The Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Ind.) 18??-1920, 1870-06-30

"ium!' And with that the man OF
skill took his hat and departed. saying
he would return in two days. The
two days, however, were five before
he came back, and was again closeted
with my uncle and Parker, with whom
he had fallen in great disfavor.
"Wants to make a job" said the
latter; "a regular humbug."
"Sir George said the regular hum
bug, "has Beaumont locked desk in
his room?n
"Yes, sir" said Parker, che has"
"Have you a key which will open
it?r
81 have; and what of tbat?"
81 wish to have that desk opened
without his knowledge, and the con-
tents brought to me-"
"And on what pretense," said my
uncle, 'do you propose 10 put this in
suit on "a man against whom there is
no reasonable ground Of suspicion,
and who has not been allowed TO speak
for himself?"
"There need he no insult, for he
will know nothing Of il; neither will
any ore else"
81 will not permit 1t, sir"
"Hum! Then / can do no more in
the business"
"But," said Parker, whose official
notions made him unwilling to break
Off the negotiations in this manner,
"what pretense have you for doing
this 10 Beaumont and not TO the other
clerks?'
"Shall tell you? There Is no such
person as Elinor Beaumont, and the
address In Fleet street Is n notorious
haunt of suspected foreigners"
Good graciousv said my uncle,
changing color, 'you don't shy that?"
at is the fact; but you will see the
necessity Of being cautious and silent
In the matter. Detection hangs on n
thread, rs II stands, and whisper will
break it,"
"What do you mean," said Parker,
"about Elinor Beaumont? l have
seen her"
"rherc Is no Elinor Beaumont In
Jersey. sent and have ascertained
the fact.n
81 am sure there Is some mistake
about all this, which Beaumont can
clear up. Let us send for him."
"If YOU do the game Is up. trust,
In fact, he does not know Of my visits.
We can not be too cautious In this
matter"
"Pedantlc ass" muttercd my uncle; !
"but suppose we had better give him
his own way. II you meet Parker
shall have this wonderful desk opened
and your great discoveries shall be
made"
They met again that evening. The
desk was opened by Parker, and n
bundle of letters, carefully packed up. |
all from Elinor Beaumont, and IA
quantity Of circulars. play-bills and
shop receipts were banded 10 the cx-
pert.
That gentleman read through the
letters, and seemed much struck 10y
the last.
"Read that said he. handing II 10
my uncle. AS the letter is important,
give IL entire:
l20 FLEET STREET, Sept. "a, 1903.
My DEAR CnAKLEs:-A!though we
had an adverse wind all the way, we
made without difficulty the port we
were bound for. My aunt, in spirit of
the weight OF her fifty years, enjoyed
the trip much, and Is ready 10 sail
again. | hope you will think OF send
ing the line you promised on the 18th,
and come yourself, as your party Is
now much smaller, and we should en-
JOY the visit.
When was in London last week ]
saw our cousin Harry, fresh from
Windsor. There Is but little change
10 be observed In llim-not as much
as you would expect. Come To Us Oh
Friday.
Yours very AFT, ELINoR Is.
My uncle read this out loud, from
beginning 10 end, and then lie said,
ado you see any thing suspicious IN
that? Ii seems TO me very innocent"
"Hum! 1t may he. Was there any
thing else in the desk?n said he ad-
dressing Parker.
"You may 20 and look" growled
that potcntate; and he led the way,
the expert following.
The desk was quite empty, with the
exception Of two or three scraps OF
waste paper. On one of these the ex-
pert pounced, and returned with an
oir of elation TO the other room. lie
then unfolded this scrap of paper,
disclosed half sheet exactly the size
of the paper on which Eiinor Beau
mont'S letters were written, in which
oblong holes at intervals had been cut.
He had then placed this half sheet
over the letter, and handed both, thus
placed, 10 my uncle, whose astonished
eyes read the following words, which
the holes left visible:
Fleet wind.bound. Fifty sail Of the
line. Twenty-Five smaller. Should
the wind change, expect Us on Friday.
"The devil.' said my uncle; land
Nelson ordered Off to the West In
dies"
Then was there, as you may sup
pose, hurrying and scurrying, and
running and chasing, aud dispatching
of Government couriers. and sema-
phore telegraphs, and carrier pigeons
and all the old world means of COM
.....i...;. H.. L., fnnhinr The