Edgar Wallace

“ It is true that Mr. Babbacome Jarviss had acquired in the course of the war a large and noble edifice in the Georgian style, standing in its own park-like grounds. That he who began the war as a contractor in a small way, celebrated the armistice driving round his estate in a splendid motor-car. It is beyond dispute that he made large, some say excessive profits, and had a cash balance of something over a million after he had bought his Georgian home, standing amidst delightful scenery. ”

“ She nodded.
"Perhaps, Chick," she said after a long silence, "this son-in-law of Mr. Jarviss is marrying her because Mr. Jarviss is giving him two hundred thousand pounds."
Chick stared.
"You don't really mean that? Do you know them?"
"I don't know them," said the girl, "but I know people."
Chick shook his head.
"I shouldn't think so, Gwenda I suppose there must have been cases like that; but, after all, any man would be willing to marry any nice girl, whether she was rich or poor. ”

“ Gwenda and Mrs. Phibbs held a consultation, after the discovery of small red spots on Sam's fat chest, and a doctor, hastily summoned, but somewhat tardily obeying that summons, took one glance at the little spots which had multiplied into a hundred, said "Measles" simply and cold-bloodedly, adding that it might be German measles, but there was no reason for worrying.
Gwenda received the tragic news on her return from the theatre.
"It's terrible, isn't it?" said Chick in an awe-stricken voice.
"I don't know that it's very terrible," smiled Gwenda cheerfully. "All children have measles." ”

“ Jarviss as they drove up the hill which Hatterway Hall crowned. "She is a very nice girl."
"So I'm told," said Chick politely. "And engaged to be married, too, I congratulate you, Mr. Jarviss."
Mr. Jarviss turned to look at him.
"It may seem an indelicate moment to approach that subject, when a young lady is standing on the threshold of her life," Chick went on, blissfully unconscious of anything save that he was doing his duty, "but don't you think it would be a wise provision for her to take out an insurance policy? There is one in particular which I can recommend." ”

“ Leither had wired you I was coming."
"Oh yes, he said you were coming. What do you think of the car, eh?"
They stood at the top of the slope running down to the station road, by the side of which three or four cars were parked.
"I like it very much," said Chick. "There are a lot of people who don't like Fords, but I'm told they are——"
"Not that one," said Mr. Jarviss annoyed, "the other one, that big one! The chassis alone cost me three thousand!"
Chick made appropriate but genuine sounds of wonder and amazement. ”

“ A man like you ought to be poisoned! Coming here giving yourself airs ... without a penny in your pocket ... upsetting a girl ..." She wept her way to the comfort of her mamma.
The next hour contained sixty agonizing minutes. When he met Mr. Jarviss again that great man was even more brusque, was in fact rude.
Chick crept up to his room that night miserable, and meeting the girl in the corridor, she fixed him with such a basilisk glare that he bolted into his room and locked his door. ”

“ She wasn't quite sure what it was. She had heard people say of girls who were without good looks: "Oh yes. ... but she has charm!" and had arrived at the conclusion that "charm" was Nature's invariable compensation for plainness. ”

“ Mr. Leither, in consideration of one-half per cent commission, had been his agent in these transactions, and in consequence was under some obligation to him. He put a telephone call through to London, but by this time Mr. Leither had already left his office. The call next morning was a trifle too early, but he had not long to wait before his sometime agent came through.
"Yes, he's here," said Mr. Leither, lowering his voice; "in fact, he's in the next room, Mr. Jarviss."
"What's he like?" asked Jarviss.
"Oh, he's—well, he's like anybody else," was the unsatisfactory reply.
"Young?" ”