The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-02


Jack Stevens. shaded by his friends tall
| form-for several persons passed them
| they were talking-counted out thirty hve-
pound Bank of England notes and slipped
them into Arthurs hand.
Thank you. Jack"
Not necessary. Good night, old fellow,
| and good luck to you. Kiss the pretty
bride for me and give her my love-"
| A few minutes afterward Arthur Gooch
was in his chambers clearing up as ne
| called 10. He wanted to leave things as or
DERBY as he could, and in the accomplish
great deal TO do. All the time he was
| writing, and tearing ND papers and burning
them. and packing bags and portmanteaux
| he was thinking of Adelaide.
/ Dear little woman! / wonder IL she is
asleep. She hasn't left things to the last
as have done. Altogether too tidy for
that While am fussing about in this
musty rOOm-what coy nest we shall
come home to after the honeymoon!-there
she lies. with smile on her pretty mouth,
dreaming of me- Your health, my darlngo
| He had opened bottle of champagne. of
which he had already drunk glass, and
| now he poured out another, and as he held
it up TO the light he saw Adelaide's bright
| eyes among the sparkling bubbles.
+, Your health. my darling. and God bless
your
| He drained the glass, and set il down.
| 1t was really love match. of which
| there are more in this prOsaic world than
| cynics will admit These Young people
| were all the world to each other. and if
| any thing had occurred to prevent the we'd
/ ding coming Oft their hearts would have
| broken.
Arthur set the glass on the table with
| tender light in his eyes. and as he did SO he
| heard q ring at the street door below. As
has been stated, his chambers were at the
| top of the house. but every thing was very
| quiet, and that was why he heard the bell
so plainly. The window of the room in
which he was working looked out upon the
street. He took no notice of the ringing.
and proceeded dreamily with his
packing. The wine he had drunk
intensified his sentimental mood, and
he paused many times to gaze upon the por-
trait of his darling which stood in the CEN
ter of the mantel-piece. 1t was speaking
likeness of the beautiful face. The eyes
seemed to look at him with looks of love;
the lovely lips seemed to say. Il love you.
| / love YOU" And Arthur pressed his lips to
the sweet face and murmured in response:
Il love you, / love you. With all my
heart and soul love you. and will be trus
to you"
Suddenly il occurred to him that the
street doOr-bell continued to ring Tho
| sound Jared upon his ears. Throwing up
his window, he leaned forward. and at the
top of his voice demanded who it was who
continued TO ring so pertinaciously.
II have come to see Mr.. Arthur Gooch,"
was the answer.
"To see mesD he cried, in wonder.
Yes. you. if you are Mr.. Goooh."
| what forf'
ION most particular business"
| Wondering more and more the young
man ran down the stairs and opened the
street door. In the dim light he saw the
figure of o gentleman, with whose face no
was not familiar.
what do you want with met" he asked.
ut will be best for us to speak privately"
replied the stranger. 1T is q most delicate
matter.
"A most delicate matter" stammered
Arthur.
"a most delicate matter" repeated the
stranger in q grave tone.
The young man did not reflect upon the
imprudence of asking q stranger MP to his
rooms at such an hour of the night. With
the exception of the housekeeper. who &C.
cupied the basement. and who had been
heard to declare that nothing less than an
| earthquake would wake her, once she was
| asleep, Arthur Gooch was the only night
resident in the house. All the cham bers.
with the exception of his were let as Offices,
and were tenanted only during the day.
1t is scarcely probable, however. if Arthur
had given the matter thought, that he
would have acted differently. Here was q
stranger paying him visit. at an untimely
hour it was true, but upon q delicate mat
| ter. which had best be disclosed in private.
Arthur was a man of muscle. and stood SIX
feet and half an inch in his stocking feet.
The man who had intruded himself upon
him was about five feet eight, . weed of q
man in comparison with him. There was,
moreover. no lack of physical courage in
| Arthur quality, it may be remarked.
very different indeed from moral courage,
in which respect q pigmy may be superior
| to giant.
Come up." said Arthur. and the two men
assembled the stairs. Now" he said. when
door closed you see that am very busy.
Explain your GRAND as briefly ss possible.
What is this delicate matter you speak off
have not the pleasure of your acQualnt-
ance. "Oh." he said, looking at card pre-
sented by his visitor. Mr.. p. Foreman.
| Your name Is as strange to me as your
face. Who are youi What are youi"
II am q private detective" said Mr.. p.
| Foreman.
"A private detective." cried Arthur. with
an ominous frown. And what business
can you have with me at this hour of the
night Pve mind to pitch you out of the
| window"
Don't try it," said Mr. p. Foreman. 81
should be bound to resist. and my shouts
| would be certain to bring some one to my
assistance. As to my business, it is. as
have Informed you. of q delicate nature"
Speak in plain English if you have any
regard for yourself"
1t is q very simple affair."" said Mr.. p.
Foreman. and 1t rests with you whether
snail take my leave of you with an apollo
gy, or adopt other measures. You were al
Lady Weston Whites AT Home . couple
of hours ago."
al was What of itfn
AZ am employed by her ladyship" pro-
ceeded Mr.. p. Foreman. "She has given
other AT homes this season."
''She has, and / have been present al
them"
$50 understand. Very serious things
have occurred at these parties of her lady.
ships at which You were present. Some OF
her guests have made complaints to her.
| and il is only at great expense and trouble
that these complaints and their very seri.
Gus nature. have been kept out of the sOci.
ETY. papers
with mep demanded Arthur. impatlently.
IL am about to tell you. Valuable dia-
monds have been lost ct her ladyshipe Al
homes and have not been recovered. Her
ladyship is naturally anxious to put stop
to this and to bring the" (Mr. p. Foreman
hesitated and chose another word than the
one he intended to usel 'the offenders to
Justice"
Quite proper" said Arthur. go on. and
cut it short"
Tho display to- NIGHT was brilliant. and
knowing that il would be SO, her lady shiI
EMPLOYED me and one or two others to keer
watch upon suspicious persons. AS you see
ne unbGttoned his light overcoat. Il am in
evening dress. i was supposed to DO present
as guest. but / was really there in my
professional capacity, keeping my eyes
open. Had it been regular pickpockets
whom her lady ship suspected should have
found 1t an easy job, as | know most OF
them, but 1t Was not. She suspected GER
tain gentlemen upon her list, to when she
was in the habit of sending cards"
Mr.. p. Foreman spoke In q significant
tone. and there was no mistaking his mean
ing. Arthur laughed.