Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-14

v
aperture.
"Well, it is you, is ita" quoth Mr.. Big
gerton, ungraclously enough.
eyes, sir.' And John Liel walked un-
steadily forward. II hope you are glad
to see me, uncle
81 can't say that am" grunted the
chief. IL suppose you are out of work
again. Idleness has become a chronic
malady with you, john
John Liel stood twitching the frayed
end OF a not immaculate handkerchief
through his rigid digits.
~ hope not, uncle; leastwise, T.
Happily, we don't see our own faults,
John. But ct me tell you that one Of
yours is laziness; so don't stand on the
defensive"
II have not endeavored to defend my
self nor could l conscientiously do So"
with short, faint laugh.
Mr.. Biggerton replaced his gold-bowed
glasses, and sat looking for moment or
two at his nephew. He was u short,
corpulent, old fellow, this uncle of Johns;
close-shaven, keen-eyed, alert, and dressed
with scrupulous care in a suit of shiny
black broadcloth,
''Well, what are you going to do with
yourself?" he finally intcrrogated.
~ hardly know" and John looked
down appealingly into the round, ruddy
face Of his kinsman. IL had entertained
faint hope
"And what did you hope?"
THAT there might be something in the
service that you could offer me-"
Mr.. Americas Biggerton let fall his
docket of crlminalities with something
very much like smothered gasp.
sYou?"
''Certainly; why not?''
"Why not? For the very sufficient
reason that you are not qualified to fill
any position beyond the counter of
country shoe-shop. It takes deal more
than a good-natured dolt to fulfil the
duties required of detective
''For all that, you might put me to
the test
Just then sudden thought revealed
itself to Mr.. Biggerton.
"And so 1 might" he conceded. II
suppose it's against the code of human
nature to let ones own flesh and blood
starve outright, and have kind Of half
notion to try you, anyhow. There, there!'
he rejoinded, cautiously; don't rush into
a vortex at avowals before you are certain
of my intentions, whic i are these: You've
heard of Brashear, the clerk who de-
camped a week or so ago, leaving Killop
and Carr considerable sum the worse
for his flight. Well, very confdentially,
and strictly between ourselves, the United
American Detective Service has tracked
the fellow to a little manufacturing centre
in Massachusetts, where the aforemen-
toned service intends to keep him until
the rewards offered for his apprehension
is colossal enough to recompense them
for their pains. Now, John, here's your
chance. Go up to BEAMS Point, and
keep clear eye on the fellow; then. when
the time arrives to expose HIM, I'll come
up and arrest him, and pay you we'll for
your trouble-all with the proviso that
you do your work in the right way"
"But how will I recognize the culprit?"
queried Liel.
Easily enough; he is your height to
a hair s breadth, very dark, and eliminate
to last degree"
care you certain he is at Beamis
Peint2"
"Certain as I am of my own existence.
There is but one tavern IN the place, and
at it he is domiciled.- 1t is highly prob
able he will be disguised and under an
assumed name. But you must ferret out
his identity, aided by the information I
have given you, and the fact that he has
been in the place just fortnight come
Tuesday. Here's enough money to cover
your expenses. In event of your failure,
l warn you never to come my way again,
If you succeed your future is assured.
Now 60" 49,.
And John, slowing away generous
coil of bills in his innermost pocket, obey
ed Mr.. Biggerton's peremtory bidding.
Now Beams Point was an almless
province of unfertile soil, somewhere
along the Massachusetts coast; of which
one predicted at first scantiness of pop
ulatlon, and general poverty in the way
of human comfort. There were precisely
seven rambling farm-houses, an equally
rambling church, and, more pretentious
than the rest, heap of brick and NOR
tar stigmatized, for brevity's sake, THE
Tavern
John Liel got to this place ON the Sec
ond morning after his departure from
Blgge1ton's office. Once there, he set
about his duties with all the system and
regularity BETTING them. Going direct
ly to the tavern, he ordered room, and,
while subscribing himself upon the bat
tered register, took occasion to scan the
names enrolled thereon.
In most part they were good, sensible
Yankee names, such, he argued, as might
be and probably we're the possession of
the itinerant peddlers who predominated
in that section. But two names were one
jot out of the stereotyped category; these
were Miss Spear, New Haven, and Oliver
Pierce, Brooklyn. He closed the book
suddenly when he saw the date subjoin-
ing them, Tuesday, April 10. That was
the day on which Philip Brashear had
come to Beamis Point.
He went to his room, there to await the
sounding of the dinner gong. 1t rang at
last, and, with a strangely fluttering heart
John repaired to the dining groom, and
the first person to be introduced to him
was Mr.. Oliver Pierce, of Brooklyn.
The fellow was manifestly in the last
epoch of respectable intoxication; and as
he lolled about the room, eating, gesticu-
lating and talking all IN breath. John
had no meagre opportunity to study his
notwithstanding physiognomy.
His intuition told him the fellow was
the one he sought. His face was covered
by struggling beard of several weeks
growth; he was quite dark, and Johns
height "to hairs BREADTH"
That afternoon John telegraphed Big
gerton substantially as follows:
"Unc1e Americus Everything is in