What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Third G

Name: What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Third Gift of the Emir
Author: Wardon Allan Curtis

Mr. Middleton’s possession of a curious talisman—a scarab kept in his left trousers pocket—sets in motion a string of strange and consequential events. Initially forgetting the charm, he later notices it moving inexplicably inside him. While riding a streetcar, he inadvertently holds a young woman’s hand as she discreetly confides a scandal: her friend Amy, far from a typical thief, suffers a compulsive kleptomania. Amy, though wealthy, pilfers small articles, and the woman has arranged for restitution in the form of returning a valuable ring that had been taken. Although reluctantly drawn in by her sorrowful appeal—and charmed by her physical grace—Middleton agrees to act as an intermediary in delivering the ring as a symbolic punishment. In the ensuing days, coincidences multiply. While changing his clothes that evening, he inadvertently allows the scarab to fall, triggering a mishap in which he finds a newspaper notice advertising a lost ring with a generous reward. Connecting the dots, he deduces that the ring is tied to a prominent and scandalized gentleman who had once suffered a similar domestic breach. Middleton’s reasoning leads him to the mansion of the ring’s owner, where he encounters the irascible capitalist. Their negotiation spirals quickly from cautious inquiry into a heated auction of principles and pride. Middleton, invoking the established contract implied by the advertisement, insists on the full reward despite the owner’s attempts to minimize his payment. A note discovered by Middleton reveals that the ring is the same one that once caused a previous marital scandal, now a potential source of renewed trouble for the man if its disappearance were attributed to another misstep. The confrontation escalates, with the owner’s anger evident as he paces and bargains. Middleton leverages this background, insisting that, by returning the ring, he deserves a sum higher than the intrinsic value of the jewelry because of the precarious nature of his owner’s predicament. Persuaded by the threat of exposing domestic indiscretion and in fear of further scandal, the owner eventually yields, submitting a thousand dollars in cash to reclaim his ring. Amid this tense exchange, a near-arrest situation develops when a servant—aiding in the confused scramble—warns Middleton that police might be summoned, intensifying the stakes of his involvement. The events do not stop at the financial transaction. In the chaotic corridors of the mansion, in the shadow of potential police intervention and domestic ruin, Middleton is swept into further entanglements. A young woman, whose earlier sorrow had impelled him into the restitution scheme, seeks a more personal acknowledgment. A delicate interplay of gratitude, seduction, and necessity unfolds in a secluded moment outside the mansion. Although their encounter is marked by an absence of true passion on her part and a calculated attentiveness on his, it serves to underscore the complex web in which Middleton finds himself—a mix of ethical compromise, accidental blackmail, and unwanted intimacy. Thus, because of the charm’s mysterious influence—a gift from an Emir—Middleton is drawn into a labyrinth of restitution, blackmail, and social scandal. His initially convenient misfortune spirals outward, entangling him with a kleptomaniac’s plight, a financially desperate and prideful capitalist, and a bittersweet romantic dalliance. Each of these unforeseen consequences compounds his predicament: from the bizarre behavior of the scarab talisman to the accidental ignition of public scandal, his ordinary existence is sharply altered into a high-stakes game of moral ambiguity and calculated maneuvering.

By Wardon Allan Curtis · First published 1901 · Genre: Comic Fiction, Adventure, Crime Caper · 5,603 words

First lines

Putting the scarabaeus in his left trousers pocket, Mr. Middleton departed, and as he went about his affairs during the next several days, he ceased to think of the talisman, but on the fourth day his attention was recalled to it in a way that indeed seemed to prove that it was a charm possessed of the powers the emir of the tribe of Al-Yam had attributed to it. He was faring northward in a street car at eleven of the morning, diverting himself with the study of the passengers sitting opposite, when he became aware that the scarabaeus in his left trousers pocket was slowly traveling up his leg. Had the talisman been other than the heavy object it was, he would not have noticed it, but it was of too considerable weight to travel over his person without making its progress felt. Deterred by none of the superstitious tremors which the unaccountable peregrinations of the gold beetle would have excited in one less intrepid, he quickly thrust his hand into his pocket to close it over another hand already there, a hand which beyond a first little start to escape, lay passive and unresisting, a hand soft and delicate, yet well-muscled withal, long-fingered and finely formed. At the same time, a well-modulated voice at his side exclaimed:

What this Textopian page supports

What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Third Gift of the Emir is listed on Textopian as a short story by Wardon Allan Curtis, dated 1901 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Wardon Allan Curtis
Date: 1901 CE
Language: English
Genres: Comic Fiction, Adventure, Crime Caper, Mystery, Satire
Length: 5,603 words
Structure: 1 section, 63 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Work identity for What Befell Mr. Middleton because of the Third Gift of the Emir by Wardon Allan Curtis
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Discussion starters

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Genres

Comic Fiction — The narrative is filled with humor, absurd situations, and witty dialogue that drives the story in a lighthearted manner.
Adventure — The plot features a series of misadventures, unexpected twists, and journeys that propel the central storyline.
Crime Caper — Themes of theft, blackmail, and dubious negotiations are central to the plot, placing it within the crime caper tradition.
Mystery — The unfolding investigation into the lost ring and the secrets behind character actions imbue the text with elements of mystery.