Mohave County miner. [volume] (Mineral Park, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1882-1918, 1890-09-13
LORD JOHNS BARGAIN.

--OilVer wendell Holmes IN Atlantic Monthly.
LORD JOHNS BARGAIN.
My brother-in-Iaw, Lord John st.
Pierre. regarded with no little com.
placency his own possessions and
achievements. He was proud Ia the
first place Of the fact that be was
St. Pierre. and at the same time con.
bidored himself q competent repre-
sentative Of the talents and graces Of
the ancient and illustrious house OF
Stoneyhurst. In the next place he was
very proud OF his reputation as one
OF the best shots of driven game In the
United Kingdom. and of his conse-
quent entree into many country-houses
where only brilliant shots were well
coined. He was also proud. very
proud, Of his own perfect manners. and
plumed himself. not without cause, on
his insinuating address. 1t was on his
reputation, however. as successful col
lector OF china that he principally
Quiped himself, aud the trifiing sums
which he had paid for various articles
Of vertu which ornamented his rooms
at the Albany formed his fayorite
theme of conversation. Indeed, il all
be said was true, and If all the china
was really genuine. he fully deserved
all tho congratulations which be
claimed.
Nor did he fail to see how valuable
were the three aforementioned qualiii-
cations in their reference to this latter
pursuit Many eottagcr who had re-
fused to sell his precious little heir
looms to the travelling dealer was only
too proud to part with them. at per-
hapa low price, to Lord John--a
Lord John, tho who spoke so prettily and
made himself so agreeable. 1t was grand
to think that some little figure or cup
and saucer which had stood unnoticed
in the cupboard should take its place,
as the seller fondly imagined would be
the case, among the priceless gems Of
StoneyhTIrst abbey,
Johns presence too at so many sport
ing places gave him opportunities Of adj
mission into the interior of cottagers'
and keepers houses which might not
otherwise have been obtained. II Is
not given to everyone to be a district
visitor. tax collector, or schooI-aitend-
nnce officer. and without such or sim
liar professions il is not easy to gain
an introduction unlimited to the homes
Of the poor. Lord John, however.
had special privileges. and he lost no
opportunities Of availing himself Of
the facilities offered by shooting
luncheons in farm-bouseS or keepers
lodges on the different properties over
which he shot.
A few winters ago my brother-in-
law came to shoot at my home, Pen
Owen court. 10 Monmouthsbire. Know
ing. as l did, how uufavorably the
bags even on my best days compared
with the slaughter TO which John was
accustomed, ] had had some hesitation
In inviting him into such an out-of-the.
way part Of the world.
He had heard. however Of the won.
derful stand at Eastfield coppice. said
to be perhaps the most difficult sport.
ing in England, and was anxious to
try bis hand ut our '.rocketers.n / had
no possible objection, and he was In.
vited for three days shooting.
A sad mysterious calamity, however,
In connection with the death Of one Of
the beaters happened the first day. and
the unhappy incident prevented US
from carrying out the weeks program.
Guests who have no resources TO oc-
cupy them when sport fails are nat.
urally difficult 10 entertain, aud con.
sequentIy was not altogether sorry
when my visitors, with the exception
of Lord John, decided upon taking
their departure the morning which
succeeded the catastrophe.
He however remained and in tho
course Of the afternoon announced bis
intention Of going up to the keeper''
house, where he had lunched the prev.
ious day, and Of course / offered tc
walk there with him. Rather to my
surprise he seemed to have M particu-
lar desire for my society, and began
to wonder il his projected visit had
any connection with the mysterious
affair TO which have already alluded.
At any rate determined to accompany
him, and on the way was made o
confdant Of his lordship's Intentions.
On the previous day he hal noticed
ssaVu china figures on the keepers chin
ney-piece, and. though with n connOis
seur's natural suspicion he had at the
time done nothing to attrac. general
attention TO them, he now confessed
that be had every reason to believe
that they were old Dresden. He i'm.
agined them to be Of great value and
had determined to pick them up az
cheapIy a. he could. have never
/: been able to make W my miad about
the morality OF such n proceeding,
but thoroughly disliked the idea Of
picking up" q valuable article ''cheaP"
from one Of my own retainers. and. as
II were, under my own sanction. How
ever, / determined to bide my time
and see what happened.
John annoyed me very much at the
first opening OF negotiations ne De-
gan BY asking Mrs. Rawlins, whose
husband was not at home, questions