Formerly Editor of the 'Barangoora News'

Real Aylesbury Ducks for Sale
Book-keeping Taught in Four Lessons

4a Kellet Street,
Darlinghurst, Sydney

I said I should bear him in mind, and, after helping him to release his
umbrella, saw him down the steps and watched him disappear.

'Thank Heaven!' I said to Kate, 'we have seen the last of him.'

I was bitterly mistaken, for next morning when I entered the office,
Bilger was there awaiting me, outside the sub-editor's room. He was
wearing a new pair of boots, much larger than the old ones, and smiled
pleasantly at me, and said he had brought his son Edward to see me,
feeling sure that I would use my influence with the editor and manager
to get him put on as a canvasser.

I refused point blank to see 'Edward' then or at any other time, and
said that even if there was a vacancy I should not recommend a stranger.
He sighed, and said that I should like Edward, once I knew him. He was
'a noble lad, but misfortune had dogged his footsteps--a brave, heroic
nature, fighting hard against unmerited adversity.' I went in and shut
the door.

* * * * *

Two days later Kate asked me at supper if I _couldn't do something for
old Bilger's son_.

'Has that infernal old nuisance been writing to you about his confounded
son?'

'How ill-tempered you are! The "old nuisance," as you call him, has
behaved very nicely. He sent his son over here to thank us for our
kindness, and to ask me to accept a dozen extra cards from himself. The
son is a very respectable-looking man, but rather shabby. He is coming
again to-morrow to help Mary to put up the new wire clothes line.'

'Is he? Well, then, Mary can pay him.'

'Don't be so horrid. He doesn't want payment for it. But, of course, I
shall pay his fare each way. Mary says he's such a willing young man.'

In the morning I saw Mr Edward Bilger, helping Mary. He was a fat-faced,
greasy-looking youth, with an attempted air of hang-dog respectability,
and with 'loafer' writ large on his forehead. I stepped over to him and
said,--

'Now, look here. I don't want you fooling about the premises. Here's two
shillings for you. Clear out, and if you come back again on any pretence
whatever I'll give you in charge.'

He accepted the two shillings with thanks, said that he meant no
offence, but he thought Mary was not strong enough to put up a wire
clothes line.

Mary (who was