The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-17

on train bound for Albany.
One was q small, thin man, with a
long, crooked nose and wide mouth;
the other fat man, with generally
prosperous and well-to-do air and a
diamond the size of his thumb peeping
above the top button of bis long travel
ing coat
On this the eyes of the thin man
rested admiringly and, after a pause,
he remarked:
That's a SPLENDID di amond you've
got there. l know one when l see it.
I'm jeweler up in Albany, and it's
not often that I have the pleasure of
admiriDg such stone as that"
How do you like that?" said the
other traveller. extending his little fin
ger and showing another diamond set
in a thick gold ring.
"Beautiful!' said the joweler. 'Bcau-
tiful!7
MY wife has a whole set as hand
some" said the fat gentleman. 81 am,
perhaps, at forty-seven, the richest
man in -, and 1 give you my word
that on my thirtieth birthday was
starving.
/ ''It is not wise for a young clerk 10
give piece of his mind to his en-
/ ployer. I'd done that and had been dis
/ missed, and 1 could not find another
situation.
"lf I'd had the fare in my pocket I'd
have been farming it at Frog Hollow
now and just as happy as a clam, no
doubt; but hadn't dollar, and / was
ready to break down
Thirsty as was, hungry, and re-
mem bering that at free reading-room
tap, / skunk in there, drank a couple Of
glasses and took up a morning paper.
81 was deep in the column help
wanted when hand touched me on
the shoulder and q voice said:
"'Are you John Smith?
ayes answered, tuning to look
at the speaker.
"a slim boy in linen jacket stood
before me. he held letter IN his hand.
john z. Smith? he asked. referring
90 il.
Yes said agair.
81 had been christeued Joha Pop
pirgt0n, after my gre2t-are2e.
- J right, sir, be said. "T.is is tor
Fou, then. They to3d ne I'd 6pdsyou
here, sir-very probably, sir. Here's
the letter, sir. Good morning. sir
Il opened the envelope and saw upon
sheet OF paper adorned with repre-
of the most fashionable ladies and gen.
tlemen entering and departing from its
portals, the following words:
"'IR. JoHNP. Sm1TH-Str: Hearing.rnat you
ore at present disengaged, We desire to procure
your valuable services on your own terms 1t is
&, SPECIAL case which viii require instant atten.
ton VIII you call on - & -, as above, at
your very earliest convenience s.
Gould it be trick of some Of the
other clerks? Yes, it must be. If it
IS, said l, IN show them how to pol
ish off rascais at Frog Hollow And
slamming my hat on the back of my
head and turning up my cuffs in an
ticipation of conflict hurried up the
street, and marching up to the clerk at
the desk, laid my envelope before him
and beloved:
"'Was this sent from here? I'm
John P. Smith,
ITO my utter establishment. sir, the
clerk bowed politely, smiled. and said:
Yes, sir. Here. waiter Mr.. As
private room; he is waiting for this
gentleman
81 followed the waiter. After long
hall, a large door and a square passage
way, we came to a door at which he
knocked.
Tho waiter opened the door, stepped
back, allowed me to pass him, and shut
me in.
Il stood in a splendid little room,
with Persian rug on the floor, several
wonderful chairs, library table, an
imposing desk case, and two middle
aged gentlemen Of very important as
pect rose to greet me.
1--WE are greatly obliged to you for
your promptitude, Mr.. Smith, said the
first, shaking hands warmly.
so considerate OF you, too, to come
in disguise, said the first. You are so
well known 10 criminals that it might
have given alarm had you come in your
proper person; but that makeup, now,
isn't it perfect, A? Isn't it perfect?
That linen coat those clean whiskers
and that wig
'Wigr cried L See here. If you're
making fun of me I'll
'Good-good, said Mr.. A, laugh
ing: then, becoming grave again:
But now to the business for which
we need you. We were Mortified this
morning, Mr.. Smith, to hear that Lord
Lumpl1irs, an English nobleman, stay
ing here before proceeding TO hunt the
bnnalo on the plains, had been robbed
of n tremendous sum-ten thousand
pounds, in facility thousand dollars
at least
The credit OF our house is involved.
We are in a terrible dilemma. Serv-
ants and employees have been
searched; all innocent I am sure. No
guest has left It was not burglar.
No, sir. We viii take you to Lord
Lumpkins' room and he will give you
all particulars
"'of course, Mr. Smith. you'll stay
here while you work up the case I've
put room No. 8 at your disposal PRAY
complain to US If you are not comfort
able. After our interview will YOU
lunch with us while we talk it over?'
Would lunch? l would have
&unched, l am afraid. with any imp OF
darkness who had invited RIG.
Il understood nothing that was re-
CURED of me, but, as | had been clerk |
IN real estate office and had a dim /
ldea OF law business and legal papers,
1 supposed it was something Of that
sort Tor which they needed ne. at all (