Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-11-17


everybody else was coming: but moss
It TIE people who filled the grandstanf
especially erected at an enormous
"St for the occasiOn). and the standing
,haceS around the nets, had come to
ee the aH-Ehgland champion, and they
| were assured by those who knew that
they would not disappointed.
About ) o'clock the carriage from
nhe mall arrived and Sir Henry and
lazy Porlman got out The spectat-
ors looked in vain for the interesting
guest, but the secretary learned from
Sir Henry that Mr.. Smasller had gone
for stroll @fter lunch. and had
promised to turn up at the ground in
time TO play his match at $50 The
president took his seat and hDpe,l that
the Muggleton club would play pluckiIy
and make Il good game against tho
illustriouS stranger.
Augustus i1owiSthat was observed
TO be growing considerable palcr ia
the ume goes ON and the hour of lris
certain ;snnihikltion yyaIproelaled A
quarter past 3 chinmed from the
church clock and thor" was not n scat
to be had round the chamnionShip
court. Those spectators who had an
inch or two of height above their fell
low enthusiasts We're envicd as lucky
individuals who will see. over the peo-
pies heads. something of the game.
Half past ; struck and still the cham
pion tarried. The little secretary. true
to his energetic character, had been do.
ING abnormal fe:ltS of agility In the
WY of being in several places at once
ana was much hotter than the hardest
pressed player, not even excluding Mrs.
knoclabout He was extremely har-
aSsed by the incesSant inquiries after
the champion, and was Just wondering
whether the game he was playing was
worth all the trouble he was giving il.
when telegram was placed in has
hands.
1t purported to come from ID. Smash
er, and inquired why that individuals
name had appeared in the papers us
having entered for the NIuggleton
tournament. Poor little Mr.. Pushing
ton wiped the perspiration from his
brow and gazed ut the clock 1t WAS
past and there were no signs of the
champion.
With II horrible foreboding the little
secretary took the telegram which he
had received from Sir Henry Portli-
man, and suggested that some one
should be sent up to the hall to in
quirc after Mr.. SmaShcr Sir Henry
insisted on driving off for tire purpose
himself. Ten minutes later he was
standing in the guest chamber lately
occupied by Mr.. Smasher, reading
letter he had found on the dressing
table. 1t ran thus.
If everyone njoyS the MugglctOn
tournament us much as | have done
AND gets rs much profit out of the
meeting it will be an unqualified sue
cess. l have taken the diamond badge,
as well as her iadyship's jewels, partly
because | admired it SO much last night
when it was handed round for inspcc-
ton, and partly because | thought it
II pity THAT the champion should lose
the prize because he had to leave
earlier than was expected.
On inspection it WAS found that
Lady Pol-tlimanS jewel ease had been
rifctl, and that the Diamond champions
ship badge mud also disappeared. Al
though everything possible was done
the thief got clear away and was never
seen again. 1t WAS Il crushing blow
to the Muggleton club, for Sir Henry
Withdrew his patronage and support
and Miss Amelia Jones, one of the
most enthusiastic players, was never
seen ON the MugGlcton lawn tennis
ground again.--IIondon Truth.