwnory- The boy himself said he used existing mathematical tables for asccrtaiv.js'g' past and future dates, but the doeicis said tlrs was clearly not the case, as the tabic iie quoted emJjd be used for years after utiÙ, where as his memory waa absolutely bounded by that period. Of dates before the year lOGO or after 2000 he seemed to have no knowledge.

JAPANESE DWARF TREES. There have been a good many theories as to how the Japanese dwarf trees are prepared in the first instance, but this is a secret which the Japanese keep carefully to them- selves, and even then it is only known among a limited number of families, who hand it down from generation to generation. One account states that a lif ii-)il is :,xtced in lialf an ei-ange from whi. h tho in.-ide has been removed. In this soil is plated the seed which it is desired to grow. Aa the roots burst through the skin of the orange they ere eut. with a sharp knife. The procces is re- pea.t-xi until the roots evince no further de- sire to penetrate. The omside of orange, is then varnished with a secret varnish, and the young tree planted in an ornamental pot.

TRAGEDY OF TWO BROTHERS. The love of two brothers for the same woman has ended in a tragedy at Birmingham. One brother liee dead in the mortuary, and the other is in hospital with only slender chances of re- covery. Henry and Arthur, Clews, the two brothers, were between forty and fifty years old, and, both unmarried, had lived under one roof all their lives. Lately their household had been attended to by a Miss Martin, their mother being bed- ridden. Miss Martin, who was woced by both the brothers, finally accepted the elder, Henry, and the wedding was to have taken place a week hence. Arthur was greatly incensed against his rival, and attacked him with a heavy blacksmith's hammer, inflicting terrible injusries about the head. Arthur afterwards committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor.

1VORTH THE MONEY. The special expense incurred in connection with the recent naval revio-wa was 91,800, ac- cording to a statement in the House of Commons by Mr. McKenna. Sir F. Banbury asked whether he was correct in supposing the cost of «ach of the three naval displays was JE336 Ga. 8d., and that the re- mainder of the expenditure was for the enter- tainment of members of Parliament. Mr. McKenna: Oh, no; the hon. member would be entirely in error. The cost of the last naval di&play was .£800, which included all the costs of entertainments. Lord Bale aires: Do we understand that the total cost of bringing the fleet to London was only about £ 300? Mr. McKenna said the cost was very small.

DAMAGES MORE THAST CLAIM. At the Bloomsbnry County-court an applica- tion was made in respect of a case in ywhieh a coachman who sued Lord Scarborough was awarded £ 100 damages for injuriss sustained in an accident in which his lordship's motor-car was concerned. The amount of his claiz2 (EW) had, in accord- ance with the practice, not been stated to the jury, and counsel argued that the amount awarded was excessive. Judge Bacon referred to celebrated case in which the award wao £500 more than had been claimed, and asked a number of counsel before him for the reference, which was given. His Honour: Ah! I thought some of you boyli ought to know. The judge decided that the verdiet must stand, and dismissed the application with costs.

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