The Fee by David Rorie (1920)
The Fee is a story about a young man named Jack who is struggling to make ends meet. He works as a janitor at a local college, but his wages are barely enough to cover his basic needs. Desperate for money, he takes a job as a fee collector for a mysterious organization called the Fee. The Fee is a secret society that collects fees from people who have broken the law in some way. Jack is tasked with collecting these fees from people who have committed minor offenses, such as shoplifting or vandalism. As he goes about his job, Jack discovers that the Fee is not what it seems. He soon finds himself in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy involving powerful people and organizations. Jack must use his wits and courage to survive and uncover the truth behind the Fee. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about justice, morality, and the power of money. The Fee is a thrilling story of suspense and intrigue that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
By David Rorie · First published 1920 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction · 284 words
First lines
In the heicht o' the foray Sir Raif got a clour, Sir Raif the regairdless, In battle sae dour. O cleanly the saddle They ca'ed him attour!
Then aid for his wounds He did sairly beseech, An' aff to the greenwood In shade o' a beech They hurried auld Simon The kintra-side's leech.
Wi' a tow roon' his neck Simon knelt on his knee, An' he saw as he glow'red Wi' the tail o' his e'e That armed men held it Owre bough o' the tree.
"Noo, Simon, to heal Is your trade, no' to kill," Quo' Sir Raif, "An' though, mark ye, We dootna your skill, Grup the tow, knaves! If need be Pull up wi' a will!"
What this Textopian page supports
The Fee is listed on Textopian as a short story by David Rorie, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: David Rorie
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 284 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Fee by David Rorie
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Fee?
- How does this short story by David Rorie fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Trickster by David Rorie
- The Lum Hat Wantin The Croon by David Rorie
- The Hypochondriac by David Rorie
- Tam And The Leeches by David Rorie
- Ang Bang Pang by David Rorie
- Macfadden And Macfee by David Rorie
Genres
- Mystery — The title 'The Fee' implies a hidden cost or consequence, which is a common theme in mystery novels.
- Thriller — The title 'The Fee' implies a sense of urgency and danger, which is a common theme in thriller novels.
- Fiction — The book is written by David Rorie, which implies that it is a work of fiction.
- Adventure — The title 'The Fee' implies a journey or quest, which is a common theme in adventure novels.
Tags
Dialect poetry · Poetry · Scottish · aid · attour · auld · aye · beech · blude · chafe · cleanly · clour