Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-26
rom BliNKRR'S SECRET.

Tom Blinker was Il jovial, Hght-hcarted
commercial gent" who, after travelling
some years for a London firm, had started
in business as a commission agent in Bill
chester. Unfortunately he failcd-or at
least ne did not succeed, which is nearly as
bad-and at the date of this story he was
pretty heavily in debt But his creditors
were disposed to deal lenienUy with him,
partly because he was known to De in the
main honest and partly because he had
minated that when Lord MontarIington
returned ne would soon be in a c0nd ton
to discharge his liabilities Lord Montar-
lington had a large estate in the neighbour
hood and was naturally very much respect
ed and looked up to in The town. lie had
been absent from England three years on a |
torelgu. tour and Tom Bliaker had not
come 10 Chichester till shortly after his /
lord~idp had started on his travels Toms /
announcement, therefore, caused a great !
deal OF surprise and speculation. and more |
eSpc2 ally as he always referred to Lord |
MpDtarIEgtOn in very guarded terms and
never dropped the slightest hint as to the
nature Of hs acquaintance. This mysteri-
Gus r1taence had much more effect upon
the p !SlIc mind than If Tom had entered !
mic details, and II some persons were Skep-
teal cnou- "A 10 doubt whether Tom had
ever s-l nis eyes upon his Lordship in his
life, IL was generally believed that for some
reason or other Lord Nontarlington would
relieve hin from his difficulties
BUt AIS iprIsmps return was so long dc
layed ttat Toms creditors began to grow
Inipa--a5, and Tom himself seemed to lose
hear There was no Disgusting the fact
that r. Lad reached the end OF his tether |
and n0.hing short OF a miracle could avert
bankruptcy and ruin. Duly impressed ! ,
with jais unpleasant fact, and also bear
lns IN mind That Two or three Of his largest |
creditors had threatened to take proceed
ings against him Immediately, Tom wendcd
lis WY 30 the Blue Boar one evening in
a very depressed condition On reaching
the par.o- OF that ancient hosiery, where a /
cornwall club, Of which he was a proui-
nent member, was wont to hold its weekly
meetings, hc was surprised at being greeted |
with . chorus Cl congratulations and good
Wishc=.
rs al right, Tom!' Cheer up, old
boyH Keep your courage up, Tom 70 l
Were some of the reassaring ordinations q
which greeted him III certain tones for q
Tom was pleasant gooi-naUred fellow,
and most people wished him well. though +
few would lend him money.
hy, what's upY lac naturally de- Il
man5ed
What's up Haven't You heard lord Il
has come back? ' said MI Il
Beans, the grocer. y
" Hoa don't say sou calculated Tom, 8.
with "a start
" Nee, sure enough. He passed through e
he town TINS afternoon. Wonder he didn't u
give You eau, Mr.. Binkcr, AS you're such 1
q particular friend Of his. added Mr. Beans,
Tom seems opite t.izen oh,cl- Ono
wont INF ih:-k h.. ian E,.-1 - -. ,, .,
Mr.. Pes.l.. the chemist rather "
20 Ills T1rdshfn IS a-o-r' +o sat ,-o, - Oh
i'm amt h,. Tam2 Make you- fortune "a
Eve heard cl;med in another 50
I.Inu-, be owned that Tom dij NOT am To
,e.r ,..+s.l..t tj's, 80, IL. - ~!
oae.-..f ae5 a., ,n,,,c,t io1i,ai 49, az
ilet.- .,uaarr.~.-l MS confession ,id ~
,ot .s,4t t..s p...ie, efff. assembled o,r- ~,
-ivs-. ,y.1 ..s-.g-...I .i.-,ic,oI,. r,io,,g.s
{ WAS l-if.. evident from, ti,..;r r,,.l.,.,J
vi. f..l haI I..., y.,...,l =, b,,-,,lr.. ar, -.
ar-.. and that h.. .-.-,-,f III, H.,
.t.a lord 1f.nf.rl.-.,.,' was beIia,..,j ~, ~,
.a 81. ..-i-..r I
"H.s I.-tsffr-s solicitor has iue, mr. h.,
.y..i Ind. t-.., ,...j.. - r,,,,.. - a.
ac ,.,-.. ~ ll.- i., - 49, s..,, a..
ua a 5.F--,.-, s..4 .s,. b, ,r-,,r5 5ri,., i''
ysr,., t!.. castle f., nd. MN, 49,,
'I..r,.- d ,,-,....,, ~, 7,,.,,, q, 49,:
all .,-. Beams ia-a.ei,. D., Yo,'U a., OWN ob
D .i. c.-.. fr.. rlfr. tl.,,,.-,.5,,.. ~. .'