The Washington times., 1894-05-13

''Never mind, said the strange gentleman,
tive can all three get in 1t. You can sit on
nv knee, Jack" And then they all three got
into the cab and drove OF.
"That's a rum CO." said Tom to himself.
The servant was at the door, and he thought
he would hazard a question. So he crossed the
road and said: Il beg your pardon, but wasn't
one of those gentlemen Cap. Fairclough?'
.'Yes, he was"
.Ah you'll excuse me asking, but used to
know him years ago and thought recognized
him. Has he been back from Africa long?"
The girl presuming that this was some one
who was inquiring lesitimately answered at
once, "Oh, yes, about year."
''And the dark gentleman was Mr.. Lorri-
more. of Sackville street,"
''Yes, missus brotheri"
'Ah. thank you, say Mr.. Jones called. 1
haven't card. Good eyeningr'
$50" said Tom as he walked away, 'I was
on the wrong tack and that blessed letter
wouldn't have been much good. 1t was her
brother. I suppose the letter brought the
captain to his senses and back to his wife.
wish could find out. was in the romance
at the beginning. l should like to know how
it ended"
And that sent him thinking OF his lost
$500 note. He lost it the very night he
posted that letter, and he had often thought
since that he might have pulled it out of his
pocketbook while taking the letter out, and
in some mysterious wayit had disappeared.
1t was on the Saturday before a bank holi-
day that Tom had seen Mrs. Fairclough again.
Thinking of his lost note set him thinking Of
racing. On bank holiday there was meet
ing at Kempton park. He wouldn't bet, he
never meant to bet again, but he made up his
mind he would just so down for the day and
''have a look round'' 1t would be day out,
and it wouldn't do him any harm.
He went, and thinking he might come
across some old acquaintance, he paid his
money and went into Tattersall's ring.
One OF the first persons he saw was the book
maker of whom he had received the f500 note.
He didn't recognize Tom, but Tom recog-
nized him. and reminded him of the circum-
stance under which they last met.
by Jovel that's odd" said the bookmaker.
"rd lost your address, or I'd have written to
you. got the number Of that note few
months ago, and made memo. Of 1t on the
back of my book, in case ever saw you
again. but l suppose you found it."
NO" said Tom. II never did, and never
shall now. It's been paid long ago, I expect;
but you may as well give me the number
Here it is-A-C 81, 100. I'm afraid it's not
much good to you now"
Tom thought not either, but he took the
number and he went the next day in his din
ner hour to the Bank Of England and made
inquiries The books were referred to, as is
usual in the case Of lost note, after Tom
had given full particulars, and Tom was in
| formed that the note had been presented
| through a firm Of bankers In the city and, Of
course paid.
Tom knew that he had no claim now, as he
hadn't stopped the ncte, and, thinking that
he might have to spend good deal Of time or
money in tracing 1t from banker to banker.
and from hand to hand, and yet anxious, #
possible, 20 find out how it had come into any
one else's possession, he thought he would
| ignore the fact that he had learned It had
been paid. and risk few skillings in adver-
| tising it. SO he sent the following advertise
ment TO the Daily Telegraph:
"Lost, about two years ago. Bank Of Eng
land note for $500. No. A-C Sc, 100. Will any
one having found the same. or any one into
whose possession it came about that period,
kindly communicate with I. E., No. 19 =
street. ". CT"
| Two days afterward, when Tom returned
| from the city. his wife informed him that a
gentleman had called. He wanted to see 7.
E. ABOUT his adver isement. She had told
| him that Tom wouldn't be home till seven
and he had promised to call again after that
| hour.
! About o'clock ring came 1t the bell. and