Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-07-28

5iitiS ne had given 800. thonSa ba
ta,, nut nave parted with + Gov.
g,' ''Di'a 'hAl sum This rare boot uaa
-, ''N' merely ms a curiosity bv its
ic.I , ~ ne was able to put it to a c,it
- =. ~ US slate Of preservation was aa
r - 'o,i u.s. 70 render IL UNIQUE cow
I'' ''9 'iu1u9iaerably surprised one dav y,bo,
- f ~ me That he had promised In lana
- snort time TO disting,tisLa1
49, lO+iioer u parliament, whom he bod ~
Won over to his own views ro,,oaJ
ons tne authorship of the PLAYS / ,aoa
commissioned -, to convey the preciops h"fI,
~ destination, and nv uncIa
3i"e.heu me by saying that he comi5
.tu9t 1t Tor that purpose into t,o band1
~ no one else He was going ont IN 5ino
.ilat night, ana as | saw him into tbe T car
tit9e me last thing he said to me Voc
ti"U' Us the distance which should bo ya
~ 70 was not great, he would prefer tbot
should walk instead of taking n cob
,pclIg' suppose, Of the opinion That IT,
pook would run greater risk If heine,
nJ''red or lost If | used a conveyance
promised, therefore, to carry if An bo,,a
ialer' when left the house with tho nai
uaDle book IN my hand, found mvself in
the midst Of the densest Jondon e.. - IL =,
ever experienced. Not only was + e, f.
eating and binding, but as if driftod
along and met my face the heavy ua go
seemed almost tangible. To add to tba
discomfort caused by the for tho ninht
s Jaa utterly cold and the pavement was
when began to deliberate whetbor
ought not to return, but. as knew tbot
ny uilcle friend was staying at home
inns evening in order to receive tbe booI.
thought it better that he sborId no oto H.
disappointed. had proceeded ON nv
WY hoV more than few hundred yards
wheh' on turning corner, ran
aeaii,S' some one who was coming
III the opposite direction. The COLI
eioh was sharp one, and we both
snpped ana fell With mutual apologies
we scrambled to our feet, and the STRANGER
poiitely lfted the copy of Shakespeare"
winch had fallen from my hand and re.
turned 1t to me. Wowcre standing RIGHT
under lamp, and could see. tho1rb in.
distinctly, the manner of man h. was
with whom ! had come in contact; he was
middle aged, short spare and dressed
Shabby genteelly in black, apparently a
second rate solicitors or baIrister's clerl,
OF perhaps a copyist for a law stationer
AFTER expressing hope that | was not
htrt he moved away, and | remained
standing, somewhat dazed by my tumble
AS had still about half q mile to 90 I
| resolved to run the risk of no more acci.
dents, so l turned and began to retrace
my steps. h q few minutes | was anain
within my uncl4's house / went at once
to the library in order to restore the
First Folio to its place
How warm and comfortable the room
seemed after the miserable weather to
which had Just been exposed The fire was
blazing brightly, and warmed my cold
hands. AS soon as a lamp was brought
III approached u table, where | had laid
the Shakespeare, as | was anxious to
know II 1t had received any slight damage
through falling | lifted the book, and
suddenly felt faint, while the room
seemed to spin round me Tie book |
held in my hand was not the First
Folio but law book of the same size
and appearance Ere | opened it l saw
by the printing on the back of the binding
that it was Robbins on Contracts %
The truth flashed upon me instantaneous
I ~. That miserable lawyers clerk in the
darkness and fog had inadvertently hand
ed me this vretched book he was carving
and had taken away the Shakespeare "
IN its stead. / was convinced that never
/ again would behold the First Folio -"
1t is true that my uucles name and
address were written on a slip Of paper
which was gummed to the cover, but
from the momeutary glimpse had of this
| man felt sure he would not return it,
! The temptation by which Le found him
/ self assaulted would be too great for him
to resist when he learnt that he had in
| his possession a book which, if sold. would
procure him comfortable annuity Tor
| the remainder of his life He would know
| that the book must be the property OF
some wealthy collector, who he would
imagine, could afford to purchase an
| other Though his conduct would be
morally as culpable as theft knew that
many man. who was incapable Of delib-
erately stealing would be unable to with
stand the temptation Of appropriating
that which came into his possession uu-
Willingly, and, in manner might seem
to have been thrust upon him, especially if
he were in needy circumstances, as this
man whom had encountered IN the fog
undoubtedly was, There would be no use
in advertising the loss, rs my uncles
| name would be seen, and the book restor-
ed if it had fallen into the hands OF an
honest person had strong conviction,
however, that the book would never be
brought back did not doubt for mo
meut the consequences which my care
lessness would entail upon myself. Not
only would lose my fortune, but would
be banished from my uheles house. ana