Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-19
CHAPTER XII.
THE STRANGE INITIALS.

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cliGe at 9:45 that night.
lie was very unwilling to leave the
scene OF the mysterious occurrence to
unraveI which had become for the time
the leading motive OF his life, but ne
concluded that he had probably ex-
fracted from the locality OF the crime all
the information that he was likely to
obtain, and he reflected that ne would be
able to successfully make certain in
ouiries in London which would be useless
in q small seaside place like Westclife.
About j clock he made hiS way to
Monplaisir, and was so far favored by
fortune as to find Mary alone, and unoc-
cupied.
MARY, my dear, - he said, after GER
tain preliminary endearnents, 'I've
come to say goodbye.
''For-Mr. Padger? Grid Mary, turn
ing pale.
Joshua. - interrupted that gentle
man tenderly.
'For-Joshua? hesitated Mary,
rosy blush overcoming her pallor. You
don 4 mean to say you are going away!
"Oh, m coming back again. Don t
you be afraid, my dear, - said Mr.. Pad
ger cOnsoIiDgly. Business calls, and
Padger obeys, but 1 shall be around
AGAIN soon.
Gwen, I declare, that Is sudden, and
how about Miss Gertrude?'
''NIIss Gertrude?-oh yes, - said Mr..
Padger awkwardly. 81 can't forget
Miss Gertrude in a hurry But I want
you to come for little walk with me. -
Mary at first declared that such & thing
was absolutely impossible, next con-
sented to see if she could manage it. and
finally declared that she would be ready
in a jifTy.
They had not gone far before Mr.. Pad
ger paused before a small pawnbrOker
shopino one Of the side streets. The window
was filed with the usual miscellaneous
collection of plate and jewelry, new and
old, in the center of which in the most
conspicuous positions was q velvet lined
tray fun Of wedding rings
There, Mary my dear, - said MIR.
Padger, gently squeezing the arm that
rested lovingly in his, 81 hope it won t
be long before IN measuring your dear
little finger Tor one of them. q
"For-Mr. Padger-JOshua, how you
talk!'' cried Mary in pretended indigna-
ton.
Gwen, do hope so, " persisted Mr..
Padger, stoutly.
MOT till you We cleared Miss Ger
it's no use talking.
All right, my dear, he said with
outward cheerfulness, which coutTasted
painfully with his real sensations. -
can wait, but IN the meantime just TO
prevent your forgetting me while IN
awav-''
For, Joshua how can you say it?' -
lnterposed Mary Teproachfully.
con, there's nothing like taking pre-
cautions, and just TO prevent il 1 want |
vOu TO step III here with me and choose !
Yourself Il brooch or something of that /
sort TO make you think Of me when you /
put it on -
''Oh, Joshual'' cried the delighted !
Mary.
Mr.. Padger was hard to please, and /
after many unsuccessful attempts to fOist |
upon him an article that he did not like |
and would not take, the proprietor a |
typical old J ew, having carefully taken /
the measure of MI. Pad%er and the girl, /
withdrew upstairs to fetch something
very superior, leaving them alone in the
shop, a tribute to the honesty Of their
appearance, which they would doubtless
have appreciated at its fun value had
they recognized II.
Mary was not without the inqusitive-
ness proper TO her sex, and was idly
managing IN a box on a table in one
corner containing all sorts of worthless
odds and ends when she gave an excla-
nation:
Look here, Joshua, here's a funny
place TO keep a watch. For bless us if it
sn I misSuses'
WHAT cried Mr.. Padger, suddenly
gripping her arm so tightly as to make
her cry out. - beg your pardon, Mary,
my dear, whereof
"Why, this one here, - said Mary,
-uefully rubbing her arm.
% Are you sure?'' said Mr. Padger,
excitedly, but in a carefully lowered
.oue
''Quite sure. know it by these blue
etters OF the back. ] we seen them there
)ften. They are A. q. c. -
d" A. @. Pc repeated MIR. Padger.
But those were not her initials. -
q know II > said Mary a that 5 what
made me notice them. -
Let me have q look at.
Further conversation was interrupted |
~ the return of the Jew, but Mr.. Pad
,er, with his accustomed promptness,
lad already settled upon his plan of ac-
ion. Without looking at the Jew. VINO |
he knew would be watching him closely, !
he turned the watch over two or three
ines in his hand, shrugged his
houlders indiferentIy and laid il dowQ
u the counter. Then. to Mary's ex-
RENE surprise, without making
ny further reference TO it, he
arned his back upon If and devoted
imself 10 the new tray OF modest orna-
lcnts. He consulted her about the
Tooch she would like, and then turned
p the most natural manner in the world
o bargain with the Jew about the price
o be paid Tor the one she had chosen.
liz expectations were not disappointed.
he watch had gone
BY the way he remarked in a cool
maRper, very different from ;
is recent intense interest, when he had
ischarged his debt and was leaving the {
hop, 81 almost forgot to ask. what's I
he price Of that watch l was looking
t?''
''Oh yes, nice day, very nice day
Lid the man, pocketing Mr.. Padger's 5
honey. {
q should like to have another look at S
THAT vOtoh9 Oh, it's no use to you.
Won I 90 2
~ could have it cleaned - said Pad '
er carlessly, anyhow I should like TO |
exc look at i. !
s.yOb' the use. tell Won If = not for T