The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-30

: day. BY the way, how does young
Beaumont get on? She seems a nice
creature, that sister of his, 10 Judge by
her letters.
He is the best hand in the office, a
long sight and his sisteris very sweet,
ladylike creature. They are orphans.
poor things, and he supports her out OF
his salary. She called at the office two
months ago, and | gave him leave to see
her for few minutes in my room. But
he knew it was against rules, and has
not seen her here again
but what are we TO do ?" says my
uncle, Il think l will speak to the first
lord"
So he spoke to the first lord, who
thought the affair serious enough.
st must be in the letters, saws my
uncle
''As you please, said the chief. ''but
although YOU cannot find it there, per-
haps another can, | would try an eX-
pert.
My uncle had no faith in experts or
Bow-street runners, and mistrusted
them. But he could not refuse to try
the experiment suggested. So the most
experienced decipherer in London was
summoned into council, and to him the
letters Of the day were secretly sub
mitted.
He read them all very carefully, looked
at them in the light, and looked at
the light through them. At last he
put them all aside, excepting one from
| ElinOr Beaumont.
''Who is the lady that writes this ?"
says the taciturn man Of skill at last.
"a very sweet young woman" said
Parker smartly; sister to my private
secretary.
Does she write often?'
Yes; she is his only correspondent,
and writes about twice week"
"Where does she live?"
''She lives in Jersey, Beaumont told
me-"
And does she always write about
the same kind of things-aunt's rheuma
tism, pic-nics, squire's tea parties, and
the like?"
much the same, except when she
speaks of Beaumont himself"
Hum! she dates from Fleet Street,"
"And why should she not date from
Fleet Street, sir"
Il should be sorry to prevent her,
this correspondence continued long,"
"Oh, yes-a couple of years or SO, but
not nearly SO regular as lately"
''For how long regularly"
"About two months"
"This is about the time when you
first suspected the betrayal of con
fidence."
''Really, my friend, if you can't see
farther into milestone than that you
give up your profession" said my uncle.
Take my word for it, the Beaumonts
had nothing to do with it. Rubbish!
''Huml" 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
and was again closeted with my uncle
and Parker, with whom he had fallen
into great disfavor.
"Wants to make job, )" said the latter
"a regular humbug."
''Sir Georgo, said the regular hum
bug, shas Mr.. Beaumont locked desk
in his room.
Eyes, sir" said Mr.. Parker, he has P"
''Have you key which will openit?'
Il have-and what of it?"
Il wish to have the desk opened with
out his knowledge, and the contents
brought to me-
"And on what pretense," said my M
Gle, edo you propose to put this insult
on a man against whom there is no
reasonable ground of suspicion, and
who has not been allowed to speak for
himself"
There need be no insult, for he viii
know nothing of it; neither will any
one else"
Il will not permit it, sir"
Hum Then | can do no more in the
business"
"But," said Parker, whose official no
tions made him unwilling TO break off
the negotiations in this manner, what !
Mr.. Beaumont, and not to the other
clerks?'
'"Shall | tell YOU? There is no such |
person as Elinor Beaumont, and the add |
dress in Fleet street is notorious haunt
of suspected foreigners.
Good gracious" said my uncle,
changing color, "you don't say that?
ct is the fact, but YOU will see the |
necessity of being cautious and silent in
the matter. Detection hangs on a
thread as it stands, and whisper will |
break it.
''What do you mean?" asked Parker,
''about Elinor Beaumont? | have seen
her"
There is no Elinor Beaumont in Jer
sey. | have sent and ascertained the
fact"
4 am sure there is some mistake
about all this, which Beaumont can
clear up. Let us send him.
If you do the game is up. | trust,
in fact, he does not know of my visits.
We cannot be too cautious in these mat
tiers"
''Pedantic ass" muttered my uncle;
"but | suppose we had better give him
his own way. If you meet Parker and
me here at seven tonight, we 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 bun
die of letters, carefully packed up, all
from Elinor Beaumont, and a quantity
of circulars, play bills, and a shop-re-
ceipt, were handed to the expert.
That gentleman read through the
letters, and seemed much struck by the
last.
':Read that he says, handing it to
my uncle.
As the letter is important, l give it
entire:
No. 129 FLEET STREET, Sept. "a, 1903.
My DEAR CHARLEs-AIthough we had an
adverse wind all the way, made without
difficulty the port were bound for. NY
aunt in spite of the weight of her fifty years,
enjoyed the trip very much, and is ready 70 sail
again l hope you will think of sending the
IL