The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-11

we can do to help you for an hour or so, if
you will show us what you have done and
what is to be done"
With beating heart and whirling brain I
hurried from the readingroom. Was ever
mortal engaged upon such an extraordinary
errand before?
In due time reached the publishing house
of MatSon & Co. Without waiting to think,
pushed hastily forward and asked the first
person saw, who happened to be a mere
boy, for Mr.. Matson.
Il fear he is out, sir, but L will see.'
AHxiously l waited the boys return. At
last he came
'Mr. Matson is not in his room, sir just
now, but l believe he is in the house. Would
you wait a whie?'
l nodded assent, was too impatient to
speak. had endeavored to prepare myself
for an unpleasant interview, but not for
time OF weary waiting.
As Istood there, one of those extraordinary
condolences occurred which, in novels, are
always voted impro bable and yet which are
frequently happening in real life, for fact is
stranger than fctiOn. As l stood there,
say, a printers boy passed me. He appeared
to have come for copy, for he asked, in the
usual uncouth manner in which those gentle
individuals converse, "if there was anything
for Manningses"
''No!" exclaimed one of the young men,
while the other as speedily corrected him,
and exclaimed in tones that thrilled through
me, There's the first batch of Baldwn's
copy for -. If you forget that, Matson
would go raving mad"
My temples ached and throbbed more than
ever. Here, then, was the discovery. Bald
win, no doubt, was the man who had stolen
my Ms. Matson was to publish it, and Man
ming was to print it.
l could scarcely control myself as L saw
the boy clutch the roll of Ms. handed him
If hn nd eli int
his leather bag
That felt sure, was my lost manuscript
but how was [ to regain it?
looked at my watch. Half an hour only
to reach the Museum before it closed; saying
therefore, that [ could wait no longer, l
abruptly left the publishing office 1t was
useless to see Mr.. Matson now, for even if he
credited my extraordinary story, he would
hardly send for the MS. tonight. Moreover
l had almost accomplished my mission, and
gained the information required, and as it
was necessary | should see my friends again
tonight, had no time to lose.
| arrived at the Museum Just before the
time for closing, and found Miss Miller and
her companion just leaving Hurredly |
told them what had occurred, and concluded
by saying that felt sure my lost Ms. was at
Mannings, the printers
"Manning" exclaimed Miss Miller ooh,
know them. They are printing my copy, and
have printed great deal of it, Oh, it is only
real copying; | do not aspire to original writ
ing" she added, with a silvery little laugh
Then she said, impulsively, Il think perhaps
could help you now, as l have been to Man
ning's so often. If you will call on my mo-
ther this evening at g. perhaps / may have it.
The address is No. 10, Railton road, Kentsh
Town"
u
d. Il n -. IL
myself in the dull, respectable, shabby-gen-
teel street known as Railton road, Kentish
Town, and as the last strokes of the hour
were Ginning from a neghboring church,
knocked at the door of No. 10. A dirty,
slatternly woman. evidently clearinghouse
keeper, opened the door, and, in reply to
my inquiry for Mrs. Miller, she exclaimed,
Grossly:
First floor, front" and disappeared
Speedily l made my way up stairs, as di-
recte6, and knocked at the frontroom door.
1t was soon opened, and l found myself face
to face with pleasant-visaged old lady of
mild manners and gentle demeanor, who,
upon hearing the reason of my visit cor
daily invited me to come in"
had not been long in her presence before
she had garulously informed me of all the
principal features of her family history;
how she had lost her husband and all her
children save one, and had been obliged to
retire from her large house at Kensington to
dingy apartments at Kentish Town. All
this and more, she was relating with much
volubility and precision, when she was in
terrupted by the appearance of her
daughter who, having let herself in with
her door-key, had FASTENED upstairs and alb
ruptly entered the room, not knowing was
within.
"Alasp' she cried, 81 have not been sue
cessful in obtaining it, but have seen it, 1t
iS without Hnnbt. I nntina1 11o -
ing"
why, how did you see it?'' 1 exclaimed.
81 told you that Manning was printing my
copy just now, and in order TO save time l
have often taken the Ms. there direct of
late. So took batch tonight. The front
office was closed SO l made my way upstairs
to the overseer in the composing-room. And
there was your MS. lying on his desk wait
ing to be given out to the type-setters in the
morning. Oh! my fingers fairly tingled to
take it away, but of course 1 could not. You
must"
For few moments 1 could not reply;
strange wild thoughts rushed through my
mind, and felt half delirious with sudden
joy. She must be favorably inclined to me,
l thought to take so much interest in me,
and, in Imagination, thought / saw the
sweet love light in her dear eyes Was it
possible she might love me?
But l strove TO collect my Thoughts, and
commenced to stammer a reply. 1 thought
she noticed my confusion, for she blushed
slightly, and looked down. At length
managed to articulate: Il will get the MS;
after you have braved so much for me it
would be cowardly in me to pause"
So saying, L rose, and held out my hand to
take my leave.
Don't be so fast" she replied, smiling.
"How will you get in? You never thought
of that, l suppose Now you must take this
roll of MS and if the doorkeeper should
question you, you can easily show him this,
and say it is from Miss Miller, which she
neglected to leave this evening, and that you
will go upstairs. Pass by him hurriedly, SO
that he can ask no further questions and
then go upstairs to the second floor. The
overseer's desk is close by the door of the
composing-room, and it was on that desk l
saw your MS"
"Oh, thank you; l will manage; never
fear I exclaimed hnldly nGcnd niaht