The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-09-19
LOVE LAUGHS AT LOCKSMITHS

secrecy" said our first clerk, as he
squeezed a lemon into his tumbler.
o We-that is to say, 1, Ned Bolton,
the present writer, Herbert Engledue,
and young Harry Chester, all junior
clerks in the bank of Baskerville,
Troutman, and Co.-solemnly prom
Used that the seal that was to lock up
the communication we were about to
receive should never be broken. :.
And yet" said Mr.. Minton, with
the kettle in his hand, " | hardly.
think I'll let it out to you youngsters;
it's allagainst myself" =
Harry Chester's eyes looked eager
appeals, and Herbert said -
o now, come / say, Mr.. Minton,
YOU shouldn't have said so much, you
know: and then to talk about not
letting it out. you know, it's SO Jolly
mysterious" rtlsrl-lf
WE'LL" said our. CHEEKY chief, = as
Ned here has treated US so well to.
night, "I'll make some return by try
ing to amuse you boys with the ac-
count of an incident which happened
to me some years ago.. ID NO
We were delighted-1 especially
so, being the host for the night, and
anxious, ? as such, that things
should go off well. We drew up to
the fire, glasses were filed, and
the relics of the contents of the
hamper which the dear people at home
had sent me, were removed. The
Novem Der wind howled dismally over
the London roofs, and ratified at the
window as if anxious to join so pleas
antiaparty. Mr.. Minton took an ap-
proving sip of his hot grog, drew his
fingers through his iron gray hair, and
began:
" In the year forty-six, I had been
some seven years clerk in the bank
Our Mr.. Baskerville's father was the
| principal then, and very shrewd,
cute old fellow he was, / can tell you.
| Mr.. Troutman was then a clerk, and
junior to me, but every one knew that
he would be a partner some day, as
he had married Miss Baskerville.
Young Baskerville, who looks grave
enough now, was bow at Harrow,
and used, in holiday time, = to run in
and out of the bank, and stare at the
piles of sovereigns, just as he liked.
had had some troubles then, and
was looked upon as a grave sedate
young man; and, as Mr. Baskerville
told my poor mother, as steady as
! the funds. In consequence of this
gravity of manner and character for
steadinoss, / had been several times
employed in little matters of conf
Dental nature. and my conduct in
these had been approved of. One
afternoon in the latter part of August,
in the year Ispeak of, / was sitting at
my desk with not very much to do. /
had been thinking a good deal about
my own affairs, and gone back over
ground rather painful for me toltread,
and was, therefore, rather sad that
sunny August afternoon. While /
| was meditating and idly drawing
| figures on my blotting pad, the bank
messenger came to me, and said that
Mr.. Baskerville wished to. speak, to
me- went into his private room and
found him seated at his desk, and in
an arm chair beside him sat middle
aged, invalid-1ooking man, whose
handsome face wore a peevish express
sion that seemed to be permanent.
Mr.. Baskerville. said 9l-ieA 1h.t'3
H. ~ This, my lord, is the gentleman
whom | should have the greatest con-
fdence in employing in the matter
The stranger looked at me languidly,
and slightly inclined his head as l
bowed.
! - Rather young for such work, is
he not, Baskerville?'
T. No, my lord, l. don't think so.
Mr., Minton is grave and steady be-.
You'd his years, and the firm has very
| great confidence in him.
Well, will trust to you, and I
think you fully understand all that is
wanted. would rather not give my
self the fatigue Of entering into ex-
plantations with this young man. if
you think you thoroughly understand
what I want. f.ila n 1s8 l.aro9 d
| "'If you will leave it to me, my
lord, will undertake that Mr.. Min
ton shall receive full instructions.
Just see if Lord Valdanes carriage is
at the, door, will you, Mr.. Minton?lO
. returned with the requisite in.
formation; and his lordship, after
being carefully wrapped up, took the
arm of his man and went to his carri-
age. qnluq hisss Nsho snibnira RI r. asIia n
Mr., Baskerville then asked me to
shut the door and sit down beside
him, and proceeded to give full and
complete directions as to how 11was to
act
D 9 It appeared that Lord valdane
had three daughters, besides several
sons. The youngest of these daugh-
tiers, when just sixteen, had caused
great trouble and distress to her fami-
ly by falling in love with a violinist,
who had come constantly to the house
to give one of her. brothers lessons on
I his instrument. This had been dis
\ covered about a year before, and had
] given rise to great recrirninatinns