Our Serial Story.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 10380, 14 December 1912, Page 3

Our Serial Story.

THE HEIRESS OF THE SEASON (By Sir William Magnay, Baronet.) Author of "The Pride of Life," "The Fall of .a Star," and others. -'•I hove got, into ail »>y London 'fcelint'ss which, comtw to m« immediately I pass Hydopark Corner, I am heartless, selfish, insolent, worldly and frivolqus. Pardon th« vices inevitable in the greater of oitieu. — Stdnet Smith. CHAfIPTEKI V. However that* might be, it was • Mbntjoy now with a •vengeance. Seeing how very rich he was, it is almost unnecessary to say that his origin had been very humble. That set-back enables a man to take a longer run before he comes to the take-off- ; most men try- a standingjump; and the firat spring is everything. .... ■ , Mudge, or Monibjoy, had begun ■life as a chemist's errand boy in Wol'v'erh.ampton. H was smart enough to rise to be an assistant, in which capacity he imbibed, a taste for science. His employer dealt also in electrical apparatus!, bo young Mudge Bad some opportunity of acquainting himself with the elements of that branch. Having mastered all the Wolverhampton shops, could teach him, he knew it no more. Mudge vanished 1; and not long after there appeared, upoml the hoardings of provincial towns, gorgeous and sitairtling posters heralding the advent of Professor Mbntjoy, the Novelty ; King, the Ebuperor of the Ettenieiite the Printae of Wonders, the greatest Bargain, Befctower that had ever appeared for the benefit of mankind. The" principal picture represented a magniftceait and dazzling hiall, apparently tfiikea- over look, stodk, and barrel from the 'Arabian Nights." Around this were strikingly portrayed highly coloured' representaifciotis of scientific wonders and experiment* in" full working. In the middle was 7 Professor Montjoy like a Genius in: evening dress, holding forth to an, enraptured and enlightened . audience, consisting it appeared, prinoipailv of sailors,' farlmers, and charwomen^ and ait' the same time .givingl' the finishing touch '#> :an^xpenjnent>, ■while^-and - this; was by no' meana the least important part of the programme—the Gepius's fainiliatrs in* costumes between to. Baglisli pageboy and a (French artilleryman, were handing —in exchange for eagerly proffered oa»h—•cd6ntifio toys, watches, jewellery, patent medicines, and suchlike trifles to the motley audience before .mentioned. -.....' By the multitude of outstretched, impatient hands containing coin, the Professor represented himself as doingl a roaring trade ; and if charwomen choose to hanker after scientific! baubles,, farmers after trinklets, and snilora after liver pills, it i» no business of ours. Then, in one corner waa an enlarged portrait of the presiding genius, Professor Montjoy, withi a number of cabalistic letters after hia name, not, presumably, emanating from any recognised fount of scientific honours, and a mass of equally mysterious, medals and orders upon his expansive breast —Abe shoulders having been drawn extra broad to accommodate the ar-ray—-sufficient, »* number at least, to have staisfied half a dozen of the most gtreedy generals and diplomats in Europe. . Balancing this attractive portrait was a hyperbolized picture of a magnificent railwa(y ear in which this cotnd/ejkeinldinig' monajr&h might be popularly supposed to make his royal progress. The real fact, stripped of its pdctoriafl, 'timse,!', Wais tjhatl Montjoy travelled froml town to town,—hiring rooms inj corni exchanges or "secondrate hotels—there-to-sell,- Cheap-. Jaldkl fashionl, flimsy scientific puzzles, cheap Watches, goldi washed jewellery inferior galvanic batteries, patent medicines', and attractive novelties to country blockheads.-He ! prospered!; sio much so, thait, coming across an electrical toy of a superior kindj he bought it of the inventor for a few pounds fiind forth with, placed it on the London market. The new toy-sold- by thousands. The" inivleintor cut his thcoat- '^n Bampeilead Heaith; while Montjcy, raking in> money from ail quarters of civilization!, hlad the ball at his foot. His country experiense had taiught him huinlain nature; he soon realised that, with a few varintions due to its environment, it is the same all the vrorM over. Everything j novel Was brought bo him. He pick- ! ed! out what- ia<i ik if) would swallow and rarely iiad-? a mistake. .Scllitie J not only hie s>j( is but- bis businesses j to tlie public form of limited companie^, Montjoy flung aWay his medala and orders: and set himself tlo become ai gentlemaitK Still ai young man, he had plenty of time for the process if he chose to set about it in earnest. He had finally turned himself, with hie vast and multifarious undertakings, into ai oompany-:--'"Mon-tljoy, Limited"— over Which he presided a& the advisory .geniue, leaving all the work md detail to managers and expert* trained under his auspfcfes. It wa« his idea, to establish a. board of tame but real professors, whom, by^ handsome salaries, he tempted away from their university chairs. They gave refinement and' prestige to his undertakings. He intended to be the first to!-.sn|alD up all future scientific discoverießi and adaptations which couldl be .tiurned to commerioal account. Hia smart professars advised as~td technicalities and flaws, while he, naturally. aatUiter, though inferior in training, took up the mattiecrsi where they left them, and pxislied tibem to hiß own adMaiifage. {To W OootwWtd.)