Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-11-23
BERTHA DAEt0Ns TRIUMPH
THE HISTORY or AN OPAL RING
IQontinllad.l

lNVIuuttscA.I
.,No. no-too wlae awake Tor tnat---
eh. Mr.. PerkinsYn said John. Good
day:p and away John went, Perkins
Wbistling softly to himself as he
watched his friend down the path.
John had attended to the sick dog In
the morning. and, as soon as he re-
turned to the inn, he watched his OPP
portunity, when no one was about, and,
taking Juno in his arms, he proceeded
to the railway station, and took the
train for London.
Arrived at the Victoria Station, hh
called cab, and, getting in with MS
burden. too i'll to do anything but occa-
sionally to attempt feebly to lick hiD
hand. he drove to house in Chelsea,
part of which was built over a largo
door like stable entrance, and there
in conspicuous letters might be read
the name of Cornelius Fergus, Veter-
mary Surgeon"
On Johns applying his hand to the
bell, the door was opened by the son OF
Erin himself, a horsey-looking man,
with fiorid face and red whiskers.
From the greeting that ensued it was
evident the two were well acquainted.
Following his friend into room on the
ground-fioor, fitted up as a sort Of
study, John made his errand known.
Mr.. Fergus examined the dog carefully
and looked grave.
''Seems as though she's had some
thing that doesn't agree with her,
doesn't it?" John inquired.
"The dog has been poisoned, " said the
doctor.
John nodded his head.
"What should you say now, from her
appearance, that she's got hold Off" he
asked.
Mr.. Fergus again examined the dog.
sit is impossible to say-some miner
al poison-not arsenic though"
II want to leave her with you, Fer
gus" said John. do you think she'll
get better?"
"She may" the doctor replied. "It's
q doubtful case"
IF she DOESN'T" said John, with a
meaning look, lit would be satisfac-
tion to have her opened, you know"
''All right" returned Mr.. Fergus,
with a glance of comprehension as his
fingers closed over the fee John left in
his palm. Anything stirring just
now?"
Nothing particular" John replied.
"You know where to find me, Fergus.
I'm in hurry-I must be off,, Good
BY" ,
"Ah-always plenty of work on hand
so the world goes. You shall hear
from me. Good-by."
The two shook hands, and parted.
John had not reached the end of the
road leading from the veterinary sur
geon's premises, when he heard the re-
port Of gun.
''Poor Junol It's pity-she was
nice dog" he said to himself as he
walked at brisk pace toward West
minister.
1t was late in the evening when John
returned to 1.-THE Anglers Rest" but
it was later still when Fancourt came
back from his expedition. He had been
drinking, and when he came in he i'm
mediately called for brandy. Toward
the small hours John had to help him
up to bed, when he fell at once into a
drunken sleep.
John waited in the room till he was
assured by his masters stertorous
breathing that he was not likely to be
easily disturbed; and then, taking the
lamp to the dressing-table, he unlocked
a small key that hung at Fancourt's
watch-chain. The next thing he did
was to take up a rosewood box bound
with brass.
IF it is anywhere, it's here, he NUT
tered.
Going to his own room he set down
the lamp, and proceeded with the key
he held to open the box. 1t was divid-
ed into various compartments. One of
these contained considerable amount
of money in notes and gold. There
were also many trinkets Of more or less
value, and several papers-these John
looked over. In another compartment,
beneath miscellaneous articles, he found
what he sought-a small packet, labeled.
On the label were the name and address
of chemist, but they had been blotted
out with ink.
He went down to closet in the
kitchen where the landlady kept articles
for household use, and finding Jar
marked "Arrowroot," !" he poured small
quantity of its contents into cup and
packet into paper, he carefully folded
He then dipped his handkerchief into
WdtCI, dllu CdutlOuoly IuUUcu UuC idDcl
till the fresher ink came off a little,
partially showing the printed letters
beneath. He could just make out N o
and the length of the name, five or six
letters. He also made out an L, or H,
or b, in the middle. Finding he could
not get more of the ink off without rub
bling through the paper, he filled the
packet with the arrowroot, replaced
everything as he had found it. locked
the box, conveyed it back to his mas
ter's room, and refastened the key on
the watch-chain.
His labors were not quite over yet.
He again went down-stairs-this time
into the coffee-room, where there hap
pened to be London Postoffice Direc-
tory. Turning to list Of chemists, he
ran his finger down to the letter N.
''Nolan-that must be the man." he
said to himself, as he took down the
address; "humph, we are getting along
pretty smart!'
He smiled as he made this mental OBJ
servation, and, taking up the lamp, he
went to his own room and to bed, SEEM
ingly perfectly satisfied with his days
work.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Though "The Clearing in an Ameri-
can Forest" had not progressed as rap
iCly aS he could have wished it had