The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-20

latter was an elderly man, short and stout, with red face; I very good fellcw ID many respects, but with a decidedly crusty temper. Hence Mir. CouIdins had avoided mentioning the loss of the will in his telegram, hoping that it might be found in time to save him from lecture for when anything went wrong, Mir. Shut tleworth was not slow to express his sen- timents. It could not be helped, how ever, and the junior partner told his story as briefly as possible, adding that he sup posed they had better advertise at once.
 MT. Shuttleworth had listened in si- lence, but his face had grown very red. and his under lip shot out to a surpris- ing extent His first observation was, We'll, well, well which he repeated a great many times in an angry tone. Then he said: "lts the worst case of careless ness l ever heard of Fancy leaving a document worth thous ands and thousands on the seat of railway carriage, while you cooily go to look out Of tue opp ,si:e
 Mir. Goulding, who WIS familiar with his companions temper, took no notice of this upbraiding, which wore itself out in few minutes; but returning to the question ot recovering the will, proposed that they should draw up an advertise ment offering large reward, to be in- serted in the principal London papers.
 Very well, said MT. Sauttleworth but you can scarcely expect to charge the reward against the firm. It ought to come cut of your little legacy-,hat is, if you ever get it, he added tartly.
 MT. Goulding acquiesced, and pres ently handed the draft of an advertise ment to his partner.
 :" This will never do," exclaimed the latter. Here you have given our own name and address, to let all the world into the seCect. People will say that Shuttleworth X Goulding must be getting very careless and every old woman whose business we transact will come here in panic to sec that her documents are safe"
 Then shall we have it issued from the police office ?" asked Mir. Gouldine.
 "No; l think you had better give it to Poynter. The thief will have less hesita- ton in going there but for that matter, our own address would appear on the contents of the bag"
 1t must be be explained that Poynter kept private inquiry office at No. 7 Stray Place, s. w., and was slightly known to the firm in the way of business.
 There's another thing" Mr. Shuttle worth continued, while Mir Goulding proceeded to write out the notice anew. Say Lost oniy-not Lost or Stolen :; and then if the thief thinks it is supposed to be simply lost, he will not be afraid to come forward"
 MT. Goulding made the necessary al- teration, and was soon on his way to the establishment of Mir. Poynter. That worthy was an ex detective, and thou, ready at all times to make "private in. quires" about other people, might have stunned any very searching inquiry into his own career. However be was well enough fitted for the service that the so- licitors required, and willingly undertook it on the promise of reasonable fee.
 On the next day, which was Saturday, the notice appeared in the leading Lon don dailies, as well as iu a provincial newspaper circulating in the Crewe dis tict to which it had been transmitted by telegraph. It ran as follows:
 FIFTY POUNDS REwARD.-Lost at Crewe on the morning of Thursday the 10th instant, out of first class compartment in the Lon don train, lawyers black bag, containing a will and some papers of no use to any one but the owner. The finder will receive the above reward on immediately bringing it to Poynter's Private Inquiry Office, Stray Place, London, S. W.
 Mir. Mossop's funeral was to take place on Monday morning; and up to Satur- day evening no news of the will had been received. though both the partners re- mained at the office until late hour, in the vain hope that a telegram might ar- rive from tho Crewe police office, where MT. Goulding had leh his address. The latter gentleman felt that it was incum- bent on him to be present at the funeral, and arrange the household matters at The Firs afterward, and his mind was a good deal disturbed in conseouerce. MT. Shuttleworth advised him to go to Crewe that night, sleep there, and make inquiries at the police office on the fol- lowing day Sunday, and thereafter pro- ceed to Chester. The partners sat to- gether till nearly half-past five o'clock more than two hours after the Saturday closing hour; and Mir. Goulding had then just enough time to hurry home, pack his valise, and catch the mail at Huston, so as to reach Crewe shortly after midnight. It had been arranged that he should take with him the draft of the will, as a sub stitute for the missing document. This would of course be practically the same thing for the required purpose and if it's production instead of the will did not create suspicion, and cause Sir Peter or his friends to ask awkwafd questions, a | discovery might be avoided for the time. |
 As Mir. Goulding was leaving the of- ice, Mir. Shuttleworth gave him some parting words of advice. Be careful" he said. @not to volunteer any informa- ton. Put bold face on it and remem- Der that no one has the right to catechise | you. l only hope the baronet has not | got wind of the affair. If you had pub | ished the name of our firm, as you in- ended, he would have been sure to | know."
 It is unnecessary to dwell on Mir. Gould ng's journey nofthward. He called at | he Crewe police office on Sunday morn t~v~k AA.A l.