St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-04-19

evening, when Sir Thomas TOOK MS
departure for the dinner OF the
Amalgamated Thingumbobs.
1t was as a thingumbob and not
as a mayor that he had been invited
to fill the office of chairman, and,
therefore had gone for tn in ordinary
evening dress.
But, not feeling well, he relinquish-
ed his post as soon as the toast OF
the evening had been drunk, arriv-
ing home nearly two hours earlier
than he had expected.
He was just ten minutes too late
to save the chain, however, tor on
going to his room he had found one
Of the windows wide open, the So
called "burglar-proof safe" forced
and the chain gone-not to mention
a fair sum of money in gold and GER
tain trinkets of value.
The thieves, it was true, might be
caught, but the mayors chain was
in all likelihood, gone forever.
Of course the scoundrels would not
keep it intact a moment longer than
they could help; they would be GER
tain to remove the jewels and melt
the gold down as soon as they were
safely housed, and the stones they
would probably dispose of in Install
ments to different dealers, so that
they would quickly be scattered all
over Europe.
And at this point Of his reflections
Sir Thomas ground his feet savage
ly as he thought of the bond tor
$4,000. He would be unable to
retire from business; he would have
to go on bone crushing till the end
of the chapter. 1t was really
terrible.
1t is not surprising that the mayor
passed a very bad night. After
many weary hours of restless toss
ing and hideous nightmare expert
ences he suddenly awoke and heard
some one knocking at the door.
1t was the servant, who declared
that it was past nine O'Clock, and
that Mr. Johnson was waiting in the
library for an interview.
johnson! What on earth brought
him there?" was the question Sir
Thomas naturally asked himself.
"Well, it was like his impudence!
and yet, perhaps, he had heard of the
mayors misfOrtune-and had come
to see if he could be of any use to his
former client"
Well, well, Sir Thomas magnani-
mously declared, if the young man
wished to let bygones be bygones,
so would he.
II he (Sir Thomas) was to remain
at his bone crushing Laura's chances
of securing a "dook" seemed very
shadowy, and she might as well
take what she could get.
Such were the thoughts that pass
ed through the worthy knights
head, as he hastily dressed himself,
and when, some ten minutes later,
he entered the library he was quite
disposed to be afable and conde-
scending.
Good morning, good morning.
he began. ITO what am l indebt-
ed for the favor of this early-why,
man what's the matter with your
eyer" he broke off suddenly, as he
became aware ofthe fact that Johpson
was the proud possessor of really
splendid black eye, quite a master
piece of its kind. "Have you been
fghting?"
well, not exactly" responded
Johnson, with a smile, which show
ed that one of his front teeth had
been knocked out. II have been in a
bit of a scrimmage, but never mind
me, l didn't come up here to talk
about myself. Tell me, Sir Thomas,
is this true that I read in the
papers,"
"Ah, of course they got hold of it.
IF they say that burglars have
broken into my house and have
walked off with the chain and a
good many other things, it's all true
enough"
And, of course you are response
BILE for the value"
"Of course 1 am. I'll have to pay
that $4,000, sir; and, whatever
you may think. I'm not made of
money. A sum like that is no trifle
So l must work on, sir. Stihe my
regrets-and crush my bones"
But the chain may be recovered"
ut may" replied Sir Thomas,
with whitening sarcasm; pigs may
Nv Dul Whdl lCdI NAdl1(S 10
No, sir, I'll never see that chain
again. The day Of fairy tales is
past"
How do you know, Sir Thomas?
Now, suppose that, like the king in
the fairy stories, you offer reward
to the young man who RECEIVERS the
chain for you, and see what comes
of it. The usual reward-and per-
haps it would be as we'll to follow
the precedents-is the hand of the
kings daughter"
What on earth are you driving
at? ?"
ITO come to the point, then, if l
find your chain will you give me the
hand of your daughter ?"
you can't do it," snorted Sir
Thomas. How would you man