The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-17

addressed each other were companions
on train bound for Albany
One was Il small, thin man, with n
long, crooked nose and Il wide mouth;
the other fat man, with generally
prosperous and well-to-do air and q
diamond the size of his thumb peepinp
above the top button of his long travel
ing coat.
On this the eyes of the thin man
rested admiringly and, after q pause,
hc remarked:
That's n SPLENDID diamond you've
got there. l know one when sec it.
I'm jewcler up in Albany. and it's
not often that l have the pleasure of
admiring such a stone as that"
"How do you like that?" said the
other traveller. extending his little fin
ger and showing another diamond set
in n thick gold ring.
beautiful" said the jewelcr. Beau
tiful"
My wife has n whole set as hand
some" said the fat gentleman. ~ am,
perhaps, at forty-seven. the richest
man IN -, and give you my word
that on my thirticth birthday was
starving.
1T is not wise for young clerk to
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.
IF I'd had the fare in my pocket I'd
have been farming it at Frog Hollow
now and just as happy as 4 clam, no
doubt; but hadn't dollar, and was
ready to break down.
ttThircfv I tyoc I,,n<,,r ,.l
mem bering that at free reading-room
hard by they always had ice water on
tap, l skunk in there, drank q couple of
glasses and took up morning paper.
81 was deep in the column help
wanted when hand touched me on
the shoulder and voice said:
Are you John Smith,
eyes answered, turning to look
ut the speaker.
"a slim boy in linen jacket stood
before me. lie held letter in his hand.
"John p. Smith, he asked, refc rring
to it
YES said 1 again.
81 had been christeued John Pop
pington, after my great-uncle.
"'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
sheet of paper adorned with a repre-
sentation of a large hotel. with crowds
OF the most fashionable ladies' and gen.
tlcmen entering and departing from its
portals, the following words:
"'MR JonNP p. SMITH-Sir: Hearing:that you
are ut present disengaged, we desire to procure
your valuable services on your own terms. 1t is
special case which will require instant atten-
ton. VIII you call on - s. -, 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 ], 1'll show them how to pol
ish off rascals at Frog Hollow And
slamming my bat on the back of my
head and turning up my cuffs in an
ticipation of conflict, l 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 astonishmcnt, 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 a long
hall, large door and a square passage
way, we came to door at which he
knocked.
1.-The waiter opened the door, stepped
back, allowed me to pass him, and shut
mo in.
81 stood in a splendid little room,
with Persian rug on the floor, several
wonderful chairs library table, an
imposing desle case, and two middle
aged gentlemen of very important as
pect rose to greet me.
"'We are greatly obliged to you for
your promptitude, Mr.. Smith, said the
first, shaking hands warmly.
6" so considerate of you, too, to como
in Disguise said the first. You are SO
we'll known to 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 1. See here. Ifyou'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
Lumpkins, an English nobleman, stay
ing here before proceeding to hunt the
bnffalo on the plains, had been robbed
| of n tremendous sum-tcn thousand
pounds, in fact-fifty thousand dollars
at least
"'The credit of our house is involved
We are in IL terrible dilemma. Serv.
ants and employees have been