The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-11-24

! somewhat Of . matchmaker, and having no
one but myself on whom to exercise her tai
| ents, she had devoted them exclusively to
my service. She bad already decided on .
suitable wife for me, and was sxerting her
self to the utmost to bring about the mar
riaRe MThe chosen young lady was present,
and knew that Alice was much annoyed
| with me for devoting the evening to my
brief instead OF to Dora Lyme. The latter
was the daughter Of solicitor In good prac-
tiee, and was herself q very pretty. bright
looking girl, who would, 1 was compelled to
admit, be q most desirable wife for young,
| unknown barrister.
was thoroughly fond. Of Alice, and she
was my chosen confidauts whenever 1 need
ed one but could not tell her even that
the .true' reason E.whichi prevented Dora
| Lyne's brown eyes and sweet voice making
| their due Impression on me was the remem-
| brance of . face seen but during a three
hours railway journey. . face with dark
! gray eyes and quiet, thoughtful expression,
\ and a voice heard at somewhat rare intervals
| IN the space of time, whose low-pitched
| tones still vibrated i'm my Imagination. Al
/ ice would have been too good natured to
Isugh at me, but / felt sure that. had she
| known the state of the ease she would have
| entertained, and probably expressed, fears
that Ovsr-study had affected my brsin-an
opinion that would probably have been
shared by all persons whose characteristic
! was common sense.
| Miss Lyme, perceivIns that Alice was vex-
ed with me. and wishing. think, 10 show
| that she did not share the feeling, called me
over to look 1T some prints and photogrA phs
which she was examining
| "AlIce," said Miss Lyme, at length. "did
you show Ar. LestranRe the sketch you
! found in that book k?'
| mo" said Alice; "I forgot It. You will
! hnd It in that volume Of the Stones Of Ven
| ice on my table, Richard. It Is really a
beautiful sketch. wsnder how It came to
be forgotten in the book"
brought the book to Dora LYME, who
turned over the leaves until She found the
/ drawing. which she put into my hands. The
moment saw it uttered an exclamation of
surprise, which brought my cousin ct snes
| TO my side.
1t was = spirited water colored sketch of .
mans head-a dark, foreign looking face
surmouHted by . red cap. It was, however,
neither the skill of the artist nor the pictur-
esque beauty OF the model that attracted my
attention; Il was In the fact that In the
somewhat peculiar features OF the latter l
recognized those Of my client, Luigi Bernini.
what an odd coincidence 20 said Alice,
when 1 had explained. 'T wonder who
could have taken the sketch-some one who
knows how to handle . Brush" she added,
| looking critically at It. ''See. here are ini-
tisls and = date, but they are 50 faint that 1
cannot make them OUT
Let me try" said Dora "I have good
sight" She took the sketch over to the
lamp and scrutinixed itelosely. "W. n. D.,
but cannot make out the date. Stay, I
have It. May 1eth, is-"
| "Nay 1o-why, that was the very day OF
! the robbery" said. Then the full sIKHin-
/ cance Of this date flashed suddenly upon me
and 1 absolutely turned giddy. "The alibI !''
1 gasped-'If We could find the nan who
did that sketch, We might succeed In proving
the slibi." Dora LyHe erasped my meaning
/ with ready quiekuess.
! 'Aorrison's library that book came from,
| was It not, Alieee They ought to be able
TO tell you there who had Il on, or frnedi-
stely after, the 10th OF May"
"And the person, whoever she or he IL,
viii have to be hunted up said, "and
there's no little time. This is Monday and
the trial Is fixed for Wednesday. Isuppose
Horrisou's 10 closed by this, AIIcer'
Indeed II is" she answered. "You
would find no onsthsrs now but q carstaker.
You must just walt patiently until to NOR
row"
had perforee to wait ~ to the patIeues
with which did so, the less said the better.
The following morning found me at Nor
rison's library. On explaining nv business.
1 was referred to the clerk in charge of the
library department, nom whom 1 totally
failed to learn the required information
The young man who usually attended tn
that part OF the business was awav: IL
could call next wee"
intimated with what appeared to nae. At
the time, most praiseworthy ssIf-control.
That next week would not do, giving q par.
Hal explanation OF the circumstances. Bu,
the clerk, although apparently willing 70
heip ne, Profsssed himself quite unable to
do 30.
"You see. sir, " he said, eft you wanted 60
know what book any subscriber had ont at /.
given time could probable tell YOU. but a.
for aseertaining the whereabouts Of a speei.I
oook-t's an imposslbility. II YOU ike to
look over our entries for yourself, you are
welcome to do So"
L accepted this offer, and spent a oood
part OF the day in turning over the blott.d
pages wherein were inscribed the nam..
and course Of reading OF tie subscriber, ,o
Aorrison's. And an Improbable morning,
work It was The record va. to all appear.
ancs imperfeetly kept, and failed to tr,..
the second volume Of the ''Stones of Venice,
through period longer than three week.
during which It had twice changed hand.
Some hours more were spent in huntn.
sp the persons In whose possession it had
oesn for that length Of time, neither of whom
could give any Information concerpiup tbs
sketch. An application to Bernini bims.l,
was eqnslly fruitless. He remembered tbat
lady and gentleman whom he had me-
during his wanderings had asked him to ali
to them, but he did not know who they vers
nor could he even make it clear where tn,
incident had occurred.
returned home at dinner-time, tired apf
banned, TO report my failure to Aljce anf
her husband, from whom l received muct
sympathy but no suggestions of any practi
cal value. l had given up hope, and wa,
endeavorinR to dismiss the subject from m,
thoughts, when late 10 the evening the hal
door bell sounded and . message cana n,
thst person wanted to speak to Mr.. La
strange. Going down found waiting fo
me briRht-lookinR boy, one OF the shop az