The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-08-24

Father IL away, and must positive
" run over n tho drossmaker's and try
on my new gown. So tend tho store a
fow momonts like good boy. You need
not fear any customers will modest
yon."
So away she ran, anf I, deprived OF
Tho comfort Of conllinG her my story,
began 10 look about for book. had
read most OF those upon the shelves.
Suddenly remembered that a new
box had arrived from Franco tho dhy
before, and ~ NJ. Cronaau always IN.
packed these himself in tho back rooms,
resolved 20 look there for some newer
work. had never been in this bnck
room before, 1t was NJ, CroneNu't
sanC,um and no one was ever invited TO
enter H..
! pushed open the door and stepped
in. 1t was lighted BY small back
window aud contained desk, guarded
by screen, ioW old boxes, in which
con'ignments OF books were received, u
shelf or Two aud a fireplace. The new.
Is arrived pGcklRg.box stood In the cen.
trc Of the floor, but it was empty, Nor
were any books, new or old, to be seen
anywhere. was about to Withdraw,
feeling q triAo guilty, when my eye was
caught by al object in the fireplace. 1t
was the back Of Il burned book, and OK.
aiming moro closely | discovered
very large quantity Of burned paper in
tho crate. This WAS singuIaF-that
man should reCeivoa box Of new publ.
cations and at OncO burn them. !
scented a mystery, aud examined fur.
ther. My search was rewarded by tinI'
ing Il brand new volume by Du BoisRo.
boy reclining on tho door between tile
desk and tho screen. This was what |
had come to lind, so retired to tho
store amt, seating myself, began lis per-
usal. 1 he story started oil finely, and,
rs is my habit, turned half the pages
aud skinned through to catch Tho
DRIFT Of tue plot,
My surprise and disappointmcn.
were great when | diicoyorol that near
the center OF tina book there were fully
fifty leaves perforated by round hole
near their inner edge. This hole was
about an inch in diameter, and was
cleanly cut, 10 with die. | stared at
it. boiAering my head for a solution Of
thia myalory, Why was this porfotA.
ton made? II opened a. where tho
hole began tt seemei like a tiny pocket,
the bottom being formed by tho pages
that had been left intact. II could
scarcely DO an accident, Thnn this
pocket had been made for q purpose.
hut what purpose? A dry cough
aroused me, aud | looked up.
NJ. CFaneaH was standing before me,
regarding my face with strange In.
tensily. We stared At Ona another
iuli minute, and during that time the
expression Of his eyes denoted dIsmay,
anger, doubt and iear--but his features
never moved muscle. Then hs reached
out his hand. took tho book from my
unrc'isling fingers, walked back TO his
room snA closed tho door beh'pA him,
without 20 much aa Il word or back
ward look.
Jo'ephino came 10, and thanked mo
prcltly for relieving hor but It was
limo for my Ongagcmont with Mr.. For.
sythc, 40 contontol myself with a fcw
tender words and pressure Of hor little
hand, and started on my mission.
On the way ponh1TOf tho events Of
tho morning aud came 10 tho cnuculion
that NJ. CrOnOan was u strange man
a stranger man than ! bad thought;
and tina! strange things wero taking
place under cover Of that book business
hut was II any affair Of miucp was In
love with this mans daughters sho on
couragcd mo in tho belief that she 70.
ciproclret my passion, and untoubtoi.
ly my best policy was to say nothing
aud 800 no moro than could hOlp see.
inH.
Ro,olying thiS | cAmN to tho atoro aud
was n'hcrod into Mr. FOrsythos Office.
IIo was writing when entered, aud
moliOupd mo to scat
Presently be laccl about and rogntlcd