Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-06-20

Copyright, 1892 by Charles B. Lewis.l
The house of Laird, Williamson G. Co,
diamond merchants ard wholesale and re-
tail jewelers., of London, employed no
travelling agents. The nearest approach to
1t was what is called "a speciality man."
In other words, he was an employee of the
house trusted almost as much as one of the
partners, but under bonds so heavy that
the house need not worry about him if he
did not turn up at the hour he was due.
1t happened very often that titled people
and those who had grown rich in trade
could not make it convenient to come to
town to deal with the house personally for
Pare gems, while others were in want of
special designs for birthday gifts, souvenirs
and the like. Such people stated their de-
sire by letter, and the specially man" was
sent to take their order Or make sale
had served the house four years with
out loss and scarcely without adventure,
when was started off for Morpeth, a town
in the north of England. The firm had re-
ceived letter from wealthy and well
known public man living in the suburbs
Of that town to the effect that his wife had
broken limb and was not able to be about,
but wanted several special things in Jew
elry as soon rs they could be made for
presents to friends. She would also look
at some gems, particularly diamond neck
lace, but nothing common was wanted.
The story was current that this gentle
mans daughter was soon to be married,
and 1t was anticipated that | would re
ceive very fair order. The value of the
jewels packed up for me for that trip was
something like $1,000. From my very first
trip had always Travelled after certain
fashlon-the fashion of a commercial trav-
eler. Many of the fraternity honestly be-
1eved that was genuine member. In
my grip carried about a dozen small bot
ties Of dyes, and it was supposed that l
was travelling with that line. The jewelry
case was placed in the grip, and left the
affair knocking about with such apparent
carelessness that no one could entertain q
suspicion of its value.
There was only one odd thing about the
letter from Morpeth, and that was not
commented on until after my adventure
1t mentioned day and date and hour when
my arrival would be expected, and left
London to hit the exact time Had this
matter been brought up beforehand we
should have said that the gentleman was
probably going to leave home later in the
day. 1t was in the month of October, and
was timed to reach the town at 10 o'clock
in the forenoon. The letter said that a
carriage would be in waiting for me to
drive at once to the manor. The train was
on time to minute, and got off in COM
pany with two travelling statesmen. found
the carriage after a bit. There were two
men on the box, and they at first seemed
to question that | was the right party
Their doubts probably arose from the fact
that ! was plainly dressed and was in the
company of the statesmen. One of them
asked if | was the jewelry man Sir Blank
was expecting, and replied that wanted
to see the gentleman whether expected or
not. They hesitated about driving off, but
as no one else appeared we finally made a
start.
tell you honestly that had no sooner
entered the carriage than | had queer
feelings. The outfit was 90 common to
be owned and publicly used by such a man
as Sir Blank, and the two men didn't APP
pear at all like servants. | had never been
in Morpeth before, and was therefore ig-
norant of the direction we ought to take
or the distance to be travelled After
getting away from the depot a bit we
turned to the west, the horses going at a
sharp trot and the men holding converse
ton in low tones. We passed plenty of
houses and vehicles and pedestrians, and
as we left the town behind ! looked ahead
for sight of Sir Blanks great house and
well kept grounds Perhaps the pair OBJ
served my anxiety, for one OF them turned
and said:
Its bit over five miles out to the
place, sir"
That satisfied me only for moment.
The more | looked at the men and the
closer ! scanned the outfit the stronger
grew my suspicious that something was
amiss. Three miles to the west of Nor
peth is a hill from which one can survey
the country for miles around As we
reached the crest of this hill | saw only
small farms and plain farm houses before
me. If Sir Blanks mansion was on that
road it was beyond my vision and still a
good ten miles away.
'See herel'' called as we began to de-
scend the hill. Il think there is a mistake.
! think l have got Sir Blank mixed up
with Sir Dash. Is it Sir Blank who is
financially interested in a great cotton fac
tory at Manchester
He may be, but dunno" said the nan
who was driving as he pulled up his horses.
If he isn't it won't do me any good to
see him. You see getting GU some of the
bottles) / wanted to show him some of
these new dyes for fruits"
lis that your line, sirS"
Eyes. Here are ten new colors Just out.
/ am sorry for my blunder, but Pm will
ing''-
Then you travels with dyes, does your"
gruffiy demanded the other.
GAS you see."
Then wot the bloody blazes does Won
get into this turnout for?"
ITO see Sir Blank, of course. / got it
int hoo hot
"Oh, blow your 'ead and your 'eels, tool
Jim, turn h'about hand drive the bloomin
bass back to town."
''I'll be shot if doesI'' replied Jim. He
can get right h'out ere hand take ITSELF
back on lis h'own blasted legs-blast 'imp'
SORRY for the mistake, and here's some
thing to drink my health" | said, as
tossed him coin and descended from the
vehicle and walked hurriedly away.
When l reached town l went to hotel.
Inside of fifteen minutes had learned that
Sir Blank lived north of the town, and