The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-24

| would stay at the hotel. It's miserable
| place. but well enough. I'm not particular. !"
| "Oh," said the professor, and nothing
| more.
| After making few arrangements for be-
| ginning their search Waters withdrew, bow
| ing grayely to Florence as he opened the
| door.
| The search began almost the next day,
and continued for many days thereafter.
| Tom was really interested to some degree,
| and was of much assistance to the professor.
| He studiously kept away from the latter's
| rooms, and saw scarcely anything of Flor
| line of duty in that direction being sundry
| hastily scrubbed notes that he bribed and
| cajoled the landlady into carrying. Now
and then he got word or two in reply, but
| that was all.
| One evening after they had been in Sum-
mersville couple OF weeks, the two men
| were returning after an unusually success
| full days work. The professor was in high
| spirits. After they had exhausted the sub
| ject of the days success the professor took
a fatal step.
| Il fear you must find it lonesome at the
| hotel" he said.
Tom felt his heart take flying leap for
| his mouth, but contrived to answer indiffer-
entity.
ings, but l make out well enough with
| few books and things.
1--WE find it somewhat lonely, too" adj
mitted the professor. g fear it is a little
tresome for Florence. She has no one but
| the landlady to talk with except me- and
strange enough, seem unable to interest
| her in our work"
Indeed" said the young man, sympa-
| thetically.
"We would like to have you drop in now
and then of an evening. Waters" continued
| the professor.
"Thank you." said Tom. And there and
then he felt an all-nspiring desire to stand
upon his head.
After that he dropped in for while each
evening at the professors rooms, and with
the help Of the landlady they played good
deal of very poor whist, and INDUCED in
few other more or less pleasing amusements.
| One evening they were sitting around the
| table, the professor reading magazine, and
| Tom and Florence carrying on an Indifferent
conversation. AT length the professor laid
| down his book and turned 10 Tom.
81 have just been reading the description
OF the only thing that | need now to COM
| p!ete my collection he SAID. sit is exactly
like some of the specimens which we found
| to-day, except that II has striped cOloring on
| the back. l would give anything to possess
one."
1--WE may find one," suggested Waters.
81 hope SO, Of course. but they are very
rare"
That night Tom lay awake with great
| idea in his head. The next day he obtained
1
| been found the day before, and then he told
| the professor that he was not feeling well
and would stay at home for day. The
| professor said nothing and went his way
unaccompanied, except by little boy who
| had been employed to carry baskets, etc.. ON
| the daily excursions.
| Tom went directly to the professors rooms
! and there found Florence. He gave her a
| lovers greeting and then began to look
about the room hastily.
What is it. Ton?" asked Florence
1.-The magazine! Where is IT,"
The magazine was found, and Tom seized
| it eagerly and turned quickly to the article
| the rofessor had been reading the day be-
| fore
He read it through, and then almost
| leaped into the air. In fact he went dancing
| around the room in so much exultation that
| Florence began to wonder if he had not
| gone little crazy.
do you feel i'll, Tom?" she asked, anxi-
| Ously.
| Tom paid no attention to her question, but
continued his pow-wow about the room
| Florence waXed indignant.
81 don't know what it is You find so very
| funny" she said scornfully and severely.
II know you don't, but you will" an
swered Tom, and not word more would he
| say.
All the rest of that day, except an oc-
casional visit to the village drug store,
Waters stayed, locked in his own room at
the hotel. In the evening he went to see
the professor. and he carried with him some
thing in little tin box. He went in and
laid it down before the professor without
word.
Professor Taylor opened the box, and
there lay before him the wonderful speci-
men for which he had looked SO long and SO
vanly.
1t was a wonderful specimen, large and
fully developed. and all up and down its
back ran beautiful lines of red and gold.
After the professor and his daughter had
| admired it aud questioned about it Tom rose
to explain.
You see. SIR" he said, II wasn't i'll to-
day at all, but l thought 1 knew where l
could find one of these If there were any
around here, and l thought | would like to
60 alone"
Quiet nature. quiet nature" aid the pro-
lessor, beaming benignly on Waters. Il am
greatly indebted to you for this rare speci-
men. 1t Will quite complete my collection.
Aud don't mind telling you,' continued
the professor, that | have had reason to
change any slight feeling of distrust which
l may have felt toward you. Your assist
ance in this work has been great, and am
sure II you continue as you have begun, you
may loJk for large results from your labor,
both for yourself and for the scientific
world"
While the professor had been making this
long speech Florence had slipped out of the
room.
Tom looked. or tried to look becomingly
modest. The professor extended his hand
as he finished.
you have pleased me very much,'' he
said.
THANK you." said Tom, land now if l
might"
The professor interrupted him. hastily.
wait till you've graduated and then we'll
talk about it," he said, not unkindly.
'But in the meantime | can come to see
herr asked Tom auXiouSly.
why, yes; you've been doing that all the
time, haven't you?" And the old man re-
lapsed into the contemplation of the new ac-
QUESTION to his collection.
"Tom," said Florence, after he had told
her the news and they lad rejoiced over it
together in true lovers fashion, "rom,
where did you find that horrid bug?"
We'll, the fact is said Tom, "it isn't ex-
actly the bug found. | took one OF those
common ones and made it over with a sharp
needle and some indelible ink. KNEW your
father wanted one very badly, and it seemed
too bad that he should be disappointed
And, besides. he would never have let me
have you if hadn't done something extra
ordinary.-Bos.on Globe.