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

wife died he got her Il position close
to his own home. There was more in
that than met the eye
Mr.. Jeffcock looked the Young man
in the face. Could he be speaking the
truth? He knew a good deal about
Lord Eyrsham and his friends. having
heard Mary talk about them. and he
cross-examined Mr.. Saward very close
ly. The replies the informant. gave
proved conclusiyely that not only had
he been, as he said, At the same hotels
with the Eyrshams, but that he was in
timately acquainted with the details
Of their private life. %.
That proposal, therefore, WAS. never
sent. On. the. contrary. the envelope
contained a polite little note saving
that sudden: increase in professional
work would possibly prevent his visit
| ing Clayton street for some time to
! come.
Some weeks passed, and though oc-
casionally Mr.. Jeffcock felt qualms of
conscience, he was consolcd by the
| Immediate approach of the one ambi-
ton of his life. Mr. Blake had an
nounced his intending retirement 1t
was impossible for Mr. Pottinger to
conduct the firm without partner
Was it unreasonable for Mr. Jeffcock
to hope that his 10 years work would
/ be fully recognized?
1t was, therefore, with a light heart
| that on the morning Mr.. POttinger as
Sumed sole command, Mr.. Jeffcock at
! tended a summons from the senior
partner to come to his private room
Now, Mr.. Jeffcock," said Mr. Pot
| finger CURLY, you, of course, know
l am now sole member of the firm"
Yes, sir" said Mr.. Jeffcock. with
Il sweet smile
We'll, Sit, my first act is to ask you
to take three months salary and leave
the Office today"
Good God. sir, why?' cried the be-
wildered man.
Partly because it has been clear for
some time that your attention to your
work has been distra cted; but princi-
paly because 1 myself saw you some
| weeks ago lunching in the company
of Mr.. Prowler, the well known in
quiry agent. Though Mr.. ProWler has
never been engaged against us, / know
enough about him to believe that he is
thorough-pac scoundrel 1t is,
! therefore, clear, then, that either you
! have been undertaking professional
| work outside shat of your proper du-
/ ties, or else, which | am loath to be-
lieve, you have traitorously been sell
ing to your opponents secrets of the
firm. SO you can go. --
Ruin and poverty stared Richard
Jeffcock in the face. There was but
, one chance. He hailed i hansome and
drove with all haste to Clayton street
The servant in chilly accents said the
ladies were not at home. But Richard
Jeffcock, refusing TO accept this re-
! buke, walked UP to the dra wing room.
Mary Crofton sat by the fire; as her
old lover entered she rose and shook
| the proffered hand with perfect self
possession and then resumed her seat.
MARY, dear, my business calls have
ceased-So | have come at last to"
Pray stop, Mr.. Jeffcock | know
quite well what you are about to say,
but it cannot be. Had you asked me
two months ago, perhaps | might have
said yes; but you might trust a woman
to know the true import of the last
letter you wrote. Happily, however,
though a little sad at first, l soon
found consolation
"Ah, from that source" said Mr..
Jeffcock, with an upward glance,
where true consolation can alone be
found. You were always a good girl,
Mary, but don't you think
''Oh, dear no." cried Mary, with a
peal of laughter. My source of con-
ISOLATION is far less spiritual, l am
afraid. The truth is, a day Or two af-
ter l received your note, an old ac-
quaintance of mine called-7a gentle
man who had known me at Cannes
and Monte Carlo, when 1 was with the
Eyrshams. He was very great friend
of Lord Eyrsham, and, though | am
afraid he was gambler, and rather
wild, he always treated the poor COM
panion with the utmost courtesy and
kindness. Well, he found out my
present whereabouts from your funny
friend, Mr.. ProWler, and came to call.
Mrs. Warburton liked him so much
that she asked him to call again. SO
he took to dropping in very often, and
we were delighted; for he is the bright
est, cheeriest crea ture l have ever met.
But what / like still more about him
is his sense Of honor. For when he
he told me frankly that Mr.. Prowler
had somehow discovered that some day
or another / should get a large for
tune from an old uncle Of whom you
have never heard, whereas he him
self was an absolute pauper-of course,
! the inference was clear. But / did
MT mind his poverty a bit, and So
and Severe engaged to be married"
Mr.. Jeffcock stood speeches. as he
thought Of the perfidy Of Prowler and
his own gross idiocy in wrangling
over the little bill. But his reflections
were soon dispelled by very sharp
ring at the bell.
"Ah, here is Algy. 1 will introduce
him if you like, for I've told him all
about you"
| The drawing-room door opened with
crash, and a young man marched in,
and, apparently oblivious of Mr.. jeff
of the curtain) cried out: by Jove,