The Portland daily press., 1879-09-29
THE PRESS.
A Cool Hand.
lCONTINUED.l

But the ieweller wouldn't rest so easily.
believe he thought me simple stranger
that wanted looking after, instead OF man
who'd seen more of the world in ten years
than he had in fifty. He made me describe
the stone to him three times over, and wrote
it down. setting and all, and said as my bus
mess in Ireland was so important he'd spare
me the trouble of going to Scotland Yard if
pleased.
'sThat's as you like" said, as if diamond
more or less wasn't of much account to a
Connor-for it doesn't do to lower ones dig
nifty before tradesman. ''And OF course L
thank you for being so kind
You'll have to offer reward" SAID he.
''I'll leave that to yourself, said L. ANY
thing in reason of course, I'll pay, to get
the stone back again. And I'll bet you ten
pounds to one that it's not been stolen.'
II don't bet,'' he said, with another smile.
thanked him in an off-hand way, not to let
him see how really yeXed | was about il all,
and went home.
But was veXed, and the more | thought
about it, the more vexed [ grew; for I'd just
set my heart on giving Kate this diamond.
81 wish hadn't let that fellow go to the po-
lice." thought l. ''Hell be sure to make
some mess or another-I think I'll go myself
after all, and see that things are done prop
erly. I'll drive to Scotland Yard, wherever
it is. this very afternoon" Of course I'd
hunted high and low for the stone, but ii
was no more in my lodgings than it was in
my pockets; and / asked all the questions in
the house that could without binting that
it was diamond | was looking for. j
couldn't believe it was stolen, even now; but
still there might be chance if the police
were put on the scent by a proper reward.
But all at once, just as | was thinking the
least of poor Kate, and the most of her
stone, letter was brought in.
1t was not from Dublin, though. 1t had
only a London post-mark, and l didn't k ow
the hand. don't know, when l think of it
now, whether it was fact, or only an after
fancy, but the minute my fingers touched
that communicating letter seemed to feel
it was i'll news. opened it. Dated from
London-signed Miles Cregan--what could
it mean? What would Miles Cregan, the
Dublin lawyer, be doing with No. "A Melton
street, Mayfair?
And how is it that the very look of letter,
like the look of a face, will tell you, before
you read, if the heart of things is changed?
"Dear Brother-in-Law Yours to hand, l
am heartily glad you have prospered so well.
OF course there is no objection now to your
presence, or even to your residence in Dublin.
am no longer there which accounts for all de-
lays in my receipt of your letter. regret to
have to inform you that your sister Catherine
has enioyed for five years the delights of an
other and better world, which makes it lmpos-
sible for her to give you in person the welcome
which you appear to have earned. For myself,
| always believed you would eventually be-
come credit to your friends, though at the
time was disbeieved but you have doubtless
not forgotten the practical proof gave OF my
confidence in you gather from your letter
that the news has not yet reached you OF my
marriage, by means of which, and of Provl-
dence, have transferred my office and prac-
tice from Dublin to London, where l have al
ways had many clients, chiefly young military
men of excellent family. As am naturally
anxious to be of service to my first wife's only
brother, may be able to invest your capital to
better advantage than young man, without
experienced and affectionateu aid, would be
likely to do in this Den of Thieves where
practise at this present. 1t would also give me
much pleasure to make you such advances as
you may require upon merely formal and NOM
inal security. am occupied by business dur
ing the day, but it will give Mrs. Cregan, as
well as myself, the greatest pleasure If you
will come and see us next "Wednesday evening.
A few friends may drop in, including some
young military men of excellent family; but we
are very quiet people, and wish you to look
upon this informal invitation as of purely
domestic character
'Believe me to be, my dear Thomas, affec-
tionately yours, MILES CREGAN."
NY heart swelled for a minute as if it
would burst, and then sank down as if it
had turned to frozen lead within me. Poor
Kate-the only girl I'd been coming home
for the only soul there was to give Inc a
kiss of welcome after eleven years-and she
was dead and | had never known. sat
for don't know how long, holding Mles's
letter in hands that were nigh as dead as
her own. The han
som, SIR" said the servant from the door.
Hanson! what hansom?" "The one you
wanted fetched to go to Scotland Yard"
''Then send it awayv' What did it matter
about that diamond any more-Kate Of Afri-
ca, when Kate of Ireland had been buried
five years; ay, and forgotten too by her own
husband, and by everybody but me?
would not have had that diamond back now,
no, not if it were the Koh-i-noor.
need not tell the story Of that day and
evening. 1t seems odd that | should have
done without my sister for more than ten
years, and without corresponding with her
even, and yet that her death should have
struck me just like blow. I'd never thought
of the chance of her dying; and while she
was alive or while thought her so, though
never saw her or heard of her, hadn't
felt quite alone in the world. But did the
next morning when I woke up and lay half
thinking, half dreaming about it all-terribly
alone. I'd made money, but | hadn't
kinsman that cared twopence for me, and
we don't make friends in my sort of life
we only make chums, who seem to come no.
whence and go no-whither. Paul Andrews
had been most like friend while he lasted,
but he hadn't lasted OF course I'd go and
see Miles. His offers of help were just
doubling all his old kindness, and l some
how liked him for himself a little better now
that he wasn't Kate's husband; | had never
liked to think of him in that way. She
seemed to have come back to the ConnOrs
now she was gone. And anyhow, hum
gered so much for the feel of somebody's
hand that I'd have taken Cetewayo's even,
r I = 10 all
me the last of Kate if he hadn't quite for
gotten her. He was the nearest to me now,
after all; and if the new Mrs. Cregan had
got a child or two of poor Hates, to whom
she was, perhaps, acting as a good step
mother, and if they took to me, might find
something to do with my money now that it
didn't feel of any more use to me. | didn't
want to meet Miles's officers, but no doubt
I'd be able to have talk with him over a
late pipe when the others were gone. So
Just wrote him word to say I'd come, and
set off for a twenty-mile walk to get rid of
the blue devils and make myself feel like a
man again. What's death after all? I've
seen him face to face often enough, and |
never could manage to think much of him.
But poor Kate! It's easy preaching when
one isn't ones own congregation L doubt
if she was ever quite happy with Miles, but
1 did wish she hadn't died quite so soon.
III.
1t is not very far from Norfolk street,
where was lodging, to Mayfair; but some
how it took me long time to get to Melton
street on Wednesday evening. 1t wasn't till
the last minute that made up my mind to
dress; and l only did at last because that
was the only way l could go in decent
mourning, though of course after five years
nobody but myself would notice how chose
to go. And then got hold of cabman
who didn't know the town, and as | didn't
either, we lost good deal of time on the
journey. / was afraid to look at my watch
when got there at last, for Miles was an
early man at both ends Of the day. l was in
too much of hurry to notice much about
the outside of the house as we went up to the
door, though when l thought of it after
wards l called to mind one or two little
things that might have surprised me; but
whe.i / was inside, Faith thought to my
self, things have changed with Miles as
much as they have with me--the new Mrs.
Cregan must have had money anyhow In
deed at first could hardly believe my own
eyes, Miles had never been anything but
rich, but even in the best Dublin days he'd
haar oontapt TO 1.-Two n a littIa houSe and in