The Morning herald., 1876-10-28


US need have been here tonight"
Miss Gibbon shot glance at the speaker
that was like lightning in its fierce in
,ensity, and then began muttering to her
self: ss7rs
"Oh, that's it, eh? Well, l had my
qualms of conscience before, for ! thought
be was beginning to like me little; but
when sour note from her-tbe hateful
minx!-can change his usual smiling man
ner 10 such bearishness, it's time ! had dane
with him. You 60 over tonight, old fel-
low, as sure a. my name is IN want Of a
changey'
For another hour the skater kept on at
his rapid practicing, being occasionally
Joined by hand more bent on fourishes-
with pauses between to think how they
looked-when of a sudden Montgomery
felt draught of air upon his back. He
did not heed it, however, but kept on a,
his rapid practice, and in another moment
he was pihioned from behind, a gag jammed
into his mouth, and an etherized s.,onge
pressed firmly under biz nose. He strug
gled manfully for few brief seconds, bu'
what could he do, taken at such diadvan-
tage? In a minute or two he lay in DEATH
like stupor on the counting. room floor.
Coming to himself again, Montgomery's
first conviction was that he had been robbed,
in view of which he began to hunt for hi.
KEY, but could not remember where he had
last placed them.
Only one ,urned-down jet Of gas was
burning, and over that hung a small tin
kettle steaming luslily. The young cashier
was again confused; he thought he had put
this very tin kettle away some days before,
after having heated his luncheon in it.
Bnt there it was, safe enough, and emitting
a strong smell of spirit, which put him in
mind that there was also disagreeable
taste in his mouth. So try as he would, he
could not make it all out, and in this dilem.
ma he called aloud for help
His cries were Immediately answered by
a policeran-such pattern of an officer
that he seldom disappointed his patrons in
being omnipresent-who burst open the
rear door Of the Office, with fury that
threatened to wrench the lock of, and de-
manded in voice, whose dominent note
was certainly not civility:
"What's all this row about"
II am afraid that have been robbed"
explained young Curtis, trying to steady
himself by his desk.
II should say you bad," responded the
officer, brusquely-"robbed Of your senses" :"
"Yes; that's just it," said the cashier,
"end think that it has been done with
ether"
"Bad rum, you mean."
Montgomery protested stoutly against this
delicate insinuation, whereupon the omni.
present officer, taking the tin kettle from
over the gas jet, and remarking that dust
could not be thrown in bis eyes, for he was
fused to that sort Of thing, you know"
asked Montgomery 10 smell, and then say
what the kettle contained"
"Some kind of spirits" replied the young
man, beginning to feel very heavy about
the head.
II should say it was," returned the off
Ger, beginning to soften down over the ad-
mission. 80 now let me take you home.
and say no more about it,"
"But can't find my keys" persisted the
young man, and l am afraid that 1 have
been robbed"
The policeman suggested that the CASH
ier should look in his pockets, and thrust
ing his own hands in with the words, he
drew out the missing keys.
"rhere now, you see" quoth the man,
IT was right: the only thing you've been
robbed Of is your senses. Hurry up, now,
and get on. Of this, for before long you'll
keel over" With which he pushed Mont.
pomery into the lonely street, and locked
up the great, sombre store.
x X X
Montgomery made his appearance at the
store next morning with sickly face and
a misgiving heart. He was late, having
oversight himself; so he found Miss Gibbon
calmly making entries in a great ledger
business we'll begun, as he confronted his
"Your keys" demanded Mr.. Lamb, as
testify as a 'ull grown sheep. "lTs rather
strange, Mr.. Curtis, that you should keep
us waiting on this particular morning
when you knew we were anxious to bank
the ten thousand dollars received yesterday
afternoon" j.,
Montgomery yielded up his keys, and
4 IL al RI