The Little Nugget

om of the suite which they had assigned to MrsElmer Ford, late of New York, they might well have felt a littleaggrieved. Philosophers among them would

pired servants to ant

anovel, dropped it, and, rising, resumed her patrol. The clockstriking, she compared it with her watch, which she had consultedtwo minutes before. She opened the locket that hung by a goldchain from her neck, looked at its contents, and sighed. Finally,goi

outh qu

!' she w

rely a very faulty and amateurishportrait of a singularly repellent little boy of about eleven, whostared out from the canvas with an expression half stolid, h

ed back ather, the telephone bell rang. She ran to it ea

as not the oneshe had expected. 'Oh, yes,' she said

which hadleft her face as the bell sounded, was back now

eight--a thick-set, solemn young man. He winced as hecaught sight of the picture,

was of the type which wastesno time on

ot h

's voice w

orough,

ing of something else

ountry s

nch the otherday you wanted your little boy's portra

Lord Mountry. I pa

ng a slightly dogged looksuggestive of one who 'turns no more his head, because he knows afrightful fiend dot

yes,' h

pau

ttle fellow--wha

, isn'

althily resumed hi

if you remember. He's agreat pal of mine, a

itmyself. You told me to bring him round here this afternoon

I've not forgotten. Thank

ught over the idea of that trip on my yacht and decided itwould bo

t a swift glan

g forward to

houldn't we kill two

know. You couldbring your little boy along--he'

absoluteessential to the success of a yachting trip, and, since seeingOgden's portrait, he had realized still more clearly that thescheme had draw-backs. But he badly wanted Stanborough to makeone of the party. Whatever Ogden might be, there was no doubt tha

great ideas, had surprisedhimself by producing

ed to see a swift cloud of distress pass over her face. Herapidly revie

at the portrait. There

t quite understand the

voice was hars

'E

pped. 'My little boy is not--Ogde

school

and I did not get on very well together, and a year ago we weredi

icans! Always gettingdivorced and causing unpleasantness. How was a fellow to know? Whyhadn't whoever it was who first introduced them--he couldn'tremember who the dickens

. It was all he

Mrs Ford, between her teeth,

with embarrassment, g

d could hardly object to my having a portrait of my sonpainted at my own expense. Nor do I suppose that he will, when--ifthe matter is p

at scheme on the head,' sa

neces

'E

-it is possible that Ogdenmay be with u

able to bring him alon

m hopi

gurgles, was tooplain and straightforward a young

override the decision of thecourt. I

something may

by notallowing plain facts to be ignored, his lordship was r

r Ford's house in

oom at the receiver with whatappeared to Lord Mountry's startled gaze one bound. As she put theinst

nce,' she said, and turned

't think meimpossibly rude if I turn you out. S

ship rose

e. Certainly. Where di

e same movement. Mrs Ford watched hisbendings and gropings with growing impatience, till finall

. You'll let me know ifyour little boy will

ank you ever so

ood-

the door an

nborough! What aboutStanborough? Shall I te

sorry to have tokeep him waiting, and ask him if

on came to

e him a dri

lly must go. I know I'mrude. I don't know wh

keplace in which he was most emphatically not 'on'. A mother'smeeting with her long-lost child, this is a sacred thing. This wasquite clear to him, so, turning like a flash, he bounded thr

small, fat boy of about fourteen years of age, whoselikeness to the portrait on the chair proclaimed his identity. Hehad escaped the col

Mount

s. The world was full of eyes--MrsFord's saying 'Go!' Ogden's saying 'Fool!' the portrait saying'Idiot!' and, finally, the eyes of this wonderfully handsome girl

your pardon.

ere you're going,'

the girl. 'Won't you

-Miss Drassilis,

ed to his lordship larger, greyer, cooler, more amused,and more contemptuou

ed. 'Give you my word.

let me know about the

olly party. Good-bye, g

berty of addressing him too, and then, his heart apparentlyfailing him, tu

ilis closed the

' she said. 'What was he s

elf from her fascinate

are going to the south of F

delightf

ain pensive note i

id idea!' s

Ogden in a swirl and rustle ofexpensi

My

y into a scene of tenseemotion. Ogden failed

cigarette

y. He wasmore bulgy. It was sullen. He scowled. And, art having itslimitations, particularly amateur art, the portrait gave no hintof his very repellent manner. He was an intensely sophi

momentarily chilled.

