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

ing-room,
But when 1 reached my seat and was
about to resume my occupation, | uttered
an exclamation of horror, and stood like one
suddenly struck into stone, for glance re-
vealed to me my precious MS was gone!
For one minute 1 stared before me like
one stupefied. 1 felt as though l had been
stunned by a sudden blow. 1 grasped the
back of the chair for support and | saw it
all now, although l could scarcely believe
the horrible truth; all my labor was lost,
some one else had watched me, and would
get out the book before me. Success was
| taken from me just as | thought myself as
sured of it. l had toiled-another would
reap. Worse than all, my budding reputa-
ton would be gone.
| l suppose my behavior must have at
tracted the attention of the gentleman sit
ting next me on the other side, for he said
| kindly:
Are you ill?'
| "No'' 1 replied family; and 1 remember
now how the hollowness of my tones seemed
| to contradict my words, and how strangely
| they sounded. But my anger rose as
said fercely: "Some scoundrel has stolen my
MS. and notes while l have been at lunch;
they were most important to me; l fear their
loss will be an irreparable misfortune, Did
you see any one come to my desk while L
was out?'
No; have but recently come" he re-
| joined.
"Oh, but saw some one" said my fair
@sthete, suddenly, and remember how her
voice thrilled me- 1t was the first time
had heard her speak, and 1 could almost for
give the loss of my Ms. because it had caused
me to hear her voice But replied hastily:
"Who was it?"
"a tall, thin gentleman, with wavy hair
and gray coat OF course, | did not know
but that he was friend of yours He came
| an oil flo 1ocl tbap
took away the papers,"
SHOULD you know him again, if you saw
him?" asked, eagerly.
oh, yes! l am sure I should" she re-
piled.
The suggestion of the gentleman on the
other side was more to the point 81 should
| give information to the superintendent of
| the room, and also ask the attendants at the
| doors If they have noticed any one dressed
as described go out.recently."
did as he suggested, and very soon a no.
tice was fixed to the glass door of the room
apprising the public of my loss, and offering
a reward for information which would lead
| to the conviction of the offender. Mean
while l had questioned the attendant who
remembered perfectly the tall man in the
gray coat and said that he had gone out
about quarter of an hour since. A quarter
of an hour Time enough for him to have
| got completely beyond my power of search.
! That was all l could discover, and in great
| anxiety returned to my seat As did so
| remember how the starry eyes of my new
found friend glanced shyly and sympathiz-
! ingly at me.
1 must have appeared very detected, for
she said presently, in a tone of deep soici-
| tude II am truly sorry for you but could
you not make up for lost time by working
| quickly"
THAT is just the difficulty" I replied:
this manuscript is wanted at once. have
already been too long over it. Il is cruel
| loss to me-"
To my ardent imagination l was now as
| completely ruined as previously l had
thought my fortune made The reader will
notice that my temperament is very mercu-
| rial and apt to rise very high or descend
very low at the slightest provocation. But
| even allowing for this extreme view, the sit
uation was sufficiently serious; for the loss of
the MS. would seriously initiate against my
success in the immediate future.
In a few words | explained this to my
newly-found friend, who at once saw the diff
fculty of my position and the reason of my
| anxiety. But what was to be done? Could
nothing be done to retrieve my loss?
AT that moment an old gentleman came
up and spoke to the young lady near me,
| and even now l can recall that pang of
| jealousy shot through my heart. At the first
! glance [ could see that he was what some
| persons contemptuOusly term "a literary
| hack" but for all that he seemed perfectly
| happy and contented.
But these thoughts were interrupted by
| the old gentleman turning to me and saying,
| i'll that whisper which is the regulation voice
| in the reading-room:
| miss Miller tells me you have had an i'm
portant manuscript stolen what was itY'
l mentioned the name and detailed the
| work on which ! was engaged which, for
obvious reasons, is here suppressed.
He repeated it over to himself two or three
times, with his forefnger placed on his tore
head, as though he was thinking deeply.
| Then he said:
"Why, Hartopp & Co. announce a new
and carefully-edited edition of that work 1t
is to be ready early next week"
YES" l said at was for them l was do
| ing it. Now you see the reason OF my anx-
iety. They cannot possibly publish it at the
| time. promised some of the Ms last night.
l am ruined in their estimation at least. They
will never forgive me for so bungling the
matter"
Yes, it is serious" he replied thought
fully.
| At that moment one of the courteous at
| PENDANTS came to me.
Mr.. Egerton?' he asked looking at me.
EYES," 1 replied.
! ga note Just left for you, sir, at the read
ing-room door. The bearer waits"
tore it open with feverish eagerness al
though L guessed too we'll what its contents
were.
redu IL over With IHrODOluS temples ana
burning Drain. This was the gst of it:
please give bearer any copy you may have
ready, ii only page. We are surprised at
not having received any from you.-Hartopp
& Co."
Without a word 1 showed it to my COM
panion and signed heavily.
ooh, come! don't give way like that" he
cried. Write back thus:
81 much regret that at present have no
copy ready; the search has necessarily been
long and arduous; but l. have found the
requisite information at last, and hope to
send you large batch of copy soon.'"
Mechanically wrote the words as they
were dictated, and then folding up the paper
directed it and took it to the door and gave
it to the messenger from Hartopp & Co.