Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-08
CHAPTER III.


There was none of the usual adjoining
for the weekly cricket match required or
Philips part, on Saturday, the day fol-
lowing his visit to The Berghauses.
He had appointed to meet his sister
Grace Mt half past four. and with
thoughtfulness unusal in one of his
sex, age and bachelor estate, had or
dered dinner to be ready at his lodgings
ut six, and purposed dining with her.
He was therefore not going out of town
Mt all until he returned from the station
with his sister.
The great firm in which Philip wal
employed usually dismissed their EN-.
ployes on Saturday at two o'clock.
Philip Massey had seldom been kept be.
yond his iime-he was not important
enough for that, he would have said
himself, and perhaps with truth. His
department had consisted chiefly oil
homework, and his employment had
been regular, if not exciting. There
had been times when he had wished, in
the superabundance of bis strength and
energy, that his mission had been a
more active One-times when he had
envied the more privileged, more peril.
Gus tasks of some others, who were sent
abroad TO the ends of the earth now and
then, on engineering and surveying ex.
petitions. for which, if the discomfort
and responsibility were great, yet the
remuneration was correspondence
large, and the excitement, thought
Philip, must be most remunerative of all.
No such fortune had as vet hefallen him.
To-day, bearing in mind the fact that
he would have two hours and half ia
dispose of somehow. before his sisters
train was due, Philip was in no haste
to depart, but sat, after all the other
| clerks had gone. at his desk, sorting out
papers, and classifying some plans
which had long wanted putting in
order.
Thus employed, he sat at his desk,
and his pen travelled slowly across the
paper, while the May sunshine streamed
in through the dingy window, and lighted
up his dark face Philips back was tow.
ward n door leading into the Office of
Mr.. Day, the head and confidential
clerk, and which. without his knowing
1t, was standing half open.
BY and by voices were heard grad
ually approaching from further office,
and then steps entered Mr.. DAYS
sanctum. Half abstractedly Philip heard,
without exactly listening to what was
being said:
Look here. Grey! Here's a letter
Just come from (murmur, which
sank into indlstinctness. and then, more
loudly.) "What became of those peo-
pie, Blake-Black-what was the
name, who recommended Bywell to
us?''
"H'ml" replied the voice of Mr..
Grey, the junior partner, to this ques-
ton of Mr.. Starkie, the senior; wasn't
IT somewhere out Edgeton way that they
wentP On my word, don't remember
them. But you know, l think it is only
these Chinese fellows grumbling little.
They like to make difficulties, and the
British Consul at y must attend to
them more or less. for the name of the
thing. don't think there's anything
in it."
"Pm not quite SO sure thst the
grumbling is quite without foundation,
for my part, replied Mr.. Starkie. II
wish very much that you would drive
out TO Edgeton this afternoon, and make
inquiries, quietly. 1 think it ought to
be seen to-"
my dear sir :" came in a tone of
dismay from Grey, 81 would do great
deal to oblige you, but this is impos-
sible to-day. 1 promised long ago to
60 from today till Monday to-"
The voice dropped again. and then
came the words" entirely for nv bene-
fit. you know, and Lady Elizabeth
very sorry. but unless it were a matter
of life or death. which it is not, don't
see how could manage it."
TO BE Continued