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

it! Oh! what a thrill of delight passed
through me!
At that moment | heard q cold, matter-of-
fact voice near saying:
What copy have you brought, sir?"
A cold p6rsptraton broke out over my
forehead This troublesome man would pre-
vent nue. from taking it, now that ii was liter
ally in my hands, answered:
Copy from Miss Miller; would you see
the number of the last page?'
The man looked at me curiously: "Oh, l
daresay it's all right" he said. anyhow,
there is no hurry" He evidently regarded
Miss Miller's copy" as quite a secondary
affair, although, dearest girl, it meant much
to her.
However, I said, very politely: 81 shall
be much obliged if you would tell me the
number OF the last page; Miss Miller particu-
larly wished to know that it ran on all
right 1t would not take minute"
Politeness conquered him, as it usually
does everybody, and he turned away mutter-
ing
Instantly I whipped my long-sought MS.
of the desk into my pocket and followed
him. In minute | was at his side, and he
could not have told l had remained at the
desk a second after he left 1t. The last page OF
Miss Miller's copy was soon found, and of
course the few pages had brought followed
ii exactly,
With many apologies, therefore, for troub-
bling him so late at night l departed, too
elated at my success to think what might &C.
cur when the loss was discovered.
AS | descended the stairs, l heard one of
the men cry: Everything will be stopped
i'll the morning IN order to get on with the
-" And l chuckled as l thought: No,
my friend, you are wrong for once, for the
MS Is now in my possession" AT the door
the timekeeper stopped me. He was not to
be fooled out of an answer this time What
name. sir please, and on what business?'
soft fad met f,,
out into the street, when the man to whom
| had spoken in the composng-room hurried
down stairs, and exclaimed:
Not SO fast there, please; fork out that
MS. you've stolenp'
1 stood stone still, and all the blood seemed
to leave my face until even my lips were
ashy white. My heart seemed to stop beat
ing, and so overwhelmed was | with shame
and confusion that longed for the ground
to suddenly open and swallow me up.
But | summoned all my fortitude, and
answered, as boldly as possible: "How dare
you speak to me thus; l swear L have no MS.
but what is my own"
Very likely" sneered the man, "but
you'll excuse me if | ask to be satisfied. A
very valuable MS, that's got to be in type
this time tomorrow, has gone from Browns
desk, and no ones been near it but YOU"
You and me, replied, You must re-
member, we both stood there How could |
have taken it without your knowledge"
How do pick pockets clear out your
watchT' said the man. you light-fngered
gentry can do anything"
My face flushed hot enough now. l raised
my clenched fist Say that again." re-
piled, land l will knock you down."
mo doubt" sneered he; anyhow, let's
see you searched. You don't go till Pm sat
isted. So turn out your pockets; l thought
it was queer, so much fuss about that there
w oil ~,
that amt wanted for an age to come! Now,
sir, if you please turn 'em out, or shall we
send for a bobby? This ere MS. was left in
my charge, you know; it's very particular
[ shall get into the DEVILS own row if there's
anythin happens to it, Tan't likely I'd be
a-soin' to get into row for you, is it?''
Very WE'LL" l said coolly, Il will soon
satisfy you. Let US go into this room" And
| pointed to the open door of the waiting
room, and mOtioned them to enter. In
making this proposition had vague idea
that in the minute while their backs
were turned 1 would transfer the
MS. from my pocket to my hat
or my boot, but just at this critical moment
fair white hand suddenly thrust open the
swing-door leading into the lobby, near
which | stood, and from out the shadows on
the other side a sweet voice. which thrilled
through me with strange delight and which
| had never heard before to-day, whispered
softly, Give me the MS"
No sooner said than DONE The white
hand was withdrawn, the door swung noise
lessly back, and in a moment more | stood in
the waiting-room, aud cheerfully turned out
my pockets before the printers men. OF
course, no MS was forthcoming, and |
quickly left them, the one looking a perfect
picture of stupid establishment, and the
other muttering curses upon the lost Ms.
Hurrying along the gas-lit street. l soon
came up with Miss Miller who, bashful and
har
Now that the excitement was all over she
seemed 10 shrink from seeing me, and in
stantly recognized and appreciated her mod
esty.
II have to thank you, Miss Miller, very
heartily for your kind help to-day. With
out you should never have succeeded, and
not the least of that help was the service
you rendered me just now. TO what happy
circumstance am l indebted for your pres
ence?"
"I-I-had to come out to buy some coffee
for mamma. She always likes it from one
shop, and-and-as the way led near here
-I-felt so anxious to know how you sue
ceeded," she faltered, because, you see. I
am known here better than you, and l
could help you if-anythihg was wrong; and
l am glad l was OF use at last; but how came
they to suspect that you had it?'
This question was speedily answered, and
soon after this we parted at the door OF Miss
Mllers lodgings.
That night L slept with my lost Ms. under
my pillow, and next morning it was duly
delivered to Messrss. Hart2pp d Co.
i
In process of time the book was published,
and, although some thousands of copies
were sold. not one of its numerous readers
ever guessed the romance involved in its
production or that a wedding was the ulti-
mate result thereof for, as you will no doubt
surmise, Miss Miller not so very long after,
changed her name for mine.
Perhaps ought to tell how the question
was popped" but one fellow doesn't like to
tell another fellow what he said on such an
occasion, you know; and really when. Just
now, | asked the little darling herself what
was said she replied that really she doesn't
know now, it was so long ago, and moreover