Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-03-30

formation that the Arm OF limerick &
Co. was no longer in existence. Percy
was now utterly ut his wits end and
bafiied. He knew not how to move and
could form no definite plan Of action.
Every thing seemed to DO working
against him. The Delaros and Mr..
Wilcox Ut must DO remembered he
knew nothing Of his old friends death)
in Europe; limerick, he knew not where;
himself wandering alone In New York;
what should he do? He retraced his
steps uptown, engaged rooms at q hotel
and sat down to consider.
"What Is the use OF going to Europe?"
he thought ~ might never find them;
and yet can not stay here alone" Why
he did not ut once repair to Mr.. vii.
cox's lawyers he could nevor afterwards
explain, but he did not do so. After
many hours Of consideration he resolved
to take the first steamer to Europe.
1t o few days no was passing Sandy
Hook, and week later he was
anxiously expecting to see the Fastnet
Light
During tho voyage no had not
mingled much with the company on
board. lie was too much enwrapped In
his own thoughts to care to investigate
those OF others. So he kept himself aloof.
Ono day when in mid-Atlantic no be-
thought him Of the little package which
Bello Lorimer had given him and re-
solved to open it. Retiring to his state
room and taking from his valise tho
vest, in the pocket Of which he had
placed the package, he drew out what
he would have valued as q precious
treasure. had he known what 1t was.
Carefully unwrapping 1t, he found thatit
contained an insignificant Portuguese
silver coin with small hole bored
through it. Tho small width OF silver
between tho hole and tho edge Of the
coin had worn away, indicating that
tho coin had doubtless fallen from
whatever 1t had originally suspended
from-probably Mr.. Emerick's watch
chain. Inclosed with the coin was q
little note, which read: Examine the
edge OF this coin all round"
Percy did so, and noticed that in one
part the milling had been fled or
ground fiat, and on the smooth edge
was q monogram executed in SO minute
manner that without microscope
1t would DO impossible to distinguish
tho letters.
Not having microscope in his pos
session Lovcl borrowed one from an
officer OF the ship and again retired to
his state-room to further examine the
curiosity. Applying the microscope. no
gazed intcntly for moment and, drop
ping the instrument, said TO himself
~ thought there was no mistake.
Those arc his initials-L. V.'-and
Belle Lorimcr was right This sup
posed Mr. limerick does possess secret.
but II Is not his alone. There Is ut least
one other who shares tho knowledge Of
it, and it shall not be long before it be-
comes public property. ! must and will
find the villain yet"
These and similar thoughts crowded
Pcrcy's brain us they sailed through
tho heavy mist hanging over the Mcr-
soy to the Liverpool docks. Resting in
the great seaport but few hours, he
went direct to London. Ono might have
supposed that he would have sought tho
home OF his childhood; but that had
long lost all charm for him. lilo had
but ono present purpose to fulfill; and
in importance 1t seemed TO him para
mount 10 all others.
lie arrived in London about two days
after Mr.. limerick; yet although ut
times they were not much more than
arms length apart they never con-
fronted each other in the crowded
streams Of human life which surged up
and down the city's streets.
Mrs. Delaro and Armida also returned
to London about the same time.
Eugene Breezy lost no time in calling
on them, and they expressed much de-
light at seeing him; whilo he, on his
part, was overjoyed beyond measure,
and seemed SO pleased that no acted al
most foolishly. He at once made him
self exceedingly familiar and insisted
on accompanying the ladies everywhere
they went
Finding that he would have no oppor-
tunity Of speaking to Armida In private
while in the busy, noisy city, amid the
incessant din Of business, pleasure
seekers and callers, Eugene invited her
to take trip with him as far as Rich
mond.
This beautiful spot was looking Its
best In truc English fashion they
went to tho "Star and Gsrtcr," the most
fashionable hotel in the place, and par
took OF tea served in tho conventional
manner, with cold meats, chickens,
salads, watercresses, etc.
Afterwards they walked up the hill to
tho park, and there, while sitting on
the grass in place where they could
obtain fine view Of that exquisite bit
OF valley scenery. they commenced to
talk.
not take her eyes from the sight which
lay before her II was not rugged or
romantic, such ~ Armida bad known in
her own country-it was purely English
"a grassy valley along which flowed
the Thames, hemmed In by sloping hