The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1893-02-25

incidencel Upon my word, thi
savors of comedy, and, since it i
forced upon me, I'll take my role an,
see what can make of it. Pm in tn
hands of these harmless lunatics VIII,
think they know who am better thar
| do myself; SO I'll hrmor them for tn,
present. It's queer ENHANCEMENT
but protestations are useless unless tn,
other fellow should turn up and settl,
the question; and, so far as can see
the best thing for me to do is to drift
with this tide which have found it sc
impossible to stem, and let the results
take care of themselves. 1t cannot dc
any harm. How could anyone blame
me for it, under the circumstances
And, really, might as web combine a
little innocent amusement with the inn
portant business that calls me to X.
Unless | am vastly mistaken, this prom
Uses to be the most diyerting experience
/ ever happened uponl'
This soliloquy flashed through Norths
mind in very brief time, during which
he stood abstractedly in the center of
the group whose chatting remarks he
only half heard or comprehended; and
as it reached this definite conclusion he
resigned himself to his fate with q sense
of reckless enjoyment.
Certainly, colonel, +" he said, having
caught the title, though the name of the
gentlemanly manager had escaped him,
1.-The same rooms, by all means By the
way, shall / register?"
'As you please, Mr.. North; as you
please. When will you leave Off Jest
ing?" And the expression of vague un-
easiness again appeared on Col Dayton's
round, rosy face. Just step into the
Office minute anyway The clerks
got letter that was sent up after you
left this morning. You didn't tell us
where your correspondence should be
forwarded to, so we were in something
of puzzle to decide The rest of
the sentence was lost in the colonel's
pulling endeavor to open the heavy
swing-door.
Allan North, attorney at law, was
glad to escape from the hilarious crowd
on the hotel steps and followed the
colonel into the Office. But here another
difficulty confronted him, when
dainty missive bearing lady's chirog-
raphy was placed in his hand.
True, the envelopewa addressed sim
ply to "NEr North, Clement House,
City, and was not he that gentleman?
But then, very probably at the time
the letter was written he was not with
in one hundred miles OF the Clement
house and had never even heard of the
place.
1t may appear to the cool, disposition
ate reader that North's proper course
at this point was too obvious to admit |
of any hesitation or mental debate |
Nevertheless he did hesitate; and he did
argue within himself what line of ac-
ton he should adopt. Refuse to take
the letter? That would give rise to re-
newed questions, explanations and ridi-
Guile, which, in view of his late trying
experiences, he did not wish to pro-
woke. How would it do, for instance
His reflections were suddenly arrested
by the discovery that the envelope was
not sealed. A vague sense of relief
came to his mind, as if he now saw an
easy and justifable solution of the diff
iculty.
4Akl ONSA VI COuIot, lit thought,
still contemplating the creamy envelope
hat he held, from which arose faint
exquisite perfume as of withered rose
caves; "but there cannot be anything
very private or personal about this cor
or the fair writer would
lot have been SO careless. After all,
whom is it for if not for me? Who is
he man whose perfect counterpart
eem to be?"
He paused in his speculations. A
udden suspicion darted like lightning !,
nto his mind, then as suddenly was
islnissed.
'Oh, no, that is impossible!' he men
ally declared the next instant. 'Quite
ut of the question. And yet the
anne No, mol 1t cannot bel There I
lust be some other explanation of the !
lystery. l will glance over this letter !
hen get to my room and see if it af-
'rds any clew to the solution
With this decision he turned to the 4
ooks and registered in dashing but u
'mewhat illegible characters: =
ga. North, New York" Il
Sand now, colonel he said, turning
-ound to that gentleman, ''where are u
'u going to put me?" s.
where am 1 going to put you?" .
he colonels amazed countenance was .
study as he repeated the question.
What on earth are you thinking about,
r. North? Your rooms are precisely
you left them this morning, Here !
lm," summoning a colored porter,
axe Mr.. North's valise up to 54.n
A few minutes later North found him
If in the suite assigned to him, evil
ntly the apartment of his mysterious
uble He proceeded with much
riosity to survey his new domains.
There was nothing in the appoint
snts that especially attracted his at
alton, except large black walnut
'iting table. The many drawers that
contained were locked, as he dis
vowed xuha,, !, +o a,,a,,