The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-20
CHAPTER 20.


over ms lace 10 hide his tears.
CHAPTER 20.
THE BLOW FALLS.
The same morning, as the clock was
striking twelve in the hall at Dunbaan, a
ring sounded at the house door, and when
old Donald opened it, there stood Sandy
Hill, spruce, dapper, with brown paper
under his arm, and a smile of satisfaction
on his face.
"Mr. Biddulph at home?" he inquired
affably.
"Yes, sir"
''Take in my card, then, please-Mr.
Sandford Hill. He expects me :" and, old
Donald having complied with his request,
Mr.. Biddulph received his card with a
grim smile, and then looked at his own
watch, which was one minute slow, there
fore he thought Sandy was before his
time.
"Sharp man of business" reflected Bid
dulph. "Show him in" he said; and
minute later Sandy, with profound bow
and a shuttle, was ushered in.
"Fine morning, sir" he said, ''but sea-
sonable. I'm up to time, l expect, Mr..
Biddulph?"
''You don't allow the thief procrastina-
nation to steal it from you, thenP an
answered Biddulph, with smile.
"No, Mr.. Biddulph, i may candidly say
do not. Time means money gained or
wasted, tony mind, and"
you like to gain itP' interrupted Bid
| dulph, as Sandy paused a moment, re-
membering his errand at Dunbaan.
Il do, sir; it gives a man self-respect-
confidence, / may say. A poor mani
mean one regularly down, you know-al-
ways inspires me with wish to get out of
aG Oh I
l can't help it."
"a very natural inspiration" laughed
| Biddulph.
"It shows to me that he is a poor crea-
ture," continued Sandy, warming with his
subject; there's always a way for fell
/ low TO get on if he only has the sense to
find the right road"
The worlds mine OYSTER" quoted
Biddulph.
"Weil, sir, l don't know about oysters"
replied Sandy, whose early education had
/ been somewhat neglected; "oysters are
/ rather out of my line-they are too ex-
pensive that's the fact, and never pam
per the inward man. But 1 repeat, sir, a
fellow can make his way if he uses his
eyes"
"And his ears, too, sometimes, eh, Mr..
| Hip?
Sandy burst into giggle and grinned
| all over.
every good, sir" he said-"Ouite a
'Yes, it's very good" added Biddulph,
with pretended gravity, sand, as you say,
| quite to the point"
| you are a humorist, sir-a great deal
OF dry humor," said Sandy, fatteringly.
! 81 am glad you think so, though have
neglected both my eyes and ears"
| Sandy was not the least offended; he
grinned even more delightedly than ever.
"You were born to money, sir" he
said, "and that makes all the difference.
I've had to find it as best can, and there
fore am obliged to use my faculties to the
"But you rather like the amateur de-
/ tective business, don't your"
Il like the re,Udrd, sir," answered Sandy,
so promptly that Biddulph laughed aloud,
/ and put his hand into his pocket and drew
/ out his note book.
"Your answer" he said, ''is quite, as
| you remarked before, Mr.. Hill, propos.
Well, here is your cheque-you will find
it all right, and l am very much obliged
/ to you tor having removed an ugly and
unjust suspicion from my name"
! Sandy rose and made his best bow, hold
/ ing the cheque in his eager, trembling
/ hand.
"NIr. Biddulph-sir," he said, az have
/ only done my duty, an unpleasant duty
] in one sense, sir, considering my connec-
ton with Mr.. Alick Fraser, and the feel
ings OF the family. But we mustn't con-
| slider these things, sir. l may say l look
upon this almost as a public duty, the re-
moval of an unjust suspicion from gem
tleman of your property and means-yes,
/ -, "a Il, l.
waxing eloquent; land the police, Mr..
Bidduiph, consider set OF DIFFERS
buffers to you, at any rate, Mr.. HILL"
Again Sandy bowed.
81 thank you, sir and repeat. Mr.. Bid
dulph, ifyou should ever feel inclined to
dabble in business, sir, shares or the like,
If you honor me with your confidence Pm
your man. l am punctual, straightfor-
fard, and always have my weather eye
open; therefore, if you have any spare
cash, the amount OF which you would like
to increase, drop me line sir, and l will
at once let you feel the pulse of the
| market"
''You are very good"
1t will be pleasure to me. Mr.. Bid
dulph; but | will send you my business
card the moment l have fixed on my new
offices. l mean to start on my own ac-
count at once;" and Sandy clutched his
cheque still tighter.
''Pray send me your card"
81 will, sir; and now, Mr.. Biddulph, if
you will excuse me, l wish you a very
good morning. And / shall, with your
permission, proceed without delay to place
these documents-and he tapped his
brown paper parcel-"in the hands of the
county police"
"But have some lunch first, Mr.. HILL -
said Biddulph, who felt an unaccountable
wish to delay Sandy's mission. All the
morning he had been thinking OF poor
Mrs. Fraser, and the terrible blow about
TO fall on happy home; and now, when
it was creeping nearer, he would fain have
put off the evil hour.
But Sandy was proof against all tempta-
tons.
''No, sir; many thanks all the same, but
my motto is, business first, and pleasure
afterward. shall, therefore, go at once,
and catch the inspector when he comes in
for his dinner at / o'clock. Good morn
ing, sir; you shall hear from me soon
again, and, in the meanwhile, / remain
your grateful and obedient servant, San
ford Hill" and with another bow Sandy
vanished.
Biddulph looked after him with a sigh.
Happy dog" he thought, with a
heart OF stone enclosed in the hide of a
rhinoceros. These are the fellows who
swim clear; no humping up for them
against rocks and shoals of passions and
feelings Yet there is something honest
in his pure selfishness and open desire TO
make his Way I'D in the world His