Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-06-13
TERMS $500 per Annum.

BOY stretched out his arm; Its elbow Wa
Illuminated by hole eloquent as tn
eye of Polyphemus. Mr.. Hoag thrust hi
! fingers into the socket.
"My purse has got hole in it," h
said. sadly, and dropped some pennie
into the boys hand.
Tho act touched my heart.
"Come, Mr.. Hoag," said addressing
him. "Come and have some lunch
Something has dashed your spirits"
"You know, Mr.. Hazlett," he said t.
me as we sat down at Oestreich's-'
you know I never pass blind man with
out giving him something"
"Waiter?" I said sternly, "don't you
know better than to serve water at gen
tleman's lunch2 Come, old fellow" and
turned to Mr.. Hoag, "what is the mat
ter with you? feel little out of sort.
myself. You have heard me speak o
my cousin Smiler, the lawyer. This morn
ing he told me that my last five thousano
dollars that he got me to invest in his
company was worth one hundred and
fifty dollars in the market"
My remark gave Mr.. Hoag CLEAN OF
pleasure.
"They are all on the make" he said
as l retilled his glass with Sauterne
"But there are some things that seem 10
me impossible. How can man swindle
his triend?'
"Well,' replied gaily, "my only care
now is that Death shall not pick my
pocket of dollar. After Smiler there is
no one else to fear"
Mr.. Hoag looked at me with growing
confidence and not little admiration.
I had friend," he began, each word
held back by professional caution. "And
yet I hardly like to call him friend
he was scarcely worthy of the name
This man some time since did a service
for lady's maid. She was large, splen-
did looking woman, with such fine
arm and Jet black eyes," Mr. Hoag,
who was short, spare man with sandy
hair, strained himself up an inch or two
taller.
1.-THE girl had no money!" he continued,
$50 she gave my friend letter; sort Of
letter of credit on distinguished clergy.
man.
"This clergyman had been human, and
he was glad to pay my friend for helping
him keep his secret. It wasn't much,
but it was modest income
My friend wasn't extravagant. H. wa.
naturally gentleman. man of letters.
He had what you call refined tastes. He
enjoyed his horse, his cigar, his cocktail;
now and then he liked to bet dollar on
the ace, or see rat shaken.
One day my friend wakes up and finds
his property stolen-his income gone
The man of letters has become q man
without letters. He is ruined-ruined.' -
Mr.. Hoag, with eyes empty of hope,
looked at the sunbcams breaking throug gh
the champagne in his glass.
"What," asked eagerly, twas there NO
other evidence? Was there nothing left?''
"Nothing," replied the Shadow, re-
pressing tear; ''nothing whatever, ex.
cept the child"
'And that?"
"What will gentleman give for his
child without evidence to convict?" re-
turned Mr.. Hoag, whom misfortunate had
touched with skzpticism.
'.True." I said, 1.-THE man could set his
own price upon the child, and your friend
could set his own price upon the letter
It's what they call broken market. But
could you identify the child?"
ut is the perfect image Of its mother,
answered the shadow.
"Why doesn't your friend go to the
clergyman, take the child and demand
payment! There might be some money
in it,"
I" It is ticklisb business. He is a
detective: 1t would ruin his reputation
They nigh accuse him of trying to extort
money, if he had no evidence. 1t is five
years in Sing Sing. If he could only gel
some one to act for him."
"Some one to play the role of cats.
paw" I said with knowing smile.
" It might pay something" said the
to rope himself in as the friend of the
clergyman"
"By Jovey'' cried, after moments
pause. I'm hard up. If you will
divide, I'll do it myself, and run the
risk"
II will" Mr.. Hcag stretched out his
hand. A faint hope like the love sta1
winning out Of the twilight shone in his
lustreless eyes.
"Who is the thief?" 1 asked. "The
man who stole the letter. It isn't tile
man I saw you talking With Just now?"
"D0 you know him?" asked the
shadow.
81 have seen him often. don't know
his name. He lookes like clergyman
I never 20 to church."
"That is Mr.. Godkind.'
What, the famous rectorl"
Eyes"
"And the child2 It can't be-"
"Is that little fiddler. He lives al
Cobweb Hail."
"And the woman2"
The shadow looked caustiously around
him, and, bending forward, whispered s
name that made each hair on my head
rise and tug at its tether. A moment
more and / should have been bald.
:Stop! stop!" cried in terror; "i|
isn't truc.", ~
"1t is true;" and he repeated the name
of lady who gemmed the highest Alp OF
religious and fashionable society.
Heueh!" l replied with long breath
" Suppose l get jugged? Suppose they
sent me to Sing Sing2"
II Will visit you,' said the shadow, a.
with smile in which whatever of solact
and affection there is in the world wa!
mingled, be watched the different color
ed strata of the glass of cordial which
was preparing for him.
"Mr. Godkind,"I said to my frien6
that evening"" you are safe. l have tn
child. I know you will do your duty"
"God bless you, Frank" said the rec
tor, his eyes filling with tears. "You hav,
saved me and my family from ruin. I,
you knew the remorse I have suffered
The follies OF our youth arc spectres tha
haunt and age us. I shall never forge1
your kindness" e@.5 a. ,>-. =:
"If Mr. Hoag tries to bleed you agar
arrest him instantly, The bravest way il
the safest. >whet there is no written evi
dence-" i>&,sJ s@ 5s,s i.. 49,. ..s:..
The rector took my hand and gave .
deep sigh. He looked around his rici
library and cast his eyes upon the pages
0f a ~. hn vpao 80