Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-08
CHAPTER xxxIY.

COME AND GONE BEFORE ONE VERY EYES.
The great and unexpected earnestness
of this remark. on the part Of -Mr. Bent
ly," as matter of course caused all eyes
to be turned toward Jasper.
why, Mr.. Bently," said Noel, with q
forced laugh, you seem as much dis
turbed about my loss as am myself Is
it possible that you can throw any light
upon the origin Of the paper2"
Il? Bless mel how should II" ex-,
claimed Jasper, recovering his composure
with an effort. Il don't know what pos
sessed me, am sure. But your sudden
| perhaps it was merely natural for me to
reflect 1t"
But you said, 'Gone-gone once
| moreY just as if this wasn't the first time
it had disappeared. Idon't understand" I"
MY friend Bentlys sympathy, doubt
less, merely got the better Of him for the
moment" said Rollingstone. coming to
the rescue. THE question now Is, to re-
cover the stolen document, if you think
| it worth your while, Mr.. Marlowe."
Il certainly do think So" said Noel,
| still disturbed. "An INSCRIPTIONS per-
! son might-might cause much distress by
| using it Acknowledgements some one who
is near and dear to me. If it is possible
| to recover it / must do 80 at any cost"
| Il think l can show you the way to do
SO, with very little delay" said Rolling
stone. tossing Of, perhaps, his fifteenth
or twentieth glass Of the champagne,
which seemed to rather sharpen than
cloud his faculties.
In the first place, do you happen to
know Of any one who could wish to use,
or try to use, the missing paper in the
manner you fear?"
NO, indeed; and, as for the immediate
thief, this juggler-"
@He is not to be thought Of; he is evil
i IDENTIFY but the tool of a greater intelli-
/ gence. interrupted Rollingstone. Now,
/ do you all let me try to get at the bottom
1 of this thing in my own way.
Il suspect that this iuggler came here
was sent here-for the express purpose
| Of obtaining that paper, and for just
nothing else. This is obvious, since the
paper is the only thing that has been
stolen; whereas, if the juggler had been
common thief, on his own account, he
would doubtless have confined his sleight-
of-hand to the abstraction of money, to
so much Of which he had equal access,
and yet not shilling of which he took.
/ Still more, he hurried off with the
paper, not even venturing to stop for the
two guineas honestly coming to him.
True, said Noel.
"Why, the world lost Vidocq when it
put Rollingstone into the armyl" called
out Sir Harry, while all the rest were
growing equally interested. "This is as
good as novel-reading.
''Let me 60 on, then, said the Captain.
"Now let me ask how you came to engage
r k,.o hs.h 10
something of sensation in both town
and country circles of late; but I want to
know from which Of you came the propo-
sition to engage him for this present lit
tie occasion?"
Lets see, said Sir Harry. 'Poins, it
was either you or Calkins who first made
the suggestion, just as we were leaving
the club"
''It was I" said Mr.. Poins, with slight
flush; and then he added, laughing.
swell, I'll be frank in the matter, even
if it exposes associations that other
I wise would have kept dark about, even
from you fellows. The suggestion was
only mine at second hand.
"May ask as to who originally made
the suggestion to you, Mr.. Poins?" said
Rollingstone.
s.Of course you may; and, since seem
to be regularly in for it, I will explain.
While was breakfasting ct the club. this
morning, and thinking you fellows might
drop in on me any minute Il had received
your letter the night before, Sir Harry,
the waiter brought me word that gentle
man, whom he had never seen before, was
in the reception-room inquiring for me.
Bring him right in here says l; and
then who should come in but-well. nc
matter.
Il don't believe any Of you know him.
Suffice it to say that he isn't often seen
in any Of the bang-up clubs any more,
since certain disgraceful revelations that
have recently got abroad concerning both
him and his fair partner. Nevertheless,
the man is handsome as an Italian por-
trait and, besides, being dead-shot, is Of
most fascinating address.
Then, again, you know my general
style is to be decently polite to pretty
J much every fellow who has mot done me
J any personal harm. So I asked him tt
sit down, and he did SO.
J AFTER chatting gracefully to me on 9
variety of topics, he asked me if ! had al
, engagement for to-day. said yes, ant
| from Highcombe. It's likely enough
that also mentioned your names.
When he had learned how we pro.
posed putting in the day, in just the sor
Of random way that we have since
adopted, he said to me, .Ah, Poins, set
!. how it is. Yonr friends are not otter
( here in the city, are theyr Not much q
] this time of the year, Ireplied. 'Wonldn'
. you like to treat them to something reall,
novel and unique?' he asked. OF course
. answered in the affirmative; and theI
{ he mentioned this fellow All Ben Medan'
(, performances, gave me his address, ant
! said he thought we could hire him at al
most any time during the day at guine
t an hour. Well, liked the idea from tn
l first, for had heard good deal abou
J the fellows skill, and Lady Dartle ha,
told me that she had made quite q feat
ure Of his performances at her gardel
I fete last month. AZ soon as--as my Wis
!, itor found out that ! had taken hold o
b the idea, he wished me good-morning
' and went of, apparently in pretty goo
humor. That's the whole story. Yo
: fellows fell in with the notion as soon Q
i broached it, and sent to the juRgler'
address, engaging him 70 meet us her
' this afternoon, which he did. ! didn
! think it worth while TO mention my vis
3 itor's name; in fact, I am rather mortifie
3 at ever having made his acquaintance
8 after what has happened.
d ITO BR Continued
N Iv4Hs IA.
y Chocolate.