The Opelousas courier., 1889-03-30

Gregory took his hat and cane, and,
with more than his usual alacrity,
turned his steps in the direction of
Court street. He soon found himself
in the Office of Mr.. Brief.
A small, dapper man turned upon
him an inquiring look.
':Mr. Brief?n said John Gregory, in
terrogatively.
THE same" responded the little
man.
"If I mistake not, you are the one
who is referred to in an advertisement
in this mornings paper"
''In thS matter of Janet Campbell?"
"Yes."
"Can you give me any information
about herr" inquired Brief. with sud-
den interest.
II think so," answered Gregory,
cautiously.
think so! Don't you know so?
Excuse my mode of speaking, but you
are aware that we require something
definite"
Then. sir, said the visitor, 81 may
say unequivocally and positively that
know where Janet Campbell is to be
found"
Then you will have the goodness to
inform me-"
Eyes; but not to-day. Two days
hence | will bring the person herself
here. Meanwhile, as / appear as her
representative, / shall be glad to know
of what nature the advantage you
speak of is"
II will tell you." answered Brief,
apparently satisfied of the good faith of
his visitor.
You will agree that / haven't ex-
aggerated the character of the advan-
tage, when I tell you that it is in the
form, and amounts to five thousand
pounds"
Give thousand pounds!" repeated
Gregory, hardly believing his ears.
Yes; or twenty-five thousand dol
lars in our currency"
But how did it come aboutp Who
left the money, and how did you hap
pen to be connected with the affair.""
las far as / can understand, this was
the way it occurred: An uncle of
Janet, by name Robert, wandered off
to the East Indies, and there, happen
ing into a profitable occupation, con-
tinued TO accumulate the sum men
toned. He returned to Scotland; but,
being of an irritable disposition, man.
aged to get out with his relatives at
home, and in a Git Of pique, probably,
made a will devising his property to
his niece, Janet. He SOON afterwards
died, and the will came in force. The
business of finding out the heiress, who
was known to be, or to have been, in
this neighborhood, was intrusted to
me. In order the better to succeed, ]
caused the advertisement which at
tracted your notice to be inserted in
the papers. That is all / know about
the mattersS
II am much obliged to you for your
information, sir,n said John Gregory.
"In regard to the finding of the per-
son you have advertised for, you may
set your mind entirely at rest. Day
after tomorrow, I will call with her in
person"
So saying. Er. Gregory bowed, and
left the Office.
s'Fiye thousand pounds! Twenty-Five
thousand dollars!" he muttered to him
sell. s'Who would have thought that
Janet would ever be SO rich? / sup
pose that she won't be willing to re-
main as my housekeeper any long
Can't blame her. Wouldn't If / woza
she. But how am / going to get z ong
without herp Nobody knows exactly
how to suit meIfn every respect as she
does.n
John Gregory walked or awhile, in
thoughtful silence.
twenty-five thousand dollars Is a
good deal of money" thought he. 81
wonder what she'll do with it? Itwould
be a good deal of service ts me. With
the help of it, I could double my busi-
ness
John Gregory thought awhile longer,
and a new and happy idea flashed upon
him.
There is one way of accomplishing
both these desirable objects-retaining
Janet in my family and obtaining pos
session of this money-and that is, to
marry her. Q
John was at arst quite starled al
this thought, but the longer he har-
bored it the more reasonable 1t seemed.
"To be sure, she isn't handsome, nor
is she very young, for that matter.
However, she must be some few years
younger than myself, and when a man
reaches forty-eight, he cant afford to
be very particular on that point.
POUNDS! I'm half-determined-yes; ]
will propose, and that without waste
of time.n
John Gregory went home to dinner a
little earlier than usual.
It 30 happened that Janet. for a won.
der, had not succeeded 30 well as usual
with her dinner, and this, knowing al
she did, how particular he was, made
her feel q little and fdgety.
However, to her surprise, he ate his
dinner without appearing to remark
that any thing was out of the way. He
seemed unusually distracted, al if he
were ~intently thinking Of something.
At length he said, abruptly:
"Janet, did you come to this country