Telegram-herald., 1889-11-30

walk with Annie. holOFO0k had stepped
into headquarters, and had talked With
the high official who had supplied Alm
with the sample OF cloth and the dla-
m0nd button. Hs had discussed the
theory with the high official, and was
compelled 10 acknowledge that from the
standpoint u the 2uthOrities and with
the Information they possessed, the
theory was plausibly argued.
tie was troubled over his own conceal
ment OF certain things, and while he
fslicitated himself upon the fact that
neither Tom nor himself had said q word
concerning Fountain, now that it was
clear that he was not the guilty man,
yet he thought he ought 10 tell the
authorities Of the suspicious they had as
10 Templetons and Fountains relations
10 each other and 20 the dead PiersOn.
But what was he TO sayf He was IN pre-
cisely the same predicament as he was
before they had found Fountain 10 be
guiltless. He couldn't speak without
bringing Flora into the affair, and if il
had been difficult 10 do so before, now
after his interview with her. and after
what was practically a promise on his
part not % use his knowledge 10 the dis
advantage Of herself or Fountain, it was
doubly 50. Besides. 10 open himself 10
the high ofici3Iwould be to prove treach-
erous 10 Tom
So, without revealing any of his
thoughts he left and went his way TO
his Office. He dismissed all further con-
sideration Of his duty in the matter with
the thought that he was SO involved by
circumstances that he could not do what
seemed to be an obvious duty without
doing greater harm in other directions,
and let his mind run on the joys Of his
walk with Annie on the previous even
ing and her charming qualities Of mind
and person.
Thus engaged. he reached his Office
As he opened the door Of the outer room.
with more than usual vigOr, he WAS star
tied by loud crash. A clerk had sc
placed ladder that one leg was imme-
diately in front of the door. lie had
mounted it so as to gain access to a row
of high shelves surrounding the office,
on which were kept green wooden boxes,
the figures Of past years, the names of
clients and of estates whose affairs the
Office had in charge being lettered in
white on them.
When Holbrook had hastily swung
open the door it had struck leg of the
ladder. nearly topping over the clerk
and causing him to drop one Of the boxes
to the floor, upon which it fell so heavily
as to burst open.
This was the crash which had startled
him. Several of the clerks sprang to
save the box, and as they lifted it up it
fell apart, scattering its contents.
What papers are they? asked Hol-
brook. viewing the wreck he had caused.
"Old ones, ! should Judge" replied
CLARK. the managing clerk, bending over
to picl, one OF the packages up They
refer to Sampson, Hurcomb & Co.,
concern that has been out OF existence
'hcse Ten years. Their alfnirs are all
closed up
Among the papers was a small tin box.
'.What is THAR" asked Holbrook.
Il don't know" said the clerk, picking
it UP. look for the key" finding it
locked and the key not in the lock.
The Office boy paved over the papers,
but could find none.
IIolbrook took the box and turned It
around and around. On one end ne saw
the letters &C. T."
"What can it be-" he said, struck by
the initials Bring something to break