Wichita eagle., 1889-11-24

laughter.
During its recital Tom placed both e.
bows upon the table, holding his hands
upright to illustrate some point in his
anecdote He was telling the story at
Fountain. and did not fail to notice that
Fountain looked curiously at the buttons
Tom wore in his cuffs.
They were the ones HoIbrook had given
him
To draw his attention to them was
To1ns purpose.
When the tale was ended and the talk
tagged for a moment, Fountain leaned
forward and said:
81 beg your pardon, Mr.. Bryan, am
not often guilty of the enormity of direct
ing attention to the wear of gentlemen.
but the buttons you have are so curious
that I should like to make an inquiry"
Pardon is granted, for | am rather
fond of these buttons. They are rare,
and as poor devil of newspaper man
dosen't often mount valuable jewelry, /
am distinguished among my fellows for
them"
II never saw but one pair like them, :"
continued Fountain, land they were in
the nature of an heirloom. Those but
tons were of Florentine manufacture
my friend having had a diamond insert
ed in them. They had belonged to his
grandfather, who received them as a
present from an Italian. so he told me-"
Yes" said Tom. dumfounded by the
GOODNESS displayed by Fountain. 'These
buttons were given me by gentleman
friend for whom once 1t lay III my power
to do very great favor"
cit was possibly the same person" said
Fountain.
Possibly" replied Tom.
Tom had expected to 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 to him. He was
loath to give it up so, and consequently
he dexterously turned the conversation
to New York matters, and then watch
ing Fountain 30 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 iinched, and an
expression OF mild curiosity only arose
upon it.
Indeed, hope they may catch the
rascal; it was 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 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 1 tomorrow morning" inter-
posed Tom airily. ''And as have to get
off at an Internationally early hour.
shall retire from this enchanting scene
of vice, flee the temptation Of your Sc
ductive society, ard 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. Iexpected to carry
him by coup de grace, but not tremor,
by Jove! He is man of nerve. How
ever. my trip, as much by good luck as
by tact, has not been unfruitful. 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 l ask him who it was who owned
the buttons2 If there was 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
I'll to bed.