Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-03-17
A CASE OF SMITHS.


( you: This is the way tho catch goes.
Now were comfortable"
The two unusually complaisant tray
tiers who thus addressed each other
were companions Oh train bound for
1 Albany.
One was small thin man with .
long, crooked hose and a wide mouth:
the other a fat mau with a generally
/ prosperous and welI-to-do air, and
diamond the size of his thumb pceping
above the top button of his long trav-
! cliug coat
On this the eyes of the thin nan
rested udnringly, and after pause
he remarked:
''l'hat's Il splendid diamond you've
got there. l know one when I see it.
Pm II jewelcr up in Albany. and it's
not often | have the pleasure of adj
miring such stone as that
How do you like thatf' said the
other traveller extending his little fin
ger and showing another diamond set
in Il thick gold ring.
Beautiful. said the jewcler "Beau-
rtiful.'
"My wife has u whole set as hand
some" said the fat gentleman. II am
perhaps, at forty-seven. the richest
man i'll -, and l give you my
word that on my thirteenth birthday
| was starving.
ut is not wise fer young clerk TO
give piece Of his mind to his employ
or. I'd done that and had been dis
missed, and l could not find another
situation.
IF I'd had the fare in my pocket Id
have been farming it at Frog Hollow
ING n
doubt; but hadn't a dollar, and l was
ready to break down.
Thirsty as | was, hungry. and re-
mcmbering that at free reading room
hard by they always had ice water on
tap l skunk in there and drank a
couple of glasses and took up morn
ing paper.
Il was deep in the column help
wanted when a hand touched me on
the shoulder and a voice said:
Are you John Smith,
Eyes | answered, turning to look
at the speaker.
"a slim boy in a linen jacket stood
before me. He held Il letter in his
hand.
"'5ohn P. Smith? lie asked, refer
ring to it.
yes said again.
Il had been christened John Popping
ton, after my great-unclc.
"'All right. SIR he said This is for
you, then. They told me I'd find you
here, sir-very probably, sir. Here's
the letter, sir. Good morning, SIR
81 opened the envelope and saw upon
a sheet of paper adorned with rep
rcsentation of a large hotel, with
crowds Of the most fashionable Ia
dies and gentlemen entering and de
parting form its portals, the following
words:
Mr.. John p. Smith-Dcar Sir: Hear
ing that you are at present disengaged
we desire to procure your valuable
services on your own terms. 1t is
spevial case which will require in
slant attention. Will you call on -
& -, as above, at your earliest con
yeniencc? - ~ -.
Gould it be a trick OF some of the
other clerks? Yes, it must be. If i
is said T. III show Their, how to pol
ish off rascals at Frog Hollow Ant
slamming my hat on the back OF m!
head and turning up my cuffs in an
ticipation of a conflict, | hurried III
the street, and, marching into the ho
tel and up to the clerk at the desk
laid my envelope before him ant
beloved
"'was this sent from here? Tn
John p. Smith
ITO NY utter aStoniShmcnt, sir, TN
clerk bowed politely, smiled and said
"'Yes, sir. Here. Walter-Mr. A.
: private room; he is waiting for thi
gentleman
Il followed the waiter. After loni
hall. large door and square pas
saeeway, we came to i door at Whicl
he knocked.
"rhe waiter opened the door .steppc'
back allowed me to pass him, and shu
me- in.
, Il stood in IL splendid little room
with Persian rug on the floor, scv
cral wonderful chairs, library table
an imposing desk case, and two mud
die aged gentlemen of very import0n
. aspect rose to greet me-
Z 1--WE are greatly obliged to you 70
b. your promptitude. Mr. Smith, sal
= the first. shaking Eands warmly.
$50 considerable of you, too, t
come in guisc.' said the first. Yo
are so well known to criminals that
might have given alarm had you com
in your proper person; but that make
up; now isn't 1t perfect, A? Isn't
perfect. lHdI Hlleu cont, tnoSe WulSf
ers, and that wig
wig cried l. Sec here. If your
making fun of me III
'Good-goOd.' said Mr.. A., lauGl
ing: then becoming grave again:
But now to the business for whic
we need you. We We're l.orrfied III
morning. Mr.. Smith, to hear tn;
Lord Lumpkins. an English noblemal
staying here before proceeding
hunt the buffalo on the plains, ha
been robbed of n tremendous sum
E10,OW in fact-$JO,OOO at least.
The credit of our house is Il
volved We are in terrible dilemm
Servants and employees have bee
searched all innocent. ! am sur
No guest has left. 1t was no burgla
No. ST. We will take you to I.oi
, Lumpkins' room and he will give W
all particulars
"'Of course. Mr.. Smith. you'll sta
here while you work up the case. |
y put room at your disposal Ira
!, complain to us If you are not comfor
:. able. After our interview, will W
lunch with us while we talk it overT
. Would l lunch? | would ha'
Y lunched, l am afraid. with any imp
/, darkness who had invited me.
I Il understood nothing that was r
= quircd of me, but as / had been clel
. in q real estate Office and had di
idea of law business and legal DaDcl