The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-15
,on mipht-m pht cause much distress by

son might-m ght cause much distress by
nusing it acknowledgement some one who
is near and dear to me. If it is possible
to recover it must do so at any cost.
Think can show you the way to dc
80, with very little delay" said Rolling
stone, tossing Oft, perhaps, his fifteenth
or twentieth glass of the champagne
which seemed to rather sharpen than
cloud his faculties.
In the first place, do you happen to
know of any one who could wish to use,
or try to use, the missing paper in the
manner you fear?"
NO, indeed; and, as for the immediate
He is not to be thought of; he is evil
IDENTIFY but the to0l~oof greater intelli-
gence," interrupted Rollingstone. Now,
do you all let me tsj to get at the Bottom
of this thing in my own way.
L suspect that this iuggler came here
was sent here-for the express purpose
of obtaining that paper, and for just
nothing else. This IS obvious, since the
paper Is the only thing that has been
Stolen; whereas, if the juggler had been
"a common thief, on his own account, he
| would doubtless have confined his sleiRht-
of-hand to the abstraction of money, to
so much of which he had equal access,
and yet not shilling of which he took.
Still more, be hurried off with the
paper, not even venturing to stop for the
two .guinecs honestly coming to him."
True, said Noel.
"Why, the world lost Vidocq when it
,, put Rollingstone into the army!" called
out Sir Harry, while all the rest were
growing equally interested. "This is as
oood nc novel roadino
"Let me go on, then" said the Captain.
"Now let me ask how you came to engage
Ah-Ben,s services. know he has made
something of a sensation IN both town
and country circles of late; but want TO
know from which Of you came the propo-
sition to engage him for this present lit
tie oocasion?"
Lets Soc" said Sir Harry. "Poins, it
was either you or Calkins who first made
the suggestion, just as We we're leaving
the club"
1T was /, said Mr.. Poins, with slight
flush; and then he added, laughing,
"Well, I'll be frank in the matter, even
if it exposes associations that I other
wise would have kept dark about, oven
from you fellows. The suggestion was
only mine at second hand"
l
the suggestion to You, Mr.. Poins?' said
Rollingstone.
"Of course you may; and, since I seem
to be regularly in for it, 1 will explain.
While l was breakfasting at the club this
morning, and thinking you fellows might
drop in on me any minute Il had received
your letter the night before, Sir Harry,
the waiter brought me word that gentle
-, la ho1 hQfnrn W
in the reception room inquiring for me.
Bring him right in here says l: and
then who should come in but-well, no
matter.
Il don't believe any of you know him.
in any of the bang-up clubs any more,
since certain disgraceful revelations that
have recently got abroad concerning both
him and his fair partner. Nevertheless,
the man is handsome as m Italian por-
trait and, besides, being dead-shot, is Of
o most fascinating address.
Then, again, you know my general
style is to be decently polite to pretty
much every fellow who has not done me
any personal harm. So l asked him TO
sit down, and he did 30.
After chatting gracefully to me on
variety of topics, he asked me if had an
engagement for to-day. I said yes, and
mentioned my expecting you fellows up
from Highcombe. It's likely enough
that I also mentioned your names.
when he had learned how we pro-
posed putting in the day, in just the sort
of random way that we have since
adopted he said to me, 'Ah, Poins, see
how it is. Your friends are not often
here in the city, are they?' Not much at
this time of the year, Ircplied. Wouldn't
you like to treat them to something really
novel and unique? he asked. Of course,
I answered in the Affirmative; and then
he mentioned this fellow h-Ben-M Medan's
performances, gave me his address, and
said he thought we could hire him at a.
most any time during the day at a guinea
an hour. Well, liked the idea from the
first, for had heard q good deal about
the fellows skill, and Lady Dartle had
told me that she had made quite feat
ure of his performances at her garden
fete last month. AS soon as-as my WIS.,
itor found out that I had taken hold OF
the idea, he wished me good-morniny,
and went off, apparently in pretty good
humor. That's the whole story. You
fellows fell in with the notion as soon as
I broached it, and sent to the juggler's
address, engaging him to meet us here
this afternoon, which he did. l didn't
think it worth while to mention my vis-
itor's name; in fact, I am rather mortified
at ever having made his acquaintance,
after what has happened.
ITO BE CONTINUED