-of-fact you are,

to the Ford millions with her usu

' she said. 'You have no not

urned to her

dear, I haven'

rpolated the

. I've been repeatingthat ever since I got

e near me, my

d towards h

pulated, before allowing himselfto

ing Lord Mountry that I _hoped_ I might see my Ogden againsoon, but I

d Cynthia. 'How did you get toknow

has been out of London for along time,

I s

Ogden'sportrait painted. But, bother Lord Mountry. How did w

thia

narily easy, as it

rved Mrs Ford, 'don't go

all r

ay by me,

-face beneath his breath. 'Sa

ck had been applied to Mrs

have some lunch. Ring the bell,Cynthi

_mine_ here,'

o lunch either! I w

ought y

st both l

k it would be better if Ogden had

o talk sc

well, Cynthia. Go,Ogden. You will order you

,' said the son

door closed. Cynthia gazed at her

did it, dea

endid. You're a

' said

as anothe

't you say there was a littlething,

rather pressing. In fact,it's taking up m

of paper and gave a slightgasp. Then, coming

d Cynthia. 'They were beginningto sho

heque calmly and p

me how you did i

the first time, she seemed to enjoy perfect peace ofmind. Her eyes half

he very beginning

a checke

ata quarter past twelve, and went straight up to the house--you'venever seen the house, of course? It's quite charming--and told t

mured Mrs Ford. 'He

stuck like a limpet. I sent him to fetch Ogden'stutor. His name is Broster--Reggi

, dear

f drawings for a magazine of theinte

believ

ditor particularly wanted me to sketchthe staircase. They had told me about the staircase

you go

I go

saw O

a moment--th

'W

'sReggies. _Such_ a kind, honest face. Well, as I was saying,Reggi

hims

eggie and I chat

opened, brown an

a proper tutor for my

f Reggie,' said Cynthia. 'B

Go

e EAST. I chose theEAST because it happens to be nearest the railway station. I addedthat I supposed he sometimes took Ogden for a little walk in thegrounds. He said yes, he d

_not_ a proper

your boy's tutor

happen

while Reggie andOgden came up. I said I hadn't been

e believ

ieved it. He was most

elf. He used to bevery good at football. He doe

couldn't sketch. Then what becameo

Oxford,and he wanted me to see a newspaper clipping of a Varsity match hehad played in. I said I'd love to see it. He said it was in hissuit-case in the house. So I promised to look aft

-way to the telephone

must leave here atonce. He will have followed y

thia

s Reggie quite a long

no trains for hours

e you

made certain of t

kissed her

, you really a

with a cry as the

, with irritation, 'dokeep control of yours

e got here in the time,even if he knew whe

probabl

me back into Mr

, of c

a opened

d fondly. And a wiry little manwit

Ford,' he said. 'I have

's behaviour in circumstances so exacting to weigh with usin our estimate of his or her character. We permit the greatgeneral, confronted suddenly with a mad bull, to turn and run,without forfeiti

r of Mrs Ford's sitting-room and admitting, notOgden, but this total stranger, who acc

ds life; but this changeling was toomuch for her. She released the handle, tottered back,

e vanished from her face as if wiped awaywith a sponge. Her eyes, fixed and frightened

mean by daring to ent

eness. He was determined, butapologetic. A hired assassin of the Middle Ages, resolved to dohi

but I must ask you to let

aked the intruder with thecool stare w

gentleman?' she

her stuff than his lordship. He

he said. 'I am Mr Elmer

ou want?' sa

lained what I want, M

raised her

e mean, Nesta? O

t a telegraph form, andin his quiet, busine

arly this afternoon he left Ogden in thecompany of a strange young lady'--Mr Mennick's spectacles flashedfor a moment at Cynthia--'and that, when he returned, both of themhad disappeared. He made inquiries and discover

. 'Owingto the gross carelessness of his father's employees

d's telegram,' procee

len by some hireling of his mother's." I amreading Mr Ford's actual words,' he said, addr

with a short laugh. 'You're notre

ennick

her illegal restraint. Ifnecessary

ng!' said

have them recommend good private school for boy. On no accountengage another tutor. They make me tired. Fix all this today.

