Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-05-30
CIFAPTER VI.
A LITERARY AsPIRANE.

CHAPTER VI.
A LITERARY AsPIRANT.
Primrose Crescent lies just off Totem
ham Court Road, and though a short dis
lance away the thOTOughfare is full of
nose and hustle, everything is compare
lively silent in this crescent. AIiIk-carts
are the most frequent vehicles. and Oc-
cas- Onally q rakish-lOOking hanson
makes its Appearance, while ragged men
dicants sometimes pay the neighbOrhoOd
a visit and troll out lively ditties in gin
ger-crack5d voices. The organ grinder
is not an unknown parsonage either, and
his Internal machine may frequently be
heard playing the latest mus: hall meIo-
dies as he giances round in search Of the
humble brown.
There are a good many boarding houses
10 be found in Primrose Crescent, where
city clerks, literary aspirants, and COM
ing actors are to be found. A touch Of
BOhemianism perVades the whole street,
and perhaps in the future neat tablets let
into the walls of the houses will inform
posterity that Horatio Muggins, the cele-
brated poet, and Simon Mephison, the
famous actor, resided there. But fame
is as yet far from the quiet street. and
the jewellers therein are still struggling
upward or downward as their inclina-
tions may lead them.
Mrs. MulgY was the landlady Of one of
hard work and incessant Watchfulness
managed TO keep the wolf from the door;
but, alas, the wolf was never far off, and
it took all Mrs. Mulgy's time to keep him
at his distance. The basement of her
mansion was devoted to the kitchen, the
pres ding deity OF which was a pale, thin
looking servant, with q hungry eye and
deprecatlng manner, who answered to
the name of Rondalina, which sounded
we'll and cost nothing
1t was about II o'clock and Myles Des-
mOnd sat in his sitting-rOOm scribbllng
an article for a society journal, called
ASmOdeus, published for the express puF-
pose of unrOOfng peoples houses and
exposing to the world their private life.
Not that Desmond did such a thing, he
would have scorned to violate the sane
tity of private life, but he wrote for all
kinds Of magazines and papers, and as
AsmOdeUs paid we'll, he now and then
wrote them q smart essay on existing
evils, or cynical social story.
He was tall young man, with reddish
hair and mustache, clever, intellectual
face, perhaps not actually gOOd-lOoking,
but a face that attracted attention, and
when he chose to exert himself he could
talk excellently on the current topics of
the day. His breakfast lay on the table,
untouched, he having only swallowed a
cup of coffee and then pushed the table
Myles looked worn and haggard, as if
he had been up all night, and every now
and then his swift pen would stop as he
pOndered over some thought. There was
a ring at the bell below, but ne took no
notice. This was followed shortly after
ward by a knock at the door, and Ronda-
lima glided in, saying a gentleman wished
to see him.
"Show him in, said Myles, not looking
up. Wonder who it can be?" he mutter-
ed as Rondalina went out; "hang those
fellows, they won't even let me have the
morning to myself.
When the door opened he glanced up
and saw that the new conner was not a
friend, but a tall, gray man whom he did
not know. Myles paused with his pen IN
his hand, and waited for his visitor to
speak, looking at him interrOgatively
meanwhile.
Mr.. Dowker-for of course it was he
closed the door carefully, and advancing
to the table introduced himself in two
words:
"Dowker-detective'"
If MyIes looked haggard Defore, he
looked still more so now. His face grew
pale, and he shot an inqairing glance at
his visitor, who stood looking mOurnfuI-
ly at him. Then, throwing down his pen
in an irritable manner, he arose to his
feet
w G4ls MI DUWh6Es Nc 5GAL q -4LL45
nervously, you want to see met"
I dO-Yery particularly, replied Dow
ker, cOOlly taking q seat, and believe
you can guess what it's about.
Myles drew his brOws together and
shook his head.
NO. I'm afraid I can't, he said
coldIy.
The Jermyn street murder.
AIyles gave a kind of gasp, and turne ID
away toward the mantelpiece. Ostensibly
to fill his pipe, but in reality to conceal
his agitation.
Well, he said, in an unsteady voice,
and what i've I to do with it2"
That's what I want to know, said
DOWker, imperturbably.
Myles Desmond glanced keenlY at him,
lighted his pipe, resumed his seat at the
table, and leaning his elbows thereon,
stared cOOlly at the detective.
You speak in riddles, he said quietly.
"Humphl" answered Dowker, mean
/ ingly; perhaps you can guess them
Not till you explain them more fully, "
retorted Desmond
1t was evidently a duel between the
/ men, and they both felt it to be so.
/ Dowker wanted to find cut something
! which Desmond knew, and Desmond on
| his side was equally determ me to hold
/ his tongue. The cleverest man would
! win in the end so DOwker = e. a the bat
/ tie at once.
The woman who was murdered was
! Lena Sarschine."
@Indeedi" said Desmond, with a stare
] Of surprise. May ask how you knoW?'
/ That is not the point, retorted Dow
/ ker quickly. i have satisfied myself as