Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-07-10

sFOunu, MS own name. lie knocked
sharply, and, hardly waiting for
some ono within to utter what might
or might not be Come in. threw it
open and entered Lounging upon
one OF the window seats, in flannels
and q cigarette in MS mouth, was a
young fellow whose goodlooking face
was rather manly aad straight-for-
ward than handsome. He was alone
and got up without much appearance
of furry.
How do you do. uncle! Thought
it was you crossing the quad. Take
a seat. Why did you not let me
I 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.
/ thought l 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!n calculated Tom,
with his first show of surwrise.
/ Half ton of whiting!n murmur-
ed his uncle, irresistibly impelled to
dwell upon the mystery. "H9if a
ton of whiting Az, here it is. " And
he flourished the bill under the others
nose.
Tom took it gingerly, and opened
( it with a serious face. II seemed to
Mr.. Bulstead that he was not qaite
so much at his ease as he would have
his uncle believe, aud the old gentle
man glanced suspiclously round the
room 1t certainly was not the room
of Woodworking, hard-reading stu
dent; but still there was nothing objec
tlonable IN it. He turned his glance
again upon Tom; the latter was con
templating the bill with broad smile,
genuine enough.
well" SAID Mr.. Bulstead, 'what
have you to say about it2 Half ton
OF whiting, you know, Tome
The young man laughed loudly.
am not at fault this time, sin; it
is the Lawn-Tennis Clubs account
sent in to me as secretary. | gave tie
ground-man the check to pay it last
week, and why they should have had
the impudence TO send it IN to sou |
can't imagine"
Umphl how about the whiting,
Tom What is that forl"
Marking the grounds, sir"
"Of course IL 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 clear
ed up; but somehow it had made him
suspicious,
"Now," said Tom, "will you 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 viii be ready"
Was the dust of that whiting still
in Mr. Bulstead's eyes2 At any rate,
it seemed to him that his nephew was
peculiarly and restlessly anxious to
get him out of the room. However, he
rose.
Yes, Tom, certainly. Where did
| put my umbralla2 All, here it IS,
thank you. Why-what the-deuce
--is--thatW
If it had been another ton of whit
ing piled upon the sofa, the old geN
tleman's face could not have grown
darker. The thing lying half hidden
by the sofa.cushion was a lady's para
sofa dainty, tiny, wlcked-looking
sun-shade of gray silk; and by it was
a glove too, too apparent French kid.
Mr.. Bulstead's worst fears were con
Grmed 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 tnd it. Half a ton of whiting,
indeed In 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 well as anger in
the tone-"can you explain this with
equal ease2'
No I cannot, sir; but
you can't2 Cannot say whose
they are, or how they came TO be in
your rooml File, sir, fie Or where
their owner is now, | suppose p he
added, suddeniy recalling the scouts
seeming attempts to delay him at the
SLoliA3 anu AsiHi hAhE tttN NSDAS oAheN" ANN'
to the two inner rooms.
Il cannot account for them
"And will not, SUPPOSE
"You can put it in that way if you
like, sir. All | can say is that ! am
innocent of what you are thinking of
me. / give you my word of honor,
/ am; and | can't say more.
The old man was little impressed
by the younger's earnestness. The
obnoxious articles might have been
left there innocontly, of course.
"Then let me have look into your
other rooms, young man, if you wish
me to believe you"
No, can't do that cried Tom,
springing, as the other advanced, to-
ward the nearer door and setting his
back against it, He was cooler now,
and not a bit confused The old gen
tleman, even IN his anger, noticed
that he looked more handsome than
ever before.
Don't be fool, Tom !" he cried