The record-union., 1891-04-05

lAlSNl Vic 1Or OIn6f secret fGCGD-
tacIes, but so far he has not succeeded in
discovering any. He is to search again.
Mrs. Brayshaw is very kind in affording
every facility, and ] am sanguine that in
some out-of-the way corner drawer will
be found containing the missing treasure
Mr.. FeatherStone would not take the
trouble to put things in his safe. | knew
nothing about that secret drawer which
the cabinet-maller has found in the
library table. Where do you think it
! was ?''
! could not guess.
"It was in the thick part of the Leg"
said Woodrough. ''It was fastened by
means of hidden spring, and the carved
work effectually disguised the opening"
MAY the diamond be discovered !" was
my sacred wish.
l knew perfectly well that Bowman or
Sweepstone or both of them would make
some ridiculous remark to Reedyman
abont my paper knife. l have often
noticed IN men who appear to pride them
selves on their want Of interest in litera-
ture that they get into ruts, and however
undesirable the ruts may be, they remain
IN them I'D E01tSedmt. They had few
favorite jokes, and no social meeting was
supposed to have been successful unless
| all the jokes were introduced.
Readyman was very quiet, and, as far
as l could judge, very intelligent. He
was full Of questions about bowling
matches which mad been played since he
left Barnfield. No stranger would have
suspected that his name was q household
word among people who took an interest
in mechanical progress. If any other
subject was mentioned, however, he was
| ready to show an interest in it, Bowls
and machinery did not absorb all his
thoughts.
Somebody mentioned great American
al lAf-ffs sifIn lln
first devoted himself to his favorite pur-
| suit.
SIT appears to me-" said Sweepstone.
most men of genius are started on their
career by an accident. l wish the acci-
dent would come TO me.'
"Would it not be better to wish for the
geniuS?" Bowman asked.
There was & laugh at that, in which
everybody Joined except Sweepstone.
What was it that started you ?" he
asked Reedyman as if to divert attention
from the point which Bowman had just
made.
"a paper knife" :" WAS the reply.
knew in a moment that my time had
come, and no other subject would be re-
quired during dinner.
Jackson, there, has the most wonder
full paper knife in the world,'' said Bow
man. "Stolen property; that is the worst
of it,
1.-The price of blood you mean" inter
rupted Sweepstone, recovering his spirits
at Once.
Let us hear about Reedynan's paper
| knife" exclaimed Fortiscue, q very SEN
! stble fellow, who, dare say, was tired of
the silly remarks which Bowman and
Sweepstone were always making.
Il will tell you after dinner" was
! Reedyman's answer. Il never care to tell
a long story when men are eating"
Have you patented that method ?"
| Bowman asked
Not yet" said Reedyman. 'Perhaps
shall do so, and then other people will
want to adopt it. Nothing is desired
| until it is forhdden.n
He would never haYe told us that story
if he had not been reminded of his
promise.
You must tell us what laid the founda-
ton of your fortune," Sweepstone said
I'VE want to know all we can about
| paper knives.''
! This Is Reedyman's story:
when the great exhibition was held,
IN 1862, | was near the end of my APP
premiership. am manufacturing sill
versmith by trade, as perhaps you know
| My master, ,MetalmoGld of Sheffield, had
/ a case of exhibits. and among them were
several very fine daggers, the blades be-
ing etched and inlaid with gold My
share of the work was the handles; each
OF them had secret recess, which could
| be opened by means Of spring. The lid
was so contrived among the work that a
person unacquainted with the fact would
never have suspected that the handle was
| not solid.
Metalmould's name and address were
on the case, so that anybody could tell
where the articles Were made. One day
| q gentleman came to our place in Shelf
| field and referred to the dagger handles
which he had seen in London. He gave
| no name and we never knew who he
was. He said he wanted a handle made
which should have in it a recess capable
of holding bit of wood which he brought
| with him. 1t was about the size of q
hazel nut. Metalmould said that would
| be an easy task.
''The gentleman wanted to know the
cost, and Metalmould told him. The
money was paid down. Then the gentle
man said: If the opening is so cleverly
contrlved that l may have the handle
week and not be able to discover how it is
! fastened, and yet a person who knows
the secret can open it in a quarter of q
minute without the use of tools, I will
pay you one hundred pounds in addition
TO what [ have paid already Metal
mould sent for me and asked me what I
thought about it. I will try my best /
| said
1.-The time was fixed for the handle to
be finished. The gentleman came punc-
tually to the day, and the work was ready. |
! told him his piece of wood was inside |
| He returned in a week and confessed |
that he could not open the recess. Then |
he gave me the handle and took out his |
watch. Fifteen seconds he said In
ten seconds the lid was open and the biz /
of wood was on the table in Metalmould's
private room, where the interview took
place.
q explained the secret to him and he
was satisfied. He paid the hundred
pounds and Metalmould gave me fifty.
With that money l was able to purchase
materials necessary for certain expert |
that day to this have gone on, step by
step, sometimes falling it is true, and |
sometimes succeeding"
But what about the paper knife?" |
Bowman asked. "You have left Hamlet |
out of the play
"Oh, 1 forgot that part" said Reedy- |
man. "The gentleman brought with him |
a splendid agate blade, and he asked to |
have it fastened in the handle for paper |
knife"
Bowman and Sweepstone pointed to
me.
''What now?" Reedyman inquired.
Jackson owns the very knife, " replied |
Bowman. s'We say he stole it,"
Murdered somebody for it, you /
mean,' Sweepstone interrupted.
My friends told me afterward that 1 |
looked as if the charges were true. / dare |
say / did, for many strange thoughts |
were surging through my brain.
WAS there q motto on the blade?'' I |
asked.
Perhaps there was" said Reedyman,
"but / have no recollection of it.u
do you remember the pattern of the |
handle?''
Eyes, I remember that well enough. Tt |
xxrrlc hot 1O1r Al