The Dickinson press., 1893-03-25
A CASE OF SMITHS,

dow up, SIR"
mo, sir. l like fresh air. Can't live
without breathing myself. Shall ] help
you? This is the way the catch goes.
Now we're comfortable"
The two unusually complaisant trav-
clers who thus addressed each other
We're companions on Il train bound for
Albany.
Ono was Il small thin man with a
long. crooked nuSc .llnl Il wide mouth;
the other Il fat MAJ With a generally
prosperous and wull-to-do mir. and Il
diamond the size of his thumb p""plng
above til" top button of his long trlv-
cling ooal.
ON this The eyes of the thin nan
rested a%dmirinsly, and after Il pause
he remarked:
THAT'S Il splendid diamond you've
got there. | know one when | STE II.
I'm II .iewclcr up in Albany. anl hs
not often ! have the pleasure OF at
mirin= such Il stone as that
'lIow do you like tlMnt!' said the
other traveller. extending his little I'LL
ger and showing another diamond set
in 81 thick gold ring.
"Bcautiful.." said The .icwcler. "H'''n-
tiful.."
My Wife has II whole SGT as hand
Somc,' said the fat gentleman. ! am.
perhaps. at forty-Srvrn. tn" richest
man in -. and / give you my
word that on my thirteenth birthday
| was starving.
''lt is not wise fer Il young clerk TO
give Il piece of his mind to his employ
ar. I'D done that aud had been MS
missed. and | could not find another
situation.
'lf I'D had the fare in my pocket Id
have lnrn farming it mt Frog Hollow
now and just as happy as Il clam, Ito
doubt: hut | hadn't :: dollar. and ! was
ready To break down.
"rhirsty us | WAS. hungry. and re-
mrmlrrilg that at Il free reading room
hard 10y they always had ice water ON
tap. sunk in there and drank Il
couple of glasses and took up Il morn
ing paper.
Il WAS deep in the column help
wanted when n hand touched me on
the shoulder and Il voice said:
"'.Arn you John Smith:
"'lcS. l answered. turning to look
at the speaker.
"A slim boy in Il linen jacket stood
before me. He held II letter in his
hand.
"'.Iolm p. Smith, he asked, refer
ring TO it.
YES said | again.
81 had been clriStench John Popping
ton. after my yrcat-llnclc.
IAN right. sir he said. This is for
you, then. They told me I'd find YOU
hero. sir-vcry probably. sir. Here's
the letter. sir. Good morning. sir
IL opened tho envelope and SAW upon
a sheet of paper. adorned with II rep
rcSrntation of q; large hotel. with
crowds of tn" most fashionable III
dies and gentlemen entering and dc
parting form its portals, the following
words:
Mr.. John u. Smitll-Dcnr Sir: Hear.
ing that you are ut present diSrngagrd
we desire to procure your valuable
services on your wv terms. 1t is &
spevial case which will require i'll
slant attention. Will You call on -
& -. as above, ut your earliest con
venicnce! - Il =.
Could it he Il trick Of some OF tho
other clerks: Yes, it must be. If il
is said |. I'll show tlleIn how to pol
ish off raScalS at Frog Hollow Anf
slamminS my hat Oh the back of III!
head and turning up my cuffs i'll an
ticipation of II conflict. hurried III
tho street. and, marching into the lro
tel and up to the clerk at the desk
laid my envelope before him an,
beloved:
".Was this SEM from here? III
John p. Smith
ITO my utter establishment. sir. til
| clerk bowed politely, smiled and said
".Yrs. sir. Here, Waltrr-Mr. A
private room: he is waiting for TIL
gentleman
Il followed the waiter. After a lon
hall, a large door ANA Il square pa:
sa.nway. we came to Il door at Wlit.
he knocked.
The waiter opened the .stcppc
back. allowed nlr to pass him. and stl
liz. III.
II stood in IL splendid little roon
with IL Persian rug OH the floor. sr'
eral wonderful chairs. Il library tabl
ali imposing desk case. and two hit
die aged gentlemen Of very importa1
aspect rose To greet mo.
1--WE are greatly obliged to you f,
your prcmptitudc. Mr.. Smith sai
the first. shaking lands warmly.
$50 consideratc of you. too.
come in guiSc.' said the first. sYc
are so we'll known to criminals that
might have given alarm had YOU con
in your proper person: but that max
up: now isn't it perfect, a.? Isn't
perfect? That linen coat. those wills
er,:. and that wig
Wig cried |. SEC here. If YOU
making fun of me I'll
".Good-good.' said Mr.. A., laug
ing: then becoming grave again:
But now to the business for whit
we need you. We We're l.orriticd III
morning. Mr.. Smith. TO hear til
Lord Lumpkins. All English nohlcma
staying here before proceeding
hunt the buffalo on the plains, l.;
been robbed of Il tremendous sum
f1O.OOU. i'll fact-SIO.OD ut least.
THE credit of Il house is j
volved. We are in Il terrible dilcmm
Servants and employees have be,
searched: all innocent. l am SUI
No guest has left. 1t was no bursl:
No. ST. We will take you 10 Io
, Lumpkins' room and he will give "
all particulars.
"'Of course. Mr.. Smith. you'll st:
here while you work UP the case
put room > at your disposal. Pr;
1 complain To us if You ~ not comfol
able. After our interview. will Y,
lunch with us while VIC talk it over:
Would l lunch: would Ia
lunched. l am afraid. with any imp
darkness WHO had invited me.
Il understood nothing that was
quired Of me. but as l had been Gle
in Il real estate office and had 4 d
. idea of law business and Legal pape
4 supposed it was something of that sc
g for which they needed me. At
events. whatever happened. l wor
live we'll while ii lasted.
e Il followed them to his lordshi,
d room. and took careful notes of all
told me he had lost.
i, Miniature of Il young lady set
i, diamonds. In point of fact. a liken'
of Lady Catherine said the you
lord with 4 blush. so that ! understo
what he thought of Lady Catherine.
Z. ~,