Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-21

him. IL beats the deuce! Why, that ar chap
| must have rode through on the truck and
watched his chance to get you alone, then
popped up through that hole and got back
again, and like as not dropped quietly down
and made away when the second lot of rob-
bers took the train. What do you make out
OF it, Bergmanl Do you reckon that the
cream of the skimnnin' was in that ar
| one package he took. 1t don't seem material
that any common thief should go over Q
| gold brick and thousand dollars in jew
elry and more in cash for one bit of pack
| age unless it was worth sight-any ways
to him. Pity you don't know the address it
| had on it."
sBut I do know. Something's don't
know what-impressed it on my memory"
al know what I'd do if I was in your
| shoes, then" said Ike. SID go to the party
| it was intended for and tell him all aboutit.
| The express company isn't going to coax
| him to come down on them for the vally of
it by giving him notice of its loss, and they're
| all taken up in the hunt after the other gang.
| Now, take it that it wasn't money nor
| straight moneys worth, but something of
as much or may be more concern to them
that's interested in it, and I'd give them the
chance to get on the track Of the thief while
| it's fresh. Looks to me like the square way
| of doing it.''
"I believe you are right, Ike," said Berg
| man, thoughtfully, and it was in accord
| ance with this view Of the case that he made
his way the following evening to the adj
dress which he carried in his mind. 1t was
/ growing late, for he had been obliged to
wait until his working hours were over. 1t
was an unknown locality to him, the street
| quiet one branching off from one of the
main avenues, and not SO we'll lighted, so
| that he had some difficulty in determining
| the location of the number he sought Once
or twice, as he stopped to study the num-
| bers, he glanced back, thinking he heard
footsteps and expecting to see some one ap-
proach, though no one appeared; but now,
as he made out the right figures over the
door of house which stood a little back
| from the sidewalk some one did come hasti-
| ly up at his back, and turning from the
street at the same instant with himself
mounted the steps at his side.
s'Going imp Queried this new conner, fun
bling in his pocket, apparently for key.
eyes, if, as I suppose, Mr.. Childer lives
here"
'Iam Lyman Childer. Haven't seen you
| before, somewheref
"Really, don't think you'd know for all
| the chance you have of seeing me here"
| thought Bergman, unpleasantly affected by
| the brusque tones of the other; but he gave
| his name, and was surprised to find it i'm
| mediately recognized.
"The express messenger! Have you
brought package for me, sir?"
81 have not, BUTT is with reference to that
have Gomez
Explain yourself, please"
81 will, - more and more displeased by the
manner of the other. sSThe package was
stolen, in so strange a way that thought it
best to let you know the exact circumstances
attending it's loss. If you choose to listen
hor, r limo 1xof ho mo- hor
Briefly he related the circumstances at
tending it's loss, the other listening until the
sound of withdrawing bolts within made
him start. With muttered excuse, he
| darted down the steps, and hurried away,
while the opening door disclosed young
man equipped for the street, who paused at
the sight of the messenger, lingering on the
| steps.
Did you wish to see me, STRIP he in
quired.
az had business with Mr. Childer, who
has just left me-" explained Norris Berg
man.
"Mr. Childern in a puzzled tone. 81
| wasn't aware / had a namesake at my
very door, too. Are you quite sure that
you have not made mistaken My name is
Lyman Childer."
| A feelingof CONSERVATION, mingled with
| chagrin, swept over the express messenger.
/ Io IcdlLcu INSTANTLY tucJ u0 haQ Os7Cu
duped; there was that about the man be-
fore him that gave him confidence in his
truth, had not the hasty manner in which
| the other decamped stamped his preten-
sions with suspicion.
al am afraid 1 have been an idiotp' he
| exclaimed, ruefully. ''If you will give me a
moment to explain"
! Gas many as you like, if you will step in
side"
Bergman followed him through the lighted
hall, into small apartment bearing litter
| of masculine traps which stamped it as q
gentleman's smoking-room and there made
his explanation. Lyman Childer treated
the matter lightly.
81 am not looking for any valuable COM
modity,'' he said. SIN fact, haven't the
faintest idea what the package could con-
| tain. 1t strikes me that my counterfeit is
little of his base. Got the notion proba-
bly, that the thing is worth more than is at
| all likely to prove the case should it ever
| turn up"
ssDo you propose, then, to take no steps
toward its recoveryf
81 don't know about that. Of course I've
my own curiosity. What would you advise
| me to do about it!'
'sTrace out the sender in the first in
stance. The package came from Round
Rock. Tex. That may be a clue to you re-
| garding its nature"
Don't know a soul there" declared Ly-
man Childer, still lightly. "Upon my word,
| I believe you have as much interest in the
matter as have"
Norris Bergman colored, and felt abashed.
| 81 don't know why it should take so
strong hold on me. The mere fact that the
| thief should single it from many others
/ that on their face would seem more of o
| prize may have something to do with it.
Let me advise you to see the agent about it
at once"
Lyman Childer turned a somewhat quiz
zical though searching glance upon the
messenger.
ssDoes the company pay you for taking
sides against iti" he asked. "Wouldn't
| the agent think that advice little officious,
not to say uncalled for, from youa It's
| good in it's way, though, and I'm likely to
follow it. Have cigar to smoke on your
! wayt'
Norris took it and his departure, leaving
/ Childer at the door where he had ncount-
/ cred him, but the latter evidently had
changed his mind about going out that
night
/ CHAPTER Il
| DISCHARGED
ga word with you, Mr.. Bergman"
| Norris put the money envelope which he
| =, .--x H>.o;,,.d ;rf<, HE y,nurkaf and atnod