Telegram-herald., 1889-11-23

presented 60 Iula-
Tom y - telling rafting story of al
venture. IA which figured E.ersons kHoWn
T. fame, aud which - - ehcitlng nuch
laughter.
Daring IT'S recital Tom placed both e
bows upon the table. holding his hands
upright q illustrate some polnI ia his
anecdote He was telling the story al
Fountain. and did not fal 10 notsoe that
Fountain looked curlousiy 81 the buttons
Tom wore IN rs cutis.
They were the ones Holbrook had given
him
To draw his attention 70 them Was
Toms purpose.
When the tale was ended and the talk
tagged for a moment, Fountain leaned
for~ ard and said
Il beg your pardon. Mr. Bryan, am
not often guilty Of the en0rmity Of direct
ing attention % the wear of gentlemen,
but the buttons yOu have are 50 earious
that ! should ike TO make an inquiry
Pardon Is granted, for / am rather
fond Of these buttons. They are rare,
and as a poor devil Of a newspaper man
dosent often mount valuable jewelry,
am distinguished among my fellows for
them"
Il never saw bat one pair like them,
continued Fountain. and they were N
the nature Of an heirloom. Those but
tons were Of Florentine manufacture
my friend having had a diamond insert
cd in them. They had belonged 70 his
grandfather, who received them as a
present from an Italian. so he told me"
"Yess' said Tom, dumfounded by the
GOODNESS displayed by Fountain. These
buttons were given me by gentleman
friend for whom once II lay in my power
TO do very great favor"
1T was possibly the same person, said
Fountain.
Possibly" replied Tom.
Tom had expected 10 disconcert Foun-
tain by displaying them. and was taken
aback by the fact that Fountain had di-
rected attention TO them.
He thought that either Fountain was a
man Of the coolest nerve, or that the but
tons did not belong 10 him. He was
loath 10 give it up SO, and consequently
he de1terously turned the conversation
TO New York matters, and then watch
ing Fountain SO that he could observe
every shade of expression, he suddenly
said
Il have been given hint from head
quarters that they are on the track Of
Templeton's murderer"
Fountains face never flinched, and an
expression of mild curiosity only arose
upon it.
Indeed, hope they may catch the
rascal; it was q dastardly deed"
AS extraordinary as was the command
Tom exercised over his features at all
times, it is to be feared that astonish-
ment, if not disappointment. was visible
for a moment. However, Fountain had
turned to the others as he pronounced
these words, and did not notice the fleet
ing expression on Toms face.
How long do you stay, Fountain
inquired some one at the table.
Il return tomorrow night" was the
reply.
And / tomorrow morning." inter
posed Tom airily. And as | have TO get
off at an unconscionably early hour, |
shall retire from this enchanting scene
of vice, flee the temptation of your Sc
ductive society, and say good night"
Once on the sidewalk, he struck his
cane on the stones and said aloud:
"Well, he beats the deck for GOODNESS
and self possession. l expected to carry
him by a coup de grace, but not 4 tremor,
by Jove! He is a man of nerve. How
ever, my trip, Us much by good luck as
by tact, has not been unfruNul. One
or two more turns of the coil and I've
got him" After a moments silence:
Hang it, I'm growing frightfully stu
pid. Why in the name Of common sense
didn't ! ask him who it was who owned
the buttons? If there was a convenient
stone wall here I'd butt my head against
/ it TO see if it has turned soft. However.
that photograph ought to be ready by
the time l get back TO New York, and
then for the Identification. BY St.
George, the work goes bravely on! So
1 T;D bod =,
TO BE CONTINUED.