The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-17


ing and the curtains are drawn, lighted
lamp is on the table, and bright fire In the
crate. Percy is sitting where we first saw
him, and, if we may judge by his appearance,
the last few months have not been the hap
pieSt Of his life. The lines round his mouth
have Geepened, and one or two crows feet
are ginning to show i'll the corners of his
eyes; he has carewoIn look, and altogether
he seems aged. Opposite to him sits his one
chum, Glassdale also Il barrister, who
has just returned to town, and the
two friends are talking over the events
that have happened to each in the
along" Glassdale has lately fallen
victim to his Cousin Mile Danvers
charms and is now pouring into Percy's ear
a long detailed account OF "how it all hap
pened." Percy allows him to continue I'M
interruptedly until he has finished and then
offers his congratulations Glassdale thanks
him, and then continues; when was
staying with my uncle's people lately at
Brighton saw Miss Linton. She was down
there with her father, and Ivor was with
them as their guest"
"Ohp is all Percys reply, but an anxious,
inquiring look comes into his eyes which is
quite at variance with the careless air he at
tempts to assume. Il spoke to her once or
twice on the pier, and, do you know, it
struck me she was greatly altered for the
worseY She seems to have lost all her spirits
and she looks far from we'll"
Poor little darling" mutters Percy under
his breath, and then aloud: Il suppose she's
engaged to Ivor by now? Not that it matters
to me, though"
NJ h., ntI 4 l,,ft
thing about it. But he means it if ever
man did, and follows her about like dog. l
don't like that fellow, somehow"
Il should think not; he's downright cad.
He only wants her for her money; every one
can see that" exclaims Percy, very warmly,
and then, as if ashamed of displaying SO
much emotion, he suddenly changes the sub
ject and inquiries:
"And how did the old scoundrel, her
father, seemg'
Like a bear with q sore head. He will
| hardly speak civilly to anyone. 1t seems he's
| got himself into a regular hole over law
| affair. His version of the matter is shortly
this; He got some inkling that ono of the
waterworks companies were going to look
out for piece of land for new reservoir
somewhere near London 1 forget exactly
where he said it was. At any rate he went
| proving about and found piece belonging
to Mr.. Boyer that would just suit them
| Thereupon he entered into negotiations with
that gentleman and, as he affirms, came to
| terms, and received a letter accepting his
offer of 5000 pounds sterling for the field.
The very day he received that letter Boyer
was killed in railway accident. Linton
now applied to his executors to carry out
the sale, and they laugh at him, believing it
to be mere try on, as no veStige Of any
thing relating to the transaction was found
| among Boyers papers after his death,
except Linton's letter making the offer.
In the meantime the waterworks have ap-
piled for the land, and offered good deal
more than 5000 pounds sterling 50 it isn't
very likely that the executors will let Linton
have it, more especially and this is the fin
est joke-old Linton can't find Boyer's letter
accepting his offer which he asserts he re-
ceived. You can imagine what the old ruff
fans feelings are, seeing good round sum
slip through his fingers He has hunted higt
and low for the letter. and he declares that
someone might have stolen it, but my own
! idea is that it never existed save in his i'm
agination. He even goes so far as to de-
scribe it, saying that it was written on a
half sheet of paper only, and no crest or
monogram on it. All this must have hap
pened just about the time your engagement
was broken off, which will account for your
not having heard anything about it"
Eyes, ! suppose it was about then; for l re
member be was always talking about buy
ing some piece of land, and what he was go
ing to make out Of it."
ARut I sax- Parry CONTINUED 10
"to change the subject, there is something
want you to do for me, and hardly like b
ask it"
you may be sure"
"Well, it's just this: "When you we're en-
gagged to Miss Linton, believe you gave hel
among other Things locket Of very peculiar
shape and pattern. / admired it a,good des
one evening when she was wearing it, and
she told me that you had had it made for
her Now, want to know if you would
have any objection to telling me where you
got it, SO that might get one made like i
for Mile OF course, if you have, say so a
once, and | shall think no more Of thu
| matter"
Not in the least, my dear fellow 1t i
nothing to me now Miss Linton sent al
my presents back when the affair came T.
an end, and should think that the locket
among them, and if so shall be very glaC
to lend it to you to get one made like it
Here's the parcel l put it up on that shell
the day they were returned, and have neve
touched it since"
And Percy cuts the string and undoes tn
brown paper wrapping.
"There you are; that's its case, and J thin
you'll find it inside" throwing a leather-cov
cred box over the table to Glassdale
"Hullol Whats this?" taking sheet o
writing paper out of the parcel
"Here's something I've never seeD-excus
me q moment" Percy reads for mDmen
or two, and then drops into chair and coy
ers his face with his hands, uttering not
sound.
"My dear fellow, what's the matter9
eagerly inquired Glassdale. mo bad news
hope"
"Bad newsa No; the very best news l eve
had in my life, and it has been hidden from
me for six months. What will my little cir
think of me? just listen to this:
Take no notice, darling of the letter yo,
will get with this. Papa makes me write it
don't mean q word of it, Be true to me a.
| AM to you. Send line to say you forgiv,
me. No time for more; he's COM
"Look at it, all crumpled up, anyhow, and
showed in under one of the cases, so that ht
might not see it, It's clear as mud, she mus
have written that when he wasn't looking
Read it yourself, old man, and give me joy.
And GlasSdale takes the letter, and having
read it through, turns it over
"Why, there's some writing on the othel
side; she must have seized on the first piect
of paper she could find. May read iti"
'Of course you may; go on"
Glassdale scans the writing for moment
or two and then bursts out
"By the holy pokersl 1t never rains but i
pours You are in luck's way tonight; JUS
listen to this: II
| End April, 1877.
DEAR SIR: In answer to your letter jus
received making an offer Of 5000 pound
sterling for the Holm Meadow, beg to sa,
that am willing to accept that sum, and /
you will call on my solicitors, Messrs. Gray
burn 81 Reeves, Redford row, on Frida,
morning next at 80 | will meet you there
and a proper contract can be drawn up
Yours truly, JAMES BOYER.
""N re, my dear fellow you've got the