Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-13

the name of Yelverton, seemed to take a
special fancy to me. and We put in several
hours conversing together. He had visited
the coast before. and, although only a few
years my senior, was evidently a man who
had had a good deal Of experience In the
world. Naturally. after our acquaintance
mad progressed to a certain stage. / talked
OF the subject uppermost in my mind, and
told him all about the letters.
1 had hoped he would say something that
would prove reassuring; on the contrary, he
why, my dear fellow" he said, eff you
are going to undertake to deliver those
epistles. you have my sympathy. Just now
the very words letter Of introduction, ere.
to the average Californian, like a red rag
to a bull. They are a hospitable people, but
their good nature has been so grossly i'm
posed upon by the horde Of impostors and
mountebanks that has poured in since the
building of the railroad, that 1t is no longer
easy for stranger to get into their good
graces. The Observation-Disclosures device has
been worked until 1t Is threadbare, and tie
, man who offers to present one risks an i'm
mediate arrest from the police. or even
severer treatment at the hands Of the Wig
lance committee"
You brighten me-" said: however. as
my letters are all genuine, and bear the
names Of many Of the most prominent peo-
pie of Cleveland. I hardly expect to meet
with difficulties Of that sort"
Probably not" said Yeiverton; but you
may expect to be rather coldly treated"
We'll. blast the letters" / exclaimed
angrily; IT can see they are going to destroy
half the pleasure of my visit to the coast"
MY annoyance seemed to afford Yelverron
no small amusement. and he required sever
al times to the subject after had allow ed
it to drop.
1t was part of my plan to stop over in
Oenver about week to visit some friends.
Yelverton. also. made a brief stay In hat
place. and we occupied adjoining apart
ments In the same hotel. Once when he
happened to be In my room. had occasion
TO look for something in my trunk, and ]
came upon the hated bundle of letters
Here are those Internal documents" !
remarked, tossing the bundle over to the
table near where he stood. He picked it up,
ic laugh.
You are certainly In for 1t, my boy" he
SAID, and put the letters back on the table
amid pile of newspapers and magazines
Before his departure, which took place the
next day, Yelverton made me promise tina I
l would telegraph him when I left Denver,
SO that ne might meet me on my arrival at
the coast promised 1t unhesitatingly. for
l was satisfied that his friendship would
bring opportunities not to be sighted.
Various circumstances which need not
detail heightened my stay in Denver from
week to nearly month. and in the
course OF that time quite forgot about the
letters of introduction. When 1 was ready
to depart however, / thought of them
with sudden and intense pang OF dis
comfort.
1 telegraphed to Yelverton, and proceeded
to pack my trunk. Just as was about to
turn the key, 1t suddenly occurred to ne
that l had not noticed the bundle of let
tiers In It's customary place in the corner
OF the till. / opened the trunk and investf-
gated. The letters were not to be found
either In the till or elsewhere. Then 1
remembered that shortly afte- my arrival
at the hotel had taken them out to show
70 Ieiyerton, and had put them on the
table. However, they were not there now
made thorough search OF the room
the letters had plainly disappeared.
1 went Immediately to the clerk and told
my story. He sent for the head cham
bermaid.
Who takes care of Mr.. Bonworthy's
rocm?' he asked.
Maggie" answered the head chamber
maid; but Clara had that room when he
first came"
II have lost a package Of letters" said l..
The two exchanged significant glances.
DO you think they were stolen?"I asked;
no one could have any possible object"
oh, no. said the clerk. Then he asked
me IL the letters were valuable.
'N-no." said; mot exactly"
We'll, I'll tell you," said the clerk, EVIL
IDENTIFY much relieved; I'VE let that girl
Clara go. because she had a reckless way
OF burning up things that she found lying
around In the rooms. If you have made
a thorough search and you are sure the
letters are not there. the chances are they
are destroyed"
found it difficult to rerress my 10y at
this intelligence. 1t Is to be doubted If the
clerk and head chambermaid ever sue
ceeded in explaining my strange conduct,
in actually refusing to make a row when
one was quite justihab1e. l FASTENED back
to the room and executed fresh search
so as to satisfy my conscience. When 1
was absolutely convinced that the letters
were gone, l danced about the room in a
transport of glee. The awful incubus which
had been weighing down my spirits was