Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-04-10

jeweler," said Holbrook.
The man looked at it c%uriously.
THAT was never made in this coun-
try"
SLOW do you know that"
"How do you know that a copy of the
first edition of Littleton was not printed
in this country"
because it was printed before this
country was instituted"
Precisely; this button was made be-
fore this country was discovered. The
diamond has been inserted recently. To
know this is a part Of my trade. 1t is
not in the work, In what you might call
the ornamentation-no, it is in the way
the button has been put together that I
tell. The work on it has been initiated
for many years. Do you want a techni-
cal description 1t would be valuable
only to another ieweler."
Holbrook meditated.
The high official looked on with inter-
est.
Finally Holbrook spoke.
Scan you make me an imitation of
that button:"
Q yes, pretty near; so near that only
a j~eweler would discover the difference"
''Stone and all?"
1.-The stone is the easiest part"
Make me two then-a pair"
fhe high official spoke:
But the button cannot leave here"
Il don't want it, except to get the color
OF the imitation metal, and the color
can put on here" replied the jeweler.
That can be arranged" said the Off
ciat.
Then I want TO see it once to match
ths stones"
"That also can be arranged"
While the jewsler was making notes
of tho button, Holbrook began a close
examination of the make and style OF
the clothes. Having satisfied himself as
to that, he turned the trousers wrong
side out, and found a place where the
cloth had been widely turned over at q
seasi. 1t gave 6, complete idea of the
pattern of the cloth.
Il want to cut so much off,"
The official hesitated and looked
grave.
The two retired to q corner and con.
vcrscd earnestly. Holbrook was per
sisteat and energetic. The Official
yI@lded.
pair of shears from the high officials
de- did the work.
When the jeweler intimated that he
had finished his work of examination
Hol COX looked at his watch; it Fas {
o'ci b.
That will be the cost of these but.
tor
ieweler named what he thought
~t..-l be the sum-.
will give you four times that amount
IL so-: will deliver them at my Office al
i0o.:ock, day after tomorrow"
al shall have to work night and day
then
..Illat's why I offer you four times the
sum you name. The affair is urgent"
.'They viii be DONE"
Hsibrook then went to Delmonico's,
wier re he found Bryan awaiting him.
LET US get some where where We can
talk without being heard, said Holbrook.
T.ey took the orner of Twenty-sixth
street and Broadway.
Tn took the seat with his back to the
o er.
THUS he was enabled to survey the
whole room and could note who en-
tercf.
Alter they had given their orders, Hol-
brock handed Tom the slip of cloth.
What is that"
"a piece Of the suit worn by the muir
dercr."
You are prompt. Are you sure it is
the Gamer
Sure. 1 cut it of myself"
Good. Have you a description of the
btGttans'
No. Ihave done better"
Wiat?:'
q shall have, day after tomorrow, a
pair of them-a complete imitation Of
the buttons, SO close you could not tell
f'tother from which,"
You are an angel. Good, this is get
ting On with q vengeance. Be quiet
here the waiter with our soup"
While they were dining Holbrook told
Tom Of his singular interview with Flora
Ashgrove.
Tom v'as deeply interested.
He listened without interfering a re.
mark, only to caution Holbrook to sus-
pend his narrative when the waiter OF
some one else approached too closely.
When it was finished he was thought
full.
Finally he said:
"You should have told this to the cor
one But I am glad you did not. You
ought to tell this to your high official,
but I hope you won't"
sVyhat do you think of it alp asked
Holbrook.
at is q queer mess, and / think II
deeper than ever. There's a great story
behind that murder. Um! That girl
thinks she knows who did it, and she Il
afraid for the man. Questioning hei
would do no good now; nor would II
have done when you sIw her, although
she was then more oil her guard thar
she will be again. After ali, she said
nothing; as you say, it vas all in hel
manner. Idon't think as much of the
button as I did"
"Why2'
"Because she recognized it, and saw Il
didn't belong to the man she thinks die
the deed. She thought until she saw 4
that you had something that could b,
traced to the man she wants TO screen
She thinks now that You are on a falls
trail. You must throw yourself In he
way again as soon as You car. She vii
be anxious to know hov, your suspicion
are tending. Don't show her that 20,
have an idea that she knows or suspect
a one." He thought q moment an,
said. 81 suppose she 10 in love with tn
man..
Holbrook had not reasoned so closely
but he was struck with tho cogency o
Bryan's argument.
1.-THE buttons, then, are of no value,
he said, and he laughed as he added, :.
promised four times tlie value to hav
them done quickly
THAR axaot values quickly respond