The National tribune., 1894-04-05

! Thomas ground hi9 teeth savagely as he
thought of the bond for $50, 900. He would
be unable to retire from business; he would
have to go on bone-cfrshing till the end of
the chapter. 1t was really terrible.
".
1t is not surprising that the Mayor passed
| very bad night. After many weary hours
of restless tossing and hideous nightmare
experiences, he suddenly awoke and heard
some one knocking at the door.
1t was the servant, who declared that it
was past 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 nat
urally asked himself. "WelI, 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 magnanimously
declared, if the young man wished to let
bygones be bygones, so would he.
If he (Sir Thomas) was doomed to remain
at his bone-crushing, Lauras chances of
securing "dook" seemed very shadowy,
and she might as well take what she could
get.
Such were the thoughts that passed
through the worthy knights head, as he
hastily dressed himself and when, some 10
minutes later, he entered the library, he
was quite disposed to be affable and conde-
scending.
Good morning, good morning" he began.
" To what am indebted for the favor of this
early-why, man what's the matter with
your eye?" he broke off suddenly, as he be-
came aware of the fact that johnson was
the proud possessOr of really splendid
black eye, quite masterpiece of its kind
" Have you been ighting?"
Well, not exactly" responded johnson,
with smile, which showed that one of his
front teeth had been knocked out. "I have
been in bit of a scrimmage; but never mind
me, didn' come up here to talk about my
self Tell me, Sir Thomas, is this true that
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"
ana, OF course, you are responsible for
the value -
OF course / am. I'll have to pay that
$50 600, sir; and, whatever you may think,
M not made of money. A sum like that is
no trltie. So l must work on, sir. Stifie
iCsiSbo crush my DOneS.
But the chain may be recovered"
/" 1t may!" replied Sir Thomas, with
withering sarcasm; "pigs may fly. But
what real chance is there? No, sir, I'll never
zee that chain again. The day Of fairy tales |
S 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 recovers the chain for you, and see |
what comes of it. The usual reward-and |
perhaps 1t would be as well to follow the |
'recedents-is the hand of the kings daugh-
err
What on earth are you driving at?"
10 come to the point, then, if / find
our chain will you fgive me the hand of
our danghter?p falrt
" You can't do it, sn0fted Sir Thomas
how would you manage that?'.
That's my business! Yours is to give
our consent TO our engagement"
oh, Of course, if ybd dfa me such a serv-
,e as that, said Sir Thomas, still incredu-
'us, could refuse you nothing"
Then you accept MY coiiditiOns?"
., yes" replied SIR Thomas, thinking
hat probably his visitor had sustained some
evere injury to his head I'm the scuffie of
'hich he bore go many marks, and deter
inning to humor himis II accept your con-
itions, and now where is any chain?"
" On the table," said johnson, pointing to
parcel he had laid down on the table on
Is entrance. me- 10
o. TTot
Sir Thomas hurried to the parcel and tore
open; and there, sure enough, was the
hahn, with one link missing and two OF
nree more twisted, but the chain, for all
lat
Why, man, where On earth did YOU get
J? 1t seems like magic!" said the knight,
fter his first paroxysms of delight.
" III tell you in minute" was his COM
anions reply. But, first of all, let me ask
you remember your promise?"
About my daughter?n
" Yes about your daughter"
I'm a man of my word, sir" said Sir
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