A Knight on Wheels

othing of

t amazing da

ilip walked resolutely home. The Elysian Fields were closed to him. He wondered how long Peggy would wait, and what she would think when h

he termed "a wee hauf." (Philip often wondered what he did with the other half.) Philip let himself in at the side door with his latchkey, and, sitting down before the library fire, endeavoured to div

ple were convergin

one of his almoners, and he found himself free to return home at half-past three. He sat in a comparatively empty District Railway carriage-the

irst

ied, ranging as they do from the maintenance of "A Home for Unwanted Doggies" to the rehabilitation of a repentant but slightly indefinite burglar; but I can assure prospective contributors, with the utmost confidence, that, however meticulously they may earmark their pet cases, their money will all find its way into one capacious pocket. The administration of this exceptionally ingenious scheme of flat-catching is evidently in capable and experienced hands. Last week, anxious to make the acquaintance of the master-mind, I despatched one of my trustiest representatives to the headquarters of the Brotherhood, hoping that Big Brother-or whatever the arch flat-catcher calls himself-might be found at home. The offices are situated in

elivered his weekly comments upon t

anonymous contribution of a hundred pounds. The giver is a gentleman whom, though his name is known to few, I regard as one of the most generous, and perhaps the most practical, philanthropist of my acquaintance. I have never known him to subscribe to an undeserving cause, and I have never known him refuse a worthy appeal. His gifts are made upon the sole condition

ry smile, and turned to

ll at Holly Lodge just as Philip reach

's clay at the establishment round the

ack, and looked old-quite thirty-five; possibly forty. She had a rather sad face, Philip thought, but it lit up

Lodge, little b

isitor purposed crossing the threshold, an

ful Lady s

ou are," she said. "Y

prehensively. "Only somet

er name for state occasion

e possessed several, but he had th

s at home?" cont

home but me," replied Philip,

want to talk to particularly. So I am going to ask you to en

sit to which she had committed hers

ary-she must be ejected before Uncle Joseph returned. That would not be for a couple of hours at least. Surely he could get rid of her by that time. He led the intruder into the library-there

dy pleasantly. "I ought to have introduced myself soone

essing the envelope no

said. "Plum

uzzling as to why you should have thought of writing

old Red Book

s mind was working frantically behind a solemn countenance, and he did not answer. He was trying to put himself in Uncle Joseph's place. How would he have treated this intrusion? How would he have parried questions about Tommy Smith? How would he have substantiated the starving curate and his fireless home, in the face of the solid comfort of Holly Lodge and the absolute invisibility of the curate

that these hands were long and thin, like Peggy's and unlike the hands of the women whom he sometimes encountered sitti

tle girl of my own. She was all I had, Tommy. She was taken from me three months ago.... I suppose we should take our losses as they come, without wincin

y uncomfortable. He had been warned by his uncle more than once to beware, above all, of a woman's tears. "Her tears are the bi

to speak again, not

wn consolation with it. One day I saw myself as I was-a querulous, self-centered, self-conscious, self-made martyr. I had forgotten that other

his head ap

d I don't,

was

Philip, a l

es. It lies in trying to help others. So I have come to see you and your parents, in the hope that I

ly, and Philip tactfully aros

k to be permitted to see that your father gets back to health and strength ag

what the end of the conversation must be made him feel a pitiful little cad. On the other hand, it was plainly advisable to establish some sort of working explanation, however lame, of the non-appearance of the Smith family. Once more, what would Uncle Joseph have done? He would probably have explained to this graciou

s creeping into her cheeks. "To the seaside, perhaps, or even to the south of France. They could take the baby with them, and you might come

ay the solemn-faced little bo

a mistake," began Philip desperat

hurst look

But you wrote me t

," admitted Phil

mistake? You are no

baby either," sai

our fa

ther, I'm afraid," said Philip,

contemplated him wi

e lad!" she sai

se house

uncl

hurst's fa

would regard them as your father and mother, and speak of them as such. I understand now. But that sha

," said Phili

rst with a cheerful smile. "In that ca

arm of his chair. T

isn't a-

le relief, there fell upon his ears the music of a latchkey in a lock, followed by the b

the midst of all the present turmoil of his senses one emotion overtopped all the others-a

scene, Philip thought. A

out from the hall. "Are you in?" The library door

Joseph!" c

lained, turning politely t

er feet, deadly white, and shaking. One hand was at her

t again, this time from the

cted. Skip about and get me

s parted, and she uttered a fa

e hall. His uncle was h

an?" he observ

ee you in the library, Uncle Jo

! W

a l

s brow darken

aid icily. "Wh

least, sh

aise responsibilit

nd erect, strode across th

hen a great cry; then a rush of feet; the

ppened? Phi

last, cam

er all these years! Thank God for his infinite

d me closer, dear! I can't believe it yet! I'm f

into an indeterminate,

ked into t

oseph, misogynist. In his arms he held the Beautiful Lady, a

er and closed the door sof

ap and coat and slipped out of the fro

ill a chance

ke int