St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-12

moulateQ between the outer world ana
the occupants of the third floor.
''Mr. Robinson In?"
mo, sir. Gone to lunch"
"Pll wait" SAID the visitor, laconi-
cally. And he strolIed into Valentines
legal apartment and looked at the man
telshelf.
Hum. one brief, dusty and flyblown.
Was here last time l came, ii Pm not
mistaken. Not making his fortune
yet. anyhoww
He and Valentine were cousins, aud
the curious will of great uncle af-
fOrded him very sufficient reason for
not wishing the barrister to prosper.
Whichever of the young men could
prove the possession of $500 per an
mum within six years of the testator's
death was to inherit his property. If
both attained tc it, the richer was to be
the heir; If neither. a hospital bene-
flied.
OF the allotted period only about
eighteen months now remained, but the
$4,000 year seemed as unattaInabIe by
the strn ggling artist and the briet1eSs
barrister as the wealth OF Golconda.
Tired of looking out of the window at
legal gentlemen in wigs and gowns and
legal gentlemen without wigs and
gowns, Mr.. Morley pushed open the
connecting door, entered his Cousins
bedroom and saw the picture.
The result of an examination seemed
to excite the artist nightly. Tor his
hand were trembling and his face was
flushed as he returned the painting to
lis nail, and intruded once more upon
the youthful clerk.
81 know where Mr.. Robinson lunches.
/ think I'll 60 and find him." he re-
marked CASUALLY
But faithful providence had or
dained that he should miss his cousin
again. Valentine had already gone.
Mr.. Morley said naughty word and re-
traced his steps to Middle Temple lane.
En- route an acquaintance buttonholed
him aud detained him tuning for
twenty minutes.
Therefore he was quite half an hour
behind his cousin when he arrived to
find that young gentleman scribbling at
his desk.
Hello; glad to see you, old mani Boy
told me you called, but didn't expect
you back"
Pm taking holiday" Maurice ex-
planned. land wanted to speak to you
about that picture you've got in there.
: Rather decent thing. Where did you
> pick it up?''
Fat the edge of the world for So. Glad
to hear my judgment is SO good"
s4'll give you S25 for 1t if you like"
said Maurice, caretessly. You can get
nice engraving for that which'll suit
your room much better"
81 should be delighted. dear boy, but
you're too late. Schaffer. my little
tailor, was here bothering me for money
it in part settlement. He carried it
away with him."
Good heavens!" shouted Maurice, as
white as sheet. "D'ye mean to say
you've been ass enough TO part with
that picture for $40 or SOP"
''For S25-the sum you offered me-"
said Valentine, with rather queer look
at his cousin.
Left alone, Valentine looked thought.
full. He knew that it was not In Maurice
TO offer S25 for anything that was not
worth great deal more, and the picture
must be worth very great deaf more
before its loss would have excited him
so strongly.
Two minutes later he was closeted
with brother barrister in the same
building; five minutes later he was
driving to the tailor's with a bank note
in his pocket.
He explained his errand diplomatical-
ly, and the little German expressed
much regret, but could not obIige him.
1t seemed that when he-Mr. Schaffer-
had returned with the picture instead
of the cash his frau had called him
"big fool" whereupon he had perforce
turned it into current coin at a second.
hand furniture dealers around the cor
ner. and lost money thereby, ION ze
word of Schatfer."
Valentine found the secondhand shop
withnnt N r,lo
where it was very unlikely that they
would know the value of their pur-
chase, and his spirits mounted, only, a
moment later, to be dashed to the
ground.
The picture had left the shop almost
as soon as it entered. A young lady
had come in to ask for a curious little
silver box in the window. and, seeing
the picture, she had ordered it to be
sent at once TO her address in the coun-
try.
And who. inquired the affabIe shop
woman. large lady in black satin, did
he think the young lady was? Why. no
one less than Miss Mamie Donovan, the
1rish-American heiressl
Poor Valentine! He resolved to fol-
low the scent to the end, sweet or bitter,
and was about to quit Mrs. Simmons
emporium when he ran into the arms of
his cousin.
Nov, look here, Maurice" said the
barrister, drawing him into the street,
tits no use your trying to humbug me
any longer. That picture Is a big thing.
know 1t now as well as you 90. Your
face betrayed you. You might Just as
we'll tell me how big thing it isP Does
il mean hundreds or thousandspr
SITS Rembrandt, or Pm mad"
| % Yp NH oh, ne
gets 1t will get the old mans money,
too"
YES" said Maurice gloomily.
"Only 1t happens that neither OF US
has the advantage Of the other so far.
Now You haven't behaved quite gener.
-onsly In keeping me in the dark. and
Offering me paltry profit; but its no
good going back on that, and what do
l, you say to going shares in the transac-
StiOn? We could run down to Bellworth
. at once, and interview the lady?"
81 am agreeable. if you are" said
Maurice slowly. "But / don't think it's
good idea to go to Bellworth. As you
say 1t Is essential TO avoid showing
over anxiety. letter would answer the
purpose better"
"Of course, you're right. / didn't
think of that. You ought to have been
a lawyer, Maurice"
Morley laughed rather forcedly, and
they went to his rooms to concoct the
important document.
Now 1t happened that Valentine had
promised to meet a friend from the
eenniry at Charing Cross, and he was
strolling about lhe station soon after he
had lett his cousin. when ne caught
flying glimpse OF familiar tace
through tie window of an outgoing
rain.
'MaurlceW he calculated, "by all
that's queer. Where can he be off to?''