The Washington critic., 1890-02-21


sighed and shook his head, and said grayely !
that we must hope the best. Then when
Mrs. Lester had gone he sat before his un-
touched supper and listened TO the steps OF /
Mr.. johnson who was Just mounting the |
stairs with companion.
Some three-quarters Of an hour later the |
visitor came down alone and pauslng just |
before he reached the professors door,
called back; "Hnrryl Harry haveleft my
stick" 1t flashed across the professors
mind that that letter had been addressed to
e.. Johnson, and also that the Christian
name Of Skipwith was Henry. He sprang
up and opened his door. The upper land
Ing was dark, so that he did not see the
face of Johnson; but the other man he saw
clearly aud recognized at once. This was
that mischievous young Stirling whose
range Of invention had made him in his
student days the terror, aud yet In Ger
tain sense, the faVoritc OF the whole body Of
professors.
''What, Stirling cried Professor Arid,
and smiled in spite of himself. 1t seemed
less offensive thing to he called "Old
Arid" now that lie knew the offender to
be Tom Stirling.
"Good evening, sir" said Stirling, in
tone OF unabashed friendliness.
"Step In moment,n said the professor,
and Stirling stepped in.
"Who is your friend upstairs ? u inquired
| Professor Arid, sternly.
"Oh a man know, called Johnson.n
"Do know him as q man called John
sony"
"No, sir, don't think you do
"What is his other namoY"
"Henry.n
oThen why are his lettersaddressed to c.
| Johnson2''
~ am sure can't say, sir. Perhaps he
| has two names.n
"Two, at least, should think, - said the
professor dryly.
Stirling Acknowledged the hit by smile.
as 1t Skipwith?" asked the professor
point-blank.
swift change passed over the osten-
tatious candor of the young mans counte-
nance. He turned red; his mouth twitched;
he looked rs If he might be about to laugh
or possibly TO cry. Finally he clasped
his hands together and said in stihed
voice; "Oh, sir, don't, don't betray himl"
~ don't want to betray him. said the
professor, hesitatingly. "But won't have
any more wrong done. What is it that he
is going TO do on Thursday?'
"L5aNe Lhe country with his WIFE"
"And what, beforeg'
''IIow do you know anything about it?''
cried Stirling
"PerhapsI have second sight, said the
professor
"Yes, that must be IT, replied the other,
solemnly. 81 don't deny that you have
found us out, and don't ask you to shield
him. III only ask you not to do anything
before Thursday morning unless you hear
from me. On Thursday you may make
everything known to the police If you
lilSe.''
"You give mo your word that this thing
whatever it is-won't be done before
Thursdays
sit can't be done before Thursday"
replied Stirling, earnestly; and the pro-
fessor, remembering words from the pho
nograph to the same effect, believed him.
''Nery well; ] will take no steps before
Thursday, unless l hear from you, or unless
] see some special reason to do So"
With that Stirling went away, and the
professor was left, for the second time that
day, to question the morality of his own
good nature.
Thursday morning came and nothing had
been heard from Stirling. The professor,
: with a mind made up to stern action, sat
at breakfast reading his morning paper.
All at once he dropped his knife and fork
and fell back in his chair. The Scotsman,
as it leaned against the ceffeepot, pre-.
sented to his astonished eyes paragraph
, describing the arrest Of Skipwith on the
previous afternoon-in London! Without
pausing to reflect he snatched up the paper
and rushed violently up stairs. He knocked
at Mr.. Johnson's door. No answer. lie
went in. The table was prepared foi
| DTpukldSb DtlU u0c room was eIIlpIy.
mot up YETI said the professor, and
Knocked at the door Of the bedroom.
: Again there was no reply, and again the
; professor followed up his knock by an en-.
trance. And again the room was empty
The bed was smooth and undisturbed. A
, portmanteau stood, buckled, on the iioor
| label upon it bore the name and address
of Stirling.
The professor rang the bell with vigor
and Mrs. Lester, in the kitchen, proceeded
to make Mr.. Johnson's tea. In about 9
minute the bell was rung again. She
} hastened up and found Professor Aird
standing with dismayed countenance il
= the middle of the room.
s'Where Is Mr.. Johnson?n he asked
"When did he go?'
The landlady glanced through the oper
door at the empty sleepingroom. Hel
blank face was answer enough.
f ''Was he here yesterday morning."
+ ooh, yes, sir, and yesterday night, too
up till 10 O'clock" And then she fell tC
wringing her hands and wondering whicl
l of the public buildings would prove to have
been blown up.
: 'Iet some one fcctch me cab, said thu
professor; and leaving his unfinished meal
L he betook himself at once to the lodging
} of Mr.. Stirling, where he learned that Stir
ling had gone out some five minutes earlie
, in company with an unknown gentleman
, and had left no message as to his return.
7 The professor, full of the darkest fore
: holdings, walked slowly home, pausing upol
! the way to complete his interrupted break
fast. 1t was thus nearly an hour late
when he returned to Mrs. Lester's, A cal
4 stood at the door, and on his entrance h
! was told that Mr.. Stirling was waiting Il
see him. The professor sprang upstair
like school boy.
= "Well, sir,n cried he, as he burst into hi
L lnt q, tbat o,,f .nf al
! this, should like to know"
Stirling, with face of deep seriousness
drew from his pocket q small, wedge shape'
package and held it out in silence.
. The professor hastily tore open the pape
and beheld q cardboard box such as Is useS
: for the transmission of wedding-cake. II
frowned; the receptacle seemed to him in
decently frivolous. Then it flashed acros
him that the stolen diamonds might b
within it. The box, however, contained Al
: orthodox fragment of bride-cake. The pre-
fessor stared at 1t stupelled and hardly re
= marked that as he opened the box thre
cards fell to the ground.
Stirling picked them up and prcsente
= them displayed on his palm.
The professor saw printed upon the tlrs
J Mr.. Henry Ashley; upon the second, Mis-
u Margaret Hall, and upon the third whic
9 was duly bordeFed with silver, Mr.. M
10 Mrs. Henry Ashley. On the first was adde
: in pencil, Mr.. 6. johnson, ana on the last
o in spite of the Lord Chancellor.
e Light began to dawn on the bewildere
professor. "1hen it was Ashley and nC
d skipwithY' cried he. And Stirling, with
o broad grin, nodded. 81 begin to unde
)l stand," said tho professor slowly. "Bu
why In spite of the Lord Chancellor9' "
Il ''Because Miss Hail was ward of coul
% and Ashley was forbidden to see her"
d "Ah!' said the professor, still medlt!
10 rat1i oh
4 cery, is it, which is the olfensc for whic
D thercls no eXtrnlition.n ~ Then. with SUI