The Dickinson press., 1884-11-29
and painted as he looked round. TIL,
stairs were steep, and his wind was no,

stairs were steep, and his wind was not
so good As it had been.
Thought would come upon youa bit
by surprise, Tom" he said without 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!" murmurea
his uncle, irresistibly impelled to dwell
upon the mystery. "Half a ton of
whiting! All, here it is" And he
fourished q bill under the others
nose.
Tom took it gingerly, and opened it
with a serious face. It seemed to Mr..
Bulstead that he vas not quite so much
at his ease rs he would have his uncle
believe, and the old gentleman glanced
suspiciously round the room. It GER
tainly was not the room of o hard-work-
ing, hard-reading student; but still
there was nothing Objectionable in it.
He turned his glance again upon Tom;
the latter was, contemplating the bill
with a broad smile, genuine enough.
"Nell," said Mr.. Bulstead, s'what
have you to say about it? Half a ton
OF WnltlnS yOuK ION"
Theyoung nan laughed loudly.
II nm not in fault this time, sir; it is
the Lawn-Tennis Clubs account sent in
to me as secretary. Igave the ground
man the check to pay it last week and
why they should have had the impu-
dence to send it in to you I can't mag
inc, Hs
"Umph! but how about the writing,
Tom! What is that for?"
Marking out the grounds, sir"
"Of course it is, Tom! Very stupid of
me. Well I'm very glad of it my boy"
said Mr.. Bulstead pleasantly. The
mystery of the whiting was cleared up,
but somehow it had made him suspi-
cious.
"Now," said Tom, "will you come
with me to a shop I 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 I
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's face could not have grown
darker. The thing lying half hidden
by the sofa-cushion was q lady's parasol
"a dainty, tiny, wicked-looking sun
shade of gray silk: and by it was a
glove of too, too apparent French kid.
MIR. Bulstead's worst fears we're con-
frmed with a vengeance; oil 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 a ton of whiting, indeed!
In a moment, and before he had
glanced at the young fellows con-
fused face, he thought the worst of
him.
"Well, sir" he said-and there was
real sorrow as we'll as anger in the tone
you explain this with equal
ease?"
"No, I cannot, sir; butt
"You can't? Cannot say whose they
are, II how they come to be in your
rooms? File, sir, ie! Or where their
owner is now, I SUPPOSED" he added,
suddenly recalling the scouts seeming
attempts to delay him at the foot of the
stairs, and marking the doors that led to
two inner rooms.
Il cannot account for them"
"And will not, lsuppose?"
"You can put it that way if you like,
sir. All 1 can say is that I am innocent
Of what you are thinking of me. Igive
you my word of honor, I am; and I
can't say any more"
The old man was alittle impressed by
the younger's earnestness. The obnox-
ious articles might have been left there
i%nnocently, of course. II
"Then let me have a look into your
other rooms: young man, if you wish
me to believe you"
"No, 1 can't do that!" cried Tom.
springing as the other advanced toward
the nearer door and setting his back
against it. He'was cooler now and not
a bit confused. The old gentleman ev-
On in his anger noticed that he looked
more handsome than ever before.
"Don't be a fool, Toni" he cried i'm
peratively. Then; suddenly changing
his. tone to an appealing one: "Make "a
clean breast of it and I'll try to forgive
you"
"There's nothing to forgive"
-s'Then open that door. You. wont"
"No."
Gas I live, if your don't beforeI count
three, I'll cut you off without q shill-
ing. Now, sir; one, two-it's your last
chance-three! There, sir; I've done
with you now, sir-I'ye done with yon'
done with you'll" And, clapping
on his hat, with furious haste and yet
shaking steps the. old gentleman ran
down the stairs, and, his heart full, of
sorrow and anger, made for the Sta
ton. m ~
All, Tom, Tom! "A minute later he
opened the inner door and looked rath-
er anxiously at the half frightened,
wholly pretty face that appeared at
it. ~
did you hear anything?" he asked.
&. "No, but do let, me get away. I am
nervous. He was very angry, wasn't
fhe? Yes. What was it abo 1T, Tom?
Bills?"
eyes," was the somewhat, hating re-
ply; bills and other things. I daresay
he'll cool down. If you hear anything
against me, you won't believe, it, will
you?" +ft
ooh, Tom, how can you ask?"
"Thentthere is no harm dene," ans
wered Tom, bravely and ~gallautly.
All nf4on .ooonno:ko.;n f.oa, H. ...:o