Thomas County cat., 1888-06-14

desire seized me to possess that oook'
and give myself the pleasure OF con-
ferring upon the unknown A the
great favor to which the advertise
ment referred"
| 1.-The present possessor did not re-
spond very readily to my proposition.
Indeed. could have bought corner
lot with less difficulty; but l knew the
street-Arab character well, and after
good deal of chatting and jockying. l
secured my prize and retired with 1t to
my Office. secretly ashamed OF my
folly.
Opening the book almost at ran
dom. came upon this sketch. the
subject of which I recognized at q
glance There was the figure of my
client-the clothes. the unmistable
boots. the hand minus half finger,
the spiral seams of the neck and the
white initial on the back of the head.
And there was the date of the alleged
robbery!
Il looked up my memorandum con-
cerning the handkerchief found by the
detective, to which neither the prose-
cution nor myself had attached any
Importance. The monogram upon it
was the same e which appeared in the
| sketch"
| ''Herc was a mystery which must
be investigated without delay. 1t was
now nearly nine o'clock. The case
would probably be reached by eleven.
Why could l not have known this
sooner? Yet two hours was worth
something. At any rate. resolved to
find the owner of the book. learn the
nature of her connection with my
clients affairs, and, if necessary, get
the trial postposed till I could use her
testimony to advantage.
''Hurrying to the Union station.
accosted the package-boy, a bright and
rather gentlemanly little fellow. but
not disposed to be communicative on
the subject of my inquiries.
Eyes, ayoung lady had spoken to
him about lost sketch-book. Did he
know Ter name? He guessed i: was
Miss Evans. What was her first
name? He guessed it was Alice.
Where did she live? He guessed it
was at Cory Green. When did the
train 60 to Cory Green? 1t had just
gone. When would another go? At
10:43. When would the train from
Cory Green arrive? At 9:20 The
next one? At 1917. Was Miss Evans
to call for the book? He guessed she
would. When? He didn't know; but
if would leave the book with HIM. he
would give it to her. She was sure to
call for it some time or other. and it
would be o. K. and no questions
asked.
''Having special reasons for wishing
to deliver it in person. 1 declined his
rather pressing offer, and sat down to
wait for the 9:20 train. 1t came in
punctually, bringing plenty of passen-
gers, but no one in search of sketch
book. The 10:17 train arrived. bring
ing me only another disappointment
There was no applicant for the sketch
book.
"What was l to do? I could not
offer that picture in open court rs a
reason for postponing criminal suit
l dared not promise to produce its
owner. or to prove any thing by her
testimony. Yet could not help feel
ing that it would be unjust to my client
to neglect this clew.
Il was walking slowly up the street.
revolving these thoughts in my mind.
and trying to devise some way out of
the difficulty, when. just as reached
the courthouse steps. heard some
one say, in an excited undertone:
''It is. 1t certainly is! Do you
suppose l don't know it? Ishou,d re-
cognize it in Patagonia. Do please
speak to him. Cousin Nettie. If yon
don't must
''Looking up. saw a pretty girl Of
eighteen, all blushs and agitation. and
a middle-aged lady, with shocked
look upon her face, both of them eag-
erly staring at the sketch-book in my
hand The truth flashed upon me in
an instant. and became rs excited as
the young lady herself. and, l have
been told. blushed as deeply.
'''This is. l presume. Miss Alice
Evans?' l said, raising my hat.
"'Yes. SIR said the two ladies at
once.
my name is McQ-.' said. 4
have the great pleasure of restoring
Miss Evans's sketch-book to her. and
in so doing take the liberty to ask
Thank you.' interrupted Cousin
Nettie. taking the book and passing it
to its owner. and evidently not dis
posed to allow me the liberty of asking
any thing whatever. 1t is. of course.
a mere trif1e, of no value except to my
cousin
| Pardon me, madam l replied.
! you are mistaken. There is another
person to whom the book is of far
greater consequence than it can be
4 n