Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-01-26

iH'ltcu HIS IrleHu, MI. PF0Wlef, Z
capital chap and so amusing" Still
more annoyed was she when Mr.
Prowler came on the scene His ap
pearance was not in his favor, and as
the champagne went round his pecu
liar sense of humor asserted itself
unpleasantly. Having taken stock OF
Mary Crofton, and, having assured
himself that she was not an unwilling
Hugant in the case of BLANK VS.
Blank, Queens Proctor Intervening .
he abandoned himself to the spirit of
the moment
He paid Mrs Warburton compli-
ments which made that lady flush with
anger and Mary's eyes dance with
subdued merriment. He suggested that
Mr.. Jeffcock should order another bot
tie of, the boy of a slightly more
expensive brand; and finally succeed
ed in smashing two champagne glasses
in an unsuccessful effort to perform
Il conjuring trick.
But Mr.. ProWler. had another side
to his character, and though he felt
intuitively that Mary Crofton was an
honest girl, a thousand times too good
for her hesitating admirer. he none
the less fulfilled his share of the con-
tract, and by means into which we
need not enter succeeded in obtaining
II fairly exhaustive record of Mary
Crofton's life.
During this period Of investigation
Mr.. JeffcOck allowed matters at Clay
ton street to rest in statu quo. He
went pretty frequently, he saw Mary
Crofton whenever he did go, and
though he abated none of his less COM
promising attentions, he did not re
peat the kiss, still less did he actually
propose. The position was trying for
all parties. and Mr.. Jeffcock was not
sorry when received letter from Mr..
Prowler arranging an interview for the
following day.
Well, Mr.. Jeffcock,' said the in
qniry agent, Il have made every in
quiry about the girl since her mothers
death except during that year with
Lord Eyrsham. AS that was spent
abroad, naturally evidence is hard to
acquire; but You may take it from
me the girls Il right good girl. with a
perfectly clean record, and my advice
to you is to marry her out of hand
But before you propose you had better
wait till | hear from my continental
agent, because, Of course Monte Carlo
is Il rum place, and Lord Eyrsham was
Il queer young chap and had very
fast friends Miss Crofton must have
mixed 4 good deal with them. and if
would be during that year. 1 shall
hear tonight or tomorrow, and if you
get a reassuring letter from me pop
the question right straight away
And now perhaps you will kindly set
tie my little bill, as my out-of pocket
expenses have been rather high
He handed the document to Mr..
Jeffcock. That gentleman was acclls-
toned to the ingeniously framed ac-
counts which went out from Teller
Pottinger 4 Blake, and ought to have
seen that the bill, all things considered,
was not eXorbitant. But he was a man
who went through all his bills care
fully, and he made no exception to
the one now before him.
Every item he inquired into; rail
way expenses We're verified, postal
charges disputed. Mr.. Prowler, whose
clients, whatever their faults might be,
were rarely ungenerous in money mat
terS, sat Tuning and speeches., and
when Mr.. Jeffcock disputed his liza
bility for the services of Mr. Prowler
on the day the latter lunched with
him, and actually surcharged the bill
the price Of those two broken cham
palgne glasses, it was considerable
he could restrain his indigna-
ton. He, however, did succeed, and
receipted the bill
well, Mr.. Jeffcock, don't propose
to the lady until l hear from Monte
Carlo, and | will let you know the
result Of my investiga tons there with
the utmost despatch. Good night"
He bowed his client out. And when the
front door banged he relieved his feel
jngs with undeniable vigor
Mr.. Jeffcock went home, and forth
with wrote Il little letter, laying his
heart, his hand and his managerial
salary Of $3.50 a year and a rise, at
the feet Of Miss Mary Crofton. He did
not send the letter, but left the date
open pending the arrival of that Monte
Carlo evidence This was fortunate
for within IS hours he received hlI.-
ried letter from Mr.. Prowler to the
effect that evidence fOm tho Riviera
had arrived, and that it was of such
Il startling nature, and SO entirely at
that he advised Mr.. Jeffcock not to
send that proposal before seeing him
the next afternoon.
Accordingly, with a heart full Of
apprehension, Mr.. Jeffcock once more
entered the agents gloomy den. Seat
ed with him was young man of worn
and studious aspect, clad in a shabby
black coat, and soft, wide-brimmed
hat. He wore Spectacles, and his mus
tache and hair were unkempt; his
boots We're down at heel
Mr.. Prowler explained the strangers
presence. His agent had visited sever
al hotels at which the Eyrshams had
resided, and had learned that. despite
her demure appearance, Miss Crofton
had obtained an unenviable reputa-
ton for conduct which it would be q
euphemiSm to term Eighty.
A corroborator of this report, Mr.
Prowler had been referred to young
man, Mr.. Saward, now a master at
n SCHOOL in linhna To hut La +ol.- O.