The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-12-13

said the better.
The following morning foundme at
Morrison's library. On explaining my
business, | was referred to the clerk in
charge Of the library department from
whom totally failed TO obtain he re-
quired information. The younk man
who usually attended to that Ihrt of
the business was away; if / coul d call
next week ="
l intimated with what Appealed to
me, at the time, most praiseWorthy
self-cOntrol, that next week wouh not
do, giving partial explanation Of the
circumstances. But the clerk, although
apparently willing TO help me, pro
fessed himself quite unable to do SO.
"You see, sir" he said, "if you
wanted to know what book any sub
scriber had out at a given time l could
probably tell you, but as for ascertain
ing the whereabouts of n special book
its an impossbility. If you like to
look over our entries for yourself, you
are welcome to do So"
L accepted this offer, and spent a
good part of the day in turning over
the blotted pages wherein were in
scribed the names and course of read
ing Of the subscribers to Morrison's.
And an improbable mornings work
it was. The record was to all appear
ance imperfectly kept, and L failed to
trace the second volume of the "Stones
of Venice" through a period longer
than three weeks, during which it had
twice changed hands.
Some hours more were spent in
hunting up the persons in whose pos
session it had been for that length Of
time, neither of whom could give any
information concerning the sketch. An
application to Bernini himself was
equally fruitless. He remembered that
lady and gentleman whom he had
met during his wanderings had asked
him to sit TO them, but he did not
know who they were, nor could he
even make it clear where the incident
had occurred
| returned home at dinner-time, tired
and bailled, to report my failure tC
Alice and her husband, from whom
received much sympathy but no sug
gestion Of any practical value. had
| given up hope, and was endeavoring
to dismiss the subject from my
Thoughts, when late in the evening the
hall bell door sounded and a message
came up that person wanted to speak
to Mr.. Lestrange. Going down found
waiting for me bright-looking boy
one of the shop assistants at Mr.. Nor
rison's, who had been for a short time
aiding in my investigation of the en-
tries.
81 think have what you want, sir,
re said, as | entered the room. "I
was in my mind all that day that 1 haC
given out that book to some one,
couldn't think who, and a chance wore
that | heard this evening brought i
all back TO me like flash. 1t was t,
Mrs. French, Of Redcourt, that l CAV,
it, and it must have been on the Sd o
4th of May. Here is the lady's nam
and address, sir > and he handed me {
slip of paper on which was writer
Mrs. French, Redcourt, Kilcarran.
1t was in Kilcarran or the neighbor
hood that, according to Bernini's owl
statement, he had spent the day of tn
robbery.
Thanking and dismissing the lad,
returned to the drawing-room Will
my prize. The next step was to com
municate with Mrs. French. Kilcarral
was fully fifteen miles from CARR
garvan, and the trial was to begin tn
followingmorning.
"Hand me over that railway guide
Dick" said Alice's husband. l'
thought so-no train before ten
There's nothing for it but for me \
drive to Kilcarran the first thing in th
morning-the mare can easily do it il
two hours-and if 1 find that any on
there can give evidence worth having
I'll bring them back with me, and hay
them in court before the case for tn
defense opens"
The trial began next morning, pre-
ceeding at an unusually rapid rate. /
seemed to me that the learned counst
for the prosecution had never befor
put forth his wisdom and legal know
edge in so condensed form. The cross
examination of the witnesses was 0
course in my hands, and l did my bes
to make it as tedious as possible, tC
tally failing, however, in my attempt
to confuse them or cause them to con
tradict themselves. My only hope la
now in the unknown witness, and G
him there were no tidings. The cas-
for the prosecution closed and the cour
: adjourned for lunch; was standing i
, the barrOom, thinking over my speecl
for the defense, and mentally II
2 arranging my sentences after the man
ner of the most prosy member of th
circuit, when note was handed to me
= "All right-the witness is in the shel
, iff's room."
Going into the sheriff's room foun
my cousin, accompanied by a strang
/ lady and gentleman.
/ "This is the prisoners counsel,
{ said the former, as l entered. "Allol
me to introduce Mr.. Lestrange-Mis
3 Darcy, Mr.. French" l turned to tn