Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1890-02-22
with oxidized silver buttons.

my diamond button dld not belong
to Templeton. he said my first con-
clusion is correct will go to my office
and see the coroner at twelve"
As he left the undertaker's he met
Wessing.
"Ah, you are free" cried he.
Eyes, just free. They have verified
my story. and finding it confirmed in
every particular have let me go. oTln
off for breakfast.
They parted, Holbrook going straight
way to his Office.
There for a time he became so en-
crossed in business that the murder and
the diamond button were driven from
his mind.
Upon what small threads do matters
of human interests hang2
The young lawyer had for some time
anticipated that a contingency would
arise calling him from the city to dis
tant point for at least three weeks, in the
interest of client.
His mail that morning informed him
that the contingency had arisen. His
first impulse was Immediately to pre-
pare for his departure. His second
thought was, If he went the coroner
would not have him for witness, and
as matter of public duty he ought to
remain.
Then he thought that while the client
was a valuable one, nevertheless the
duties to be performed were Of the SIM
plest Characteristic experimenting Of
the signing Of papers and contracts al
ready drawn-so he called in a neigh
boring young lawyer to whom he often
to 60.
Had Holbrook gone this story would
never have been written.
During the morning Holbrook received
note from lady in whose good graces
he wished to stand high, asking him to
call upon her.
The lady was young and handsome,
and rumor said rich. She lived with her
uncle, her parents being dead.
Holbrook was greatly delighted with
the summons. He had been attentive,
but as yet had received little encourage
ment from the young lady.
Her manner toward him, while cour-
teous, was not different from that dis
played toward a dozen or more Of the
young gentlemen with whom he was in
rivalry.
Her name was Flora Ashgrove, and
she was spoken of in the clubs as "The
handsome Flora"
Rumor did not credit any man with
having the favor Of the fair lady. Her
acquaintance Of her own sex said she
angled for suitors and failed despite her
beauty. Twenty men knew she had rev
fused the offer Of one man at least.
She did not want for gallant in the
park nor an escort to the opera; she was
sure of an invitation to the hunt and
seat upon the most distinguished coach
in the parade; at each regatta her name.
was seen among the guests of the most
sought after yacht, while at the charity
fairs her booth turned In twice the mon
ey any other did.
These were hard nuts for her dear fe-
male friends to crack. but they hammer
ed at them persistently; consequently
she was a great social success.
Holbrook was a self contained young
man, whose good opinion Of himself was
fully equaled by his good looks, and upon
that score he was well content. While
not Of a very ardent nature. still he ad-
mitted to himself that il the divine Flora
would but give him some sign that she
found more pleasure in his attentions
than in those O. others he could quite
readily fall in love with her; but until
she did he proposed to keep himself we'll
in hand and not make fool Of himself,
as some others he could name had done
The note lying before him was the first
he had received from her. and, indeed,
the first intimation he had had indicating
that she cared whether he came or went
He was therefore filled with pleasur-
able emotion and no little wonder.
The note had driven from his mind all
recollection of the button and his visit to
the coroner, and. disposing Of his busi-
ness as speedily as possible, he took him
self to her uncle's residence-a handsome
dwelling in Ffty-sixth street. not far
from Fifth avenue.
When ushered into the richly furnished
parlors he was made aware that it was
the summer season. The furniture was
covered, and so were the ornaments,
statuary and most of the pictures.
Then he remembered he had wondered
how it was that Miss Ashgrove was In
the city at that time Of the year.
But one picture was exposed, and from
that the cover had been thrown back
over the easel upon which it rested. This
was the portrait of the lady herself.
He fell to a study Of 1t, waiting the
coming of the lady who had summoned
him to her presence.
He thought 1t would be fine thing to
have so handsome a head at his table,
Other lovers would probably have given
rein to other thoughts. but Holbrook was
one Of those young men who get on in
,NAl