The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-03-01

now, it's my best umbrella in every sense of the word,' he said, laughing, amy very best umbrella. don't you sec!
 But did not see neither the applicaz= ton nor the umbrella was apparent to me, and my heart quite sank at the news which had to impart to him. The man was so enwrapped in his umbrella-speak- ] ing figuratively-thatI felt it was neces- sarV to break the news gently.
 I'm sorry to say don't see" 1 re- piled. for the fact is-" Yes, he was impulsive, and dashed to conclusions and the smile did leave his face as suddenly and completely as if somebody had pulled it away by string and settled look of horror, and for an instant open-mouthed idiocy, took its place.
 The fact is-" he repeated. very slowly at last; go on, please"
 That there was no umbrella down our area at all.'
 abruptly and rudely that l felt the color coming up all over me that won't do at any price"
 l don't know what you mean by any price, sir l said. drawing myself up 10 my full height, as the novelists say-and that height was exactly five feet three inches and half when fal!y drawn and little bit on tip,oe-" bu, you must take my word, sir, that haven't set eyes on i your umbrella
 No, Miss Neild, don't suppose you have he said very quickly :" don't think that think that you-think-,hat- why of course don't" he said. tum- bling into another sentence as the frs, one became hopelessly involved, "and it's not at all likely; but 1t went down your area--l was perfectly sober-and the servants must have seen ii in the morning. May ask the servants.n
 have asked them.' lsn | there page boy or somebody who comes early to clean something?' No"
 Who IS the first to go into that area I in the morning, Miss Neild :" he inquired somebody for coals, l suppose Bridget or Sarah, certainly should very much like to see Bridget and Sarah. he sugges. cd, "ifyou would not object"
 iOa iadSt OC SoutCut NtsH my WOTQ. SIT, that your umbrella is not on the premises, said, still loftily 5" canno, have my servants subjected to a cross examination on this question. have al- ready made every inquiry
 And they tell you they have not seen my umbrella !'@
 They do.n
 And you believe them !''
 Certainly"
 Well, l don't-and that's plain speak ing he said frankly.
 m aware of that
 Because, you sec, it IS quite impossi- ble, unless there's anybody else in the house @ho gets'up earlier than the ser wants. Is there anybody eIse:'' he asked
 Yes, there's gentleman who lodges in my front parlors, who leaves very early, but
 That's the man. Where is he ?'' cried NIT. Bird, with frantic dash in new direction of suspicion. a" should like to see him."
 = He's gentleman holding high po- sitlon on the railway. and IS no, at all likely to conhsea;e property that does no, belong 10 him. sad.
 Il don't say he has conhscated it, said Mir. b,rd, less brusquely, bu, he may have seen Ii this morning. and put i, aside for further inquiry
 tlr. Goode Is not in the habit of go- ing into my area said ;"I don't be- lieve ne has been in the area in the whole course of his life
 No, before this morning, Miss Neild very likely not, having nothing to go for, as Il were. Bu, when he caugh, sigh, ot an umbrella-and very peculiar um- brella-lying on the wet stones, haven't the slightest doubt-n
 He could not get into the area, sir said :" Bridget takes up the key with her every night, and besides, told him about the umbrella this morning"
 What did he say to that."
 He said it was like your impertnence oonfounded impertinence,' l may say were the actual words used" answered, ito make such a noise in the middle of the night, and he should like to give you piece of his mind.''
 Ha he said that. did he :. he re- marked, biting his hnger-nails almost savagely.
 Yes
 |" Then he's the man who's got my am- brella,' he cried :'I see i, all now. He's keeping ii back ou, of spite.''
 MT. Bird, this is absolutely unendur- able"
 " suppose he was the fellow below ing about the house like bull last night, trying to make somebody understand tha, was knocking. heard him.
 No, he was not the fellow.r replied. severely; that was Captain Choppers"
 Does Captain Choppers get up early?'
 No, he. doesn't, he's very late riser, indeed l believe he's in bed now
 That's his ar,fulness.' said the suspi- cious individual, just to make you fancy"
 But could not allow him to proceed any further. l was fairly reused by this strangers dIsparaging reflections. rose, looked steadily and gravely at him. and said
 This interview Is at an end. NIT. Bird. These gentlemen are my lod9ers-i mich.