Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-03-14
TOW pLINKEES sECRET.

Tom Blinkcr was jovial. light-hcart-
eel. commercial ~ nj. " who after trav-
cling some years for a London hrrn, had
started In business ~ n commission
agcn. In chichester. Unfortunately he
fai,ed-or Mt least he did not succeed,
which IS. ncarly as ha1--Rnd nj the date
at this story. h1 was pretty heavily in
debt. But 4 creditors we're disposed
To deal lsnieatly with him. partly be-
cause he was known 10 be i'm the main
honest, and partly because he hal init
mated that when Lori M0nlarling;nn
returned he would soon be- In n condi-
ton 10 discharge his liabilities. Lord
Montarliugton had large estate in the
noighborhOod. and was naturally very
much respected and looked up Co ip tho
town. lie Lad lcen abSent from
England hrns years oR foreign tour.
and Tom Blinkcr had not come TO 1911.
chester til shortly after his lordship
had started on his travels. Toms an
nounccmcnt, therefore. cause 1 areat
deal Of surprise aud speculation. and
more especially "a he always referred
To Lord Montarlingtop In very ruarl-
ed terms. and never dropped the Slight
est hint as 90 the nature of his acluaint-
ancc. This mysterious rctirence had
much more effect upon the public mind
than II Tom had ent rod iuto details.
and II some persols We're kkept;cal
enough TO doubt whether Tom had ever
set eyes upon his Lordship In his life. Il
was gcnerally believed that for some
reason or Other Lord Montarflngtnn
would relieve him from his difficulties
But his lor,lship's return was so long
delayed that Tom creditors began to.
grow impatient. aud Tom himself
seemed to lose heart. There was no
Disgusting the fact that ne had reached
the end OF his tether, aud nothing short
ot miracle could avert bankruptcy and
ruin. Daily impressed with this un-
pleasant fact, aud Also bearing in mind
that two &C three Of his largest creditors
had threatened TO take proceedings
against him Immediately. Tom wendell
his way 70 the Blue Boar one evening in
worry depressed condition. On reach
ing the parlor Of that ancient hostelry,
where a convivial club. Of which be was
a prominent member, was wont to hold
Its weekly meetings, be was surprised
nj being greeted with a chorus of con-
CALCULATIONS aud good wishes.
Its all right. Toni Cheer up.
old boy keep your cOurSee up,
Toni were some Of the reassurin1 *.
olamations which greeted him IN cor
dial tonos, for Tom was "A pleasant
good natured fellow, and most peonle
wished him well, though few would lend
him money. ttl.n@f -leI
why, what's upP" he naturally dc,
mandod
whats up Havea't you heard
Lord Montarlington has come backPr
said Mr.. Beans. the grocer.
You don't say sol7 calculated Tom.
with start,
Yes. sure enough. He passed
through the town this afternoon. Won
dor he didn't give You a call. Mr.. Blink
CT. a. you're such a particular friend of
his. !" added Mr.. Beans. who was one Of
tho unbulievcrs.
Tom seems quite taken aback. One
wouldn't think he had heard rood
news" remarked Mr.. Postle. the chem
ist. rather slyly.
His Loriship Is agoin' 20 set Won "a
rights, amt be. Tome Mako vour
fortnne, I've heard" chimed In an
other. I :,
II must be owned that Tom did not
appear olated az the newx. He seemed
dlsconccrtod. and for a moment looked
decidedly embarrassed His confusion
did not escape the notice Of the assem-
bled convives. who exchanged si0nif-
cant glanccs. Il was quite evident.
from their mods and winks, Tom had
been voted humhug on tho spol and
that bis story Of his influence with Lord
Montarlington was believed TO be all
CANNON. .,.--'.. :.
His Lordship's solicitor has lust ar
rived herO from London. (" remarked
one Of tho company. q heard him or
der dlnner and q bed-room. and saw he
would drive over 10 the castle In tho
morning" FlIt = =
There companion for YOU. Ton. y
said Mr.. Beans. loosely. '.Yon'n 90
over TO the castle irst thing to-morro~.
OF eourseP HIS Lordship npst Be dy-
ing 70 see you"
A very good suggestion" returned
Tom. rising from bic seat With rathsr a
desperate air, ms . plagupy long
drive alone. Did you hear The name 81