documents carefully and r

looked at

ld you mind goi

scourteous, Mrs Ford, but

the office to send up

e of his presence to ask

nning to wear off Mr Mennick. He spoke irritably. Cynthiaappealed to his

hat he's not here?' she said. '

search my bedroom?' said Mr

ck remaine

ct that hedoes not appear to be in this suite, that he

all tel

have my deepest sympathy, but I am employedby Mr Ford and must act solely in his inter

u sha

mine. You may remember Mr Ford mentioningher in his telegram--I left her to search the

ng. He went to the

, Mrs Sher

and brisk, withthe air of one accustomed to look after herself in a difficultworld. Her eyes were clear and steady

her, a gorged but still sullenOgden

id. 'What have y

lunch,' said the girl. 'Ithought you

nded Ogden crossly. 'Can'ta fellow have a

nnick e

hes you to return

guess I'd better go,

Ford c

s me,

ion. Mr Mennickfingered his chin uncomfortably. Cynthia turned to the table andpicked up an illustrated paper. M

edAssassin work, but painful--devilish painful. He breathed a

heridan hesitated,

,' she said

without speaking, and

laid down

ment, Mrs

d turned to g

hut the door. Won't yousit down? Very well

rry. I hate to see hersuffering. I wish

that boy,' said Cynth

sorry for you. I gathered from what Mr Mennicksaid that you were to have a

an moved tow

he said. 'Mr Mennick w

fter what you saw justnow, that Mrs Ford i

w devoted sh

quite fran

Ple

at does not alter myopinion. It is entirely owing to Mrs Ford that Ogden is what heis. She spoiled him, ind

hia la

stuffbecause you looked the sort of girl who would like

t underst

ta, but not as much asthat. No. I'm one of the Get-Rich-Quick-Wallingfords, and I'mlooking out for myself

So

heridan. I don't know why y

n't suppose it's anything princely. Why don't you come over tous?

rying to bribe me,'

Cynthia, 'appearances

d afte

be a litt

door s

h. She sat down and began to read herillustrated paper again. Presently the bedroom door opene

sorry, Nesta

to the window

eak down, if that's wh

, anyhow, it shows t

rned a page

ying my hand at brib

do you

female one--not Mennick--if she would helpus. Nothing doing. I told her to let us

gged her should

r go. I'm sic

u, dear,' s

There were a dozen littleeasy precautions which we neglected to take. What we want is aprofessional; a man w

ho? I don't think I

put it down to him, though they could provenothing. Then there was a horrible man,

n seems to be as popular asfootba

hing pride came int

y guarded. Why, the kidnappers had a specialname for him--they called him "The Little N

that now. I saw nodetectives. I suppose h

elied on Mr Brost

areless of him. This w

he leaves Ogden at the mercyof anybody w

s not make your chance of g

p hope now,' said M

en't,' sai

at her. Mrs Ford might affect to be resigned, butshe was a woman of determinati

do you mean? What

all therest of it have not been a bit more successful. It was not my wantof experience that made me fail. It was my sex.

Ford n

es,

have failed too, it is obvious that the only way to kidnapOgden is

ssible,' said Mr

t at

know

ow _the

hat do you me

me is Pet

rd shook

n't kno

duce you. You

do you know he would

ia paused. 'You see,' she went o

hy did you not tell m

at the Fletc

rd's eye

last night? And two railwayjourneys

notfit to be seen tomorrow, but just at present I feel as if no

me abo

a tickedoff these qualities on her fingers--'and I think h

very much in l

. There's no

y aren't wildly

fondof you. You know how I am situated. I've got to marry some onerich, and Peter's quite the nicest rich man I've ever m

seemed to st

e began. 'I forget what I was

ying me for one reason,because he's sorry for me: for another, because I had the sense tomake him. He didn't think he was going to marry anyone. A fewyears ago he had a

butI've done it. He's a sentimentalist. I worked on his sympathy

unmoved. Severaltimes she had tried to interrupt,

of the kind. And I don'tthink you should s

g. There were moments

srather unbecoming. Mrs Ford had spent twenty years trying toforget that her husband had married her from behind the counter of

say anything of the

s all smilin

you. "Stringing", they call

rd was m

ask smacked sodreadfully of Mechanicsville, Illinois. Yet she put the questionbravely, for she was som

thia

s a dear. Nothing woul

ut himbecause it shows you how kind-hearted he is. He'll

nence in his capacity ofknight-errant. She laughed happily. The contemplation of Mr Burnsas knight-erra

she said. 'How do you propose

le. You heard Mr Menni

to a private school. P

and. We don't know which sc

very soon

can Mr Burn

s own. He goes to Ogden'sman and suggests that he pay a small premium to come to him for aterm as an extra-

but I believe he waswonderful at games. From

would he

I can per

an enthusiasm which hithert

cried, 'if you knew how

definitely. 'And now yo

hing! You must ha

I want to go with you on Lord

after a slight pause, 'it i

u can work me

a small part

ore me. I e

ord cap

ery good turn,' she said. 'You

ht round here now,' said Cynthias