McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-08-14

self, in tones of fretful speculation,
as he passed through Hark lane.
He felt little like spy as he hur-
ried across Canterbury Quad, and made
with all speed for the bottom of Toms
staircase. The scout, old "Dot and go
one," as he was called from his wooden
leg, in vain essayed to detain him. Up
went Mr.. Bulstead two steps at time
to the second floor, where above the
left-hand door, appeared, in white
letters upon a black background, his
own name. He knocked sharply, and
hardly waiting for some one within to
utter what might or might not be
"Come in," threw it open and entered.
Lounging upon one of the window seats
in fiannels and a cigarette inshis mouth,
was young fellow whose good looking
face was rather manly and straight
forward than handsome. He was alone
and got up without much appearance
of furry.
"How do you do uncle? I thought
it was you crossing the quad. Take
seat. Why did you not let me know
that you were coming?''
Mr.. Bulstead took the profered seat
and painted as he looked round. The
stairs were steep and his wind was not
so good as it had been.
81 thought 1 would come upon you
a bit by surprise, Tom,'' he said, with
out any circumlocution. "The fact is,
it is that whiting that has brought
me-"
"Whiting, uncle!'' calculated Tom,
with his first show of surprise.
Half a ton of whiting!" murmur-
ed his uncle, irresistibly impelled to
dwell upon the mystery. ''Haf ton
of whiting! Ay, here it isl And he
flourished the bill under the others
nose.
Tom took it gingerly. and opened it
with serious face. It seemed to Mr..
Bulstead that he was not quite so much
at his ease as he would have his uncle
believe, and the old gentleman glanced
suspiciously round the room. 1t GER
tainly was not the room of a hard
working, hard-reading student; but
still there was nothing Objectionable
in it. He turned his glance again
upon Tom-the latter was contempla-
ting the bill with a broad smile genuine
enough.
WELL" said Mr.. Bulstead, 'swhat
have you to say about it? Half ton
of whiting, you know, Tom?'
The young man laughed loudly.
81 am not at fault this time, sir; it is
the Lawn-Tennis Clubs account sent
in to me as secretary. gave the
ground-man the check to pay it last
week, and why they should have had
the impudence to send it in to you 1
can't imagine"
"Umph! but how about the whiting,
Tom! What is that for?''
Marking out the grounds, sir.
s'Of course it is, Tom! Very stupid
of me. Well, I'm very glad of it,
my boy" said Mr.. Bulstead, pleas
antly.
The mystery of the whiting was
cleared up; but somehow it had made
him suspicious.
''Now," said Tom, evil yon come
with me to shop want to call at in
the High-not a hundred yards off, sir?
and by the time we come back lunch
will be ready"
Was the dust of that whiting still
in Mr.. Bulstead's eyes? At any rate,
it seemed to him that his nephew was
peculiarly and restlessly anxious to get
him out of the rooms. However, he
rose.
eyes, Tom, certainly. Where did 1
put my umbrella? All, here it is;
thank you. Why-what the-deuce-
is-that?"
If it had been another half ton of
whiting piled upon the sofa, the old
gentleman face could not have grown
darker. The thing lying half hidden by
the sofa cushion was lady's parasol-
a dainty, tiny, wicked-looking sunshade
of gray silk; and by it was a glove, too,
too apparent French kid. Mr.. Bull
stead's worst fears were confirmed with
a vengeance; all along he had felt that
there was something wrong; this was
the haunt of wicked dissipation he had
half feared he should find it. Half
ton of whiting, indeed! In a moment,
and before he glanced at the young
fellows confused face, he thought the
worst of him.
"Well, sir,'' he said-and there was
real sorrow as well as anger in the tone
-s'can you explain this with equal
ease?"
'No, cannot, sir; but
"You can't? Cannot say whose they
are, or how they came to be in your
room? File, sir, fie! Or where their
owner is now, suppose? he added,
suddenly recalling the scout S seeming
attempts to delay him at the foot of the
stairs, and marking the doors that led
to two inner rooms. .
81 cannot account for them.
'And will not, suppose?''
"You can put it that way if you like,
sir. All can say is that lam innocent
of what you are thinking of me. I
give you my word of honor, 1 am; and
1 can't say any more
The old man was little impressed
by the younger's earnestness. The OBJ
noxious articles might have been left
there innocently, of course.
sThen let me have a look into your