Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-30

pdTuOH, 1 III SUITE.
Don't mention it, ma'amr replied
John CALAMITY. Its of no consequence
Yes, am rather busy, Miss Pinnifcr
They're for Mr.. Brown,-an old gentle
man who came in last Thursday. He or
dered suit of black and said he'd fetch
em himself this evening, and I'm little
behind, you see.'
"Ye-es p Miss Pinnifer had habit of
saying" Yes" when spoken to, irrespective
of anything in particular. She used the
I word toindicate various shades OF feeling (;
but in general way 1t was expressive of
mild surprise and admiration which en-
couraged the speaker to proceed. Mr..
Todd proceeded accordingly.
g. hope he won't come just yet, for I've
got nigh on two hours work to finish the
job. He's queer customer very. Never
saw him before in my life, and he comes
and sits down in that very chair, and talks
and asks questions as If he had known
me ever since l was so highs All about
the children and Milly and everybody"
"Strange y said Miss Pinnifer. "Can
it beg Yes, that must be it |"
"Eh?" said Mr.. Todd, inquiringly.
"Now, mark me !" said Miss Pinnifer,
laying rather bony finger impressively
upon the queer customers trousers Mr..
Todd marked her accordingly. did he
ask anything about me?"
81 don't remember that he did," replied
Mr.. Todd.
81 dare say not. Indeed, that rather
confirms my previous idea. know their
ways, Mr.. Todd"
81 beg your pardon, ma am" said John,
in much bewilderment "Whose ways
might you be abiding tog'
"Hush p said Miss Pinnifer, with an
air of profound mystery. "You don't
know who may be listening to us st this
moment-detectives!
"You don't think, ma'am-"
eyes, ! do l do, indeed, Mr.. Todd
| haven't the smallest doubt that ] am
at this moment the object of a
private inquiry. You must know, Mr.
Todd, though don't often mention it,
that I'm engaged in Chancery suit, and
the defendants are horribly wicked people.
They've done it before, know they have.
Not content with keeping my poor broth
er and myself out of our property, they
have us watched and annoyed in every
possible way. You'd hardly imagine the
number of lodgings we've been to, Mr..
Todd, and the people were always so po-
lite and friendly at first, and after few
weeks they quite changed, and were quite
rude and unpleasant They'd been set
against us by the detectives, you know.
1t was allivery;;well to say it was the two or
three weeks rent we might be owing, but
l knew better than that. And:now they've
traced me here. Dear, dear, what shall
do?"
"But are you quite sure"
40 dear, yes, certain. It's been going
on for long time. There was a pale
young man in spectacles stared at me all
church time last Sunday. thought at
the time it was only rudeness, but no
doubt he had his instructions"
At this moment the conversation was
interrupted by the arrival OF the queer
/ customer himself He was an elderly gen.
tleman with rubicund complexion, and
very good natured expression of counte-
nance, and certainly did not look like a de-
tective. AS he entered the shop, Miss
Pinnifer dropped her veil, and drawing
: herself up to her full height af four feet
six, faced the intruder with excessive dig.
nifty. The stranger politely raised his
hat to the lady, and then turned to John
Todd.
"Well, Mr.. Todd, and how do you do
tonight? Am too early for my little
matter of business ?"
"Well, sir" said Mr.. Todd, 81 won't
say but what I'd rather you'd have come
an hour later. The coat and waistcoat
have been done some time, but the trOus-
(Mr. Todd remembered the modest pres
ence of Miss Pinnifer)-the other gar
ments are not quite finished"
Never, mind, Mr.. Todd, it's of no
great consequence. I'm in no especial
hurry. But I'm going to ask you favor.
! shall surprise you now, dare say"
Poor Todd was so bewildel ed by the re-
markable communication Just made to
him by Miss Pinnifer, coupled with the
singular present appearance Of that lazy
, (she was standing with one foot advanced,
her eve steadily fixed on the stranger, and
held her mutf across her chest, in kind OF
boxing attitude), that he knew not what
to answer, and could only reply con-
fusedly.
"Don't mention it,"
The stranger, answering rather the
spirit than the letter of his words, con-
tinued- 50 l
"To.morrow's Christmas-day. For
twenty years past I've been a wanderer
on the face of the earth, and this is the
first Chrstmas-day, during all that time,
I've spent in England. have no friends,
not SO much as dog or a cat, and don't
like the idea of spending Christmas by
myself. Will you take compassion on me,
Mr.. Toddg You've Christmas face, and
| I've notion could enjoy Christmas very
we'll in your company. Will you take
compassion on lonely old man, and
f let him spend tomorrow with you and
your family?"
, John Todd was in much perplexity.
, His warm heart felt for the lonely stranger,
by whose frank address he was much pre-
) possessed. On the other hand, there was
Miss Pinnifer's statement, and John could
h.,