That Stick

'Oh there's that stick. What can he want?' sighed one of a pair of dignified elderly ladies in black silk to the other as in a quiet country-town street they saw themselves about to be accosted by a man of about forty with the air of a managing clerk who came up breathlessly with a flush on his usually pale cheeks. 'Miss Lang; I beg pardon! May I be allowed a few words with Miss Marshall? I know it is unusual but I have something unusual to tell her.' 'Nothing distressing I hope Mr. Morton' said one of the ladies startled. 'Oh no quite the reverse' he said with a nervous laugh; 'in fact I have unexpectedly come into a property!'