Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-07-19

guard Still he shivered, and after takino
the lamp and once more looking into the
entry, gave deep sigh of relief, and in a
half-absent manner locked both box and
desk and carefully placed the keys in a
breast pocket Leaving the lamp still
burning, he went upstairs and found Mr..
bryce alone sitting at the table with the
books open before him He looked up as
his clerk entered
Take seat, Jaggers," he said, Il shall
want you for an an hour or more, for there
are several things here that require ex-
PLANTATION"
Mr. Jaggers turned pale, but he took
off his coat and laid it along with his hat
on the great horsehair sofa at the other
end of the room. Then both he and his
employer plunged into figures, till the
sounds of a distant clock sounded nine.
ave must finish this the day after
Christmas Day, Jaggers," said Mr.. bryce.
g won't keep you longer"
Mr.. Jaggers put on his coat and hat,
and babe his employer good night and
had no sooner left the room than Mrs.
Harris came in to fetch the little one, for.
rs she said, it was already past his bed
time"
Richard bryce fell into the chair, and
was as near having fit as ever he had
been in his life
Good Heaven! Mrs. Harris-You don't
mean to say you haven't got the boy He's
not here; run and see whether he has
gone into Betsy's room; she runs away
with him sometimes"
Mammal" said sleepy little voice
under the sofa, and Mr. bryce and the
nurse were both on their knees in mo-
ment.
The precious why, if he hasen't been
asleep all this time" said Mr. bryce. kiss
ing the warm, rosy check; take him off
to bed directly, and bring him down to
breakfast in tn e morning"
Mrs Harris only just escaped meeting
Jaggers on the stairs up which he was
coming, followed by Betty with faring
tallow candle, and looking carefully on
every stair.
:" beg your pardon, sir" he said, with
a scared look, as he opened the room door
"but have you seen my keys anywhere ?
| must have dropped them somewhere in
the room, thiuk"
"No." replied Mr. bryce, "Tve seen
nothinG-most extraordinary he said to
himself, thinking of the child and forget
ting Jaggers.
8 1t is, sir, very extraordinary" said the
clerk, cropping on the floor and patting
the carpet with his hands. al know |
had them when | came up here, and |
cant open my desk where | keep my
money
"Oh, never mind, Jagger.," said Mr..
bryce sleepingly. Here are couple OF
sovereigns. If we find the keys, you can
have them on Boxing day; and if not, we
will have new lock Come, good night!
III 60 down and bolt the Office door after
you"
Jaggers entreatcd his employer not to
take so much trouble, and DELAYED so
long that the old gentleman began to
grow little impatient At last he got
rid Of him by giving him permission to
come early on the following morning,
when, if his keys were not discovered by
the servant in sweeping, he might pick
the lo-k
Mr.. bryce was in brown study, sitting
looking at the fire and slipping glass of
hot negus, when Mrs Harris knocked at
the door.
Excuse me, sir, but have you missed
your keYs?'
Hang the keys!" said Mr.. bryce, abb
sentlv 81 beg your pardon, Mrs Harris,
sit down a moment was thinking what
could buy your little fellow for Christ
mas present"
But these keys, sir2 took them out
Of the bosom of baby's frock when
undressed him. How he got them / can't
tell"
Mr. bryce took the keys in his hand
ana IOORCq at tDem meC0anlcaily then
he started aud singled out one particular
key, held it near the light. at the same
time comparing it with one of bunch
which he took from his own pocket. He
had turned stern and pale.
II want you to come down stairs with
me, Mrs Harris" he said "these are the
keys Mr. Jaggers has lost and I'm afraid
shall want a policeman.
First the door of the great iron safe let
into the wall Mr. bryce knew that it
was cunningly- lock, and thought
that no key but hi, would open If. 1t
opened easily with Jaggcrs key, however; !;
and from the lower drawer was missing
all the property which in those days were
often kept in such rlaces-bills, gold and
notes to the value Of four thousand FIVE
hundred pounds.
/ With feverish haste, the old man un-
locked the desk and the brass-bound box
!. within it. The latter contained all the