St. Landry democrat., 1882-08-26

| "Not T." chuckled the other, with
sagacious shake OF the head. Il hadn't
come to that part of my story. But
see you read my thoughts before | can
out with them. | hare been robbed; in
the strangest way"'
AS every well-to-do planter carried
his watch and dangling fob chain, and
as Mr.. Oatman person showed none.
the signor, who was fond Of a joke, could
not help answering in fortune telling
fashion:
''Your watch has been taken"'
"Now how could you know Mdt?'
the supplemented man exclaimed, in
delighted surprise ''It was the first
thing missed. Then we made search,
and found that my wifes diamond ring
was gone, and that over two hundred
dollars had been tlched from my till.'
1.-The thief must have been acquant
ed with the PREMISES suggested the
signor.
There YOU hit it again said the
planter, with lively satisfaction. You
score one every time. He must know
the premises, whoever he is; and that's
the strange part of it. Servants faith
tul-Good Lord, they wouldn't know
what to do with the money and things
if they had them! Only our son and
daughter living with US. a few intimate
friends come in, that trust as far as I'd
trust myself. NoaC, uho could haze
robbed us?''
The worthy Oatman aimed this ques-
ton point-blank at the signor, who an
swered seriously that he could not tell.
"You can tell! I'm sure you can
tell'' the planter insisted, stoutly. 81
haven't come here without consulting
my family. My wife and daughter both
advised ME to come. Only my son tried
to dissuade me- He said you couldn't
know anything about such matters, and
| would only be making bad matter
worse. But then, he hasn't seen your
wonderful performances
A quick suspicion shot through the
signor's intuitive mind.
Your son was right; he gave you
good advice. dare say he was quite
anxious that you should keep away
from me?"
"Indeed, he was!'' said the planter.
to partly promise l wouldn't come, be-
fore he would let me leave the house.
He said | would make fool of myself,
and | said: swell, well, George, l
WON'T! He thought meant Wouldn't
consult you. But what l really meant
was'' -
THAT you wouldn't make fool of
yourself the signor interrupted.
And here you're doing it, I'm afraid,
after all!''
"No. no"' cried the planter, conf
IDENTIFY. ''You just come around to the
house with me, examine the premises.
and talk with the folks, and I'm posi-
tive you can guess the riddle, if you
haven't guessed it already. Ah!' he
laughed, gleefully, g see, by your eye
j you have guessed it..''
Indeed, the suspicion which had en-
tered the signor mind had become al
most certainty; and it was not with
out hope of being able to solve the mys-
terry, to his own satisfaction if not to the
planters, that he finally consented to
visit the house.
He was introduced to the planters
wife and daughter; saw the servants
simple old negro and his wife; and was
shown the room from which the valua
bleS had Deen pufloneu.
While he was thus engaged, fine
looking young fellow, but with rather
careworn face for one hardly yet out of
his teens, came and stood in the door
way.
.Ah! Signor, here is my son." said
Mr.. Oatman, slightly embarrassed
"You see, George, I-I-thought best
to-you won't mind, my boy; for ask
ing him in can't do any hurt, if it don't
do amy good.
"Ail ii ghtr said George. carelessly.
But the signor, who exchanged glances
with him, saw that. his lip twitched
nervously. and that there was an anx-
ious look in his eye.
/ "Your father has an extravagant no.
ton of my poor abilities" the signor re-
marked, in friendly tone. "Yom
haven't witnessed my performances?
youth replied, drily.
"No doubt you have been more pleas
antly employed The city offers a good
many attractions to Il spirited young
man; and / see by your looks" the
signor added, with meaning smile,
sthat you are not one of those billiards
who go to bed at dusk
George smiled in a CLASSY sort of way,
and seemed trying to bring out some
careless reply. when his mother re-
marked. complainingly:
George keeps very late hours this
winter. I'm SO sorry! for any one can
see it isn't good for him"
''He used to make calls with me,
evenings said the sister. "But he
never does, nowadays. can't think
what he finds to amuse him so late.
every night
II can think" said the signor. 81
know the city, and l know young men.