North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-11-07
gflert Story,
LOVE LAUGHS AT LoCKsHITHs.

said our first clerk as he squeezed a lemon
into his tumbler.
We-that is to say. I, Ned Bolton. the
present writer, Herbert EngIedue. 'anC
young Harry Chester. all junior clerks ir
the bank of Baskerville, Troutman & Co
-solemly promised that the seal that was
to lock ap the communication We were
obout to receive should never be broken
and yet" sail Mr.. Mintnn, with tn,
kettle in his hand" hardly think I'll let
it out to you Youngsters its all against
myself"
Harry Chester's eyes looked eager ap-
pealS, and Herbert said
so, now, come / say. Mr. Minton, you
shonldn't have said so much, YOU know ;
and then to talk about not letting it out,
you know it's So Jolly mysterious" .e.
'W ell, " said our cheeny chief, 'Eas Ned
here, has treated us so well Tonight, 'I'H
make some return by trying to amnse v"u
boys with the account of an inc dent which
happened to me some years ago
We were delighted-I especially so,
being the host for the night, and anxious,
as such, that things should 90 off we'll
We drew up to the fire, glasses were fill
ed, and the relics of the contents of the
hamper, which the dear people at home
had sent me, We're removed. The Novcm
Der winds howled GisnalIy over the Lon
don roofs, and ratified at the window as If
anxious to join so pl"asant a party. Mr.
Mlnton took an approving sip of his hot
grog. drew his fingers through his IRON
gray hair. and began
ain the year forty-sx, / had been some
seven wears clerk in the bank. Our Mr.,
Ba>kprvilr's father was the principal then,
and very shrewd, cute old fellow he
was, ! can tell you. Mr. Troutman was
| then clerk, and junior to me, but every
one knew that he wonld be partner some
d., as he had married Miss Baskerville
Yonne Bass herv;lle, who looks grave
enough now. was 10y at Harrow, and
used, in holiday time. to ruu in and out OF
the bank. aud stare at the piles OF sover-
igns, lust as he liked .. .s.-
81 had had some troubles then, and was
looked upon as grave sedate young man.
and, as Mr.. Baskerville told my poor
mother steady As the funds In cnnse-
quence of this gravity of manner and
character for steadinrss, | had been several
times employed in ittfr matters of con-
identlal nature, and nv conduct in these
had hecn approved Of One afternoon in
the latter part Of August, in the year
speak Of, was lifting at my desk with
not very mu"h 10 do. | had be- think
ing good deal about nv own af'nrs, and
coma back over gronhd rather painful for
me TO tread, and was therefore rather sal
that sunny August afternoon. While I
was me1tating and idly drawing figur,~
on my b'otting-Ead, the hank messenger
came TO me. and sad that Mr.. Baskerville
wished to speak to me, / went into his
private room and found him seated at his
desk, and in an arm-cIlair beside him sat
middle-agcd, invalid-looking man, who e
handsome face wore a peeyi>h expression
that seem'd to be permanent. Mr.. Ba>k
ervilIe said: ,s..... ..- .ss. .....~ .,s
This, nv lord, is the gentleman whom
I should have the greatest confidence in
employing in the matter. The stranger
looked at me lahgnidlv, and slightly in
clined his head rs bowed. .--a. -- .
Rather Young for such work, is he not
Bask-rville?" 7" -.H q f.a.-.
"No, nv lord, don't think so. Mr.
Minton is grave and steady beyond his
wears, and the firm have very great conf
dencp in him 49, ..- I'd
"WrlI, will trust TO You, and | think
You fully understand all that is wanted. =
would rather not give myself the fatigue
Of entering into explanations with this
young man, if yon think you thoroughly
understand what | wart.' .f7.l> .
IF you will leave it to me-, my lord. |
will undertake that Mr.. Minton shall re-
ccive full Instructions. Just see if Lord
Valdane' 5 carriage is at the door, will you,
Mr. Minton?"
returned with the requisite informa-
tion, and his lorlship alter i.eing carefully
wrapped up, took the arm of one of his
men and went to his carriage.
"Mr. Baskerville then asked me to shut
the doorand" sit down "beside' him,
and procrrdeda to- give me full syand
complete directors, as how I was to act.
1t appeared that Lord Valdane had
three daughters. besides several sons
The youngest of his daughters, when jnst
sixteen, had caused great trouble and dis
tress to her iamily by falling. in love with
violinest, who had come constantly to
the house TO give one OF her brothers les
sons on his Instrument This had been
discovered about year before, and han
given rise to great recriminalions. and the
Young lady had shown an amount of OBJ
stinacy and temper which had quite alarm
ed her friends, 50 foreign was it, apparent
" to her nature. She had utterly declin
ed to give up her lover, and had openly
declared n r intention of holding any COM
munlcation with him that opportunities
might offer. Under these circumstances,
and in consideration Gf her youth, her ia
| ther determined to send her to a school
! 4 4 -,