The Irish standard., 1888-04-07

mdeGCA, tAO kSVAAAs 0S>AAAS'4 w 49, ~-~
portanca.
Another part Of his meeting with Lyman
Childer required to his mind after he had
paid his visit to the superintendent next
morning. He was met there by point
blank dismissal, and the reason was not
that which his disten.pered Imagination
had conjured. No accusation of being in
collision with the robbers, either directly
or indirectly, was put forth by the official.
SIT seems that you have been working
more in the interest Of our patrons than OF
the company. Made yourself too fresh in
the Childer's affair. We don't need our
employees to teach us our duties, and will
hold the right of giving our own notifica-
tons when we think best.''
In short, Norris Bergman had lost his
place for over-omciousness in the case
which Lyman Chlder would have had him
believe that he-Childer-had mentioned to
the express men for the first time on the
previous day.
The thought fingered unpleasan1ly with
the young man Ike appeared to commits
crate with him when his days run was
over.
"Never was SO sorry for any thing de-
clared the honest fellow, nearly with tears
in his eyes. IT wish I'd bit off my tongue
before gave you that advice; but who'd
ever think SIGH little thing d make 'em
give you the bounce? What'n you do now,
Bergman? Go back to your uncle?"
mot likely" said Bergman; but when
he got to his clearinghouse that evening,
he found a telegram awaiting him from that
uncle, Amos Bergman.
s;Just heard that the Express Company
has dropped you. Don't be a fool. Come
4 fo11 To,,
thing new--bigger induce1nent than before"
CHAPTER III.
UNCLE AMOS.
Amos Bergman owned cottage in .
west side suburb, where he kept up plain
but comfortable establishment. He was
bachelor Of fifty, a small, mild man, looking
even older than he was.
One half Of his friends and acquaintance
regarded him as q crank, while the rest
maintained that, in spite Of some eccen-
tricities, he had q fund Of native shrewd-
ness that might have been genius under
different circums tances.
The trouble was that he had never been
obliged to pin down to any regular work.
AS young man he had taken up first che
profession aud then another; he had veered
around to science AND then to trade, and
finally settled down to books and gardening
for pleasure, varying his seclusion by dip
ping now and then into the affairs of the
world, sometimes as an agitator, sometimes
as philanthropist. With ali his vagaries,
he was a generous-hearted man. aud his
nephew. Norris, Tad lived for ii nl}f-dozen
years in his household, the recipient OF MS
bounty and the Wcather-vlae of his ideas
which had left the young man little worse
off, perhaps, than ii he had been thrown
upon his own enaeavors iii his tender
years However, he had the good sense to
rebel When he came OF age, and turned his
hand to the first honest calling which Of
tered. He had been two years i'll the ex-
press service, and hattered himself that he
waa trusted employe, wiser- his abrupt
dismissal brought him up standing, as it
were, and cut away some of the self-con-
ceit which goes with youth and inexperi-
ence the wide world over.
There being nothing to interfere, he went
on the afternoon following his receipt Of
that dispatch to pay visit to his uncle.
Amos Bergman met him with @ hearty
handshake, and congratulatiou For what
the young man was disposed to regard as &
decided misfortune.
'sGlad you are out Of the business, my
boy It never did give chance to the
capacities that are III you. Purely mechan-
ical, without scope for the reasoning pow
ers. bat there's an opening now that will
tax them, if you choose TO avail yourself OF
it,
LII l can reason out a new situation J.
shall 1,o very glad, Uncle Amos"
CHATS it exactly" cried Amos Bergman.
COR Let us say occupation, to be ex-
acts Tor it will be to your advantage 10
work independently i'll this matter. !
haven't a,1y doubt of your fitness for the
work, and I'LL advance the necessary funds
for expenses, etc. No thanks, my boy III
have my reward III seeing you WIZ the
honors, as I'm sure you will"
'sE,s1t, my dear uncle, what is the works''
sWall-~-you know always said you had
the making Of lawyer IL you!' broke of
Uncle Amos, with just the least suspicion OF
anxiety apparent in his manner.
':Yes,'' laughed Norris ''And ct a doctor,
and minister, and a stock broker, and
dare say, Of a gambler, and a craftsman,
also, it the simple idea were not too shock
ing TO contenlpls. 5e, You have always rated
my abilities away to the upper notch, that's
certain. What is the fancy now, Uncle
Anlos:"
SIT struck me. as soon IS read the re
ports. SAID to myself: MOTIFS mas sail Lne
advantage Of having been on the ground
He mas the making Of a detective in him.
think had it myself, when 1 was younger
and he'll see what J. see, that the second
robbery is only a cover for the first Fine
I out the man who stole the single package
! and you'll have the root Of the whole affair
in YOUR hands. You'll make a name fol
yourself, my dear boy, for, mark my words
this is nc ordinary robbery. There is some
deep plot, some scheme Of wrong-doine
T! which reaches farther than the public sus
poets, and yours will be the grand oppor
tunity to unearth the whole villainous conl
plcatiou, and bring it to naught.'
Norris was we'll used to his uncle's enthus
iasrn over his hobby OF the moment, and ar
amused smile lowered about his lips as he
listened to the growing eloquence Of the
elder man.
''You evidently allude to the recent ez
! press robberies. You seem to forget, though
| that the regular detectives are at work, ane
st fault, too, as far as can learn"
COZ course they're at fault. They're deer
il the old ruts. It needs young, clever
| fellow, without bias, unintiuenced by the
deductions drawn from previous cases
Don't tell you this is a robbery without
parallel The superintendent Of your di
| r-;.;o,, 7,;~oco1f ad1nito that Ha fHH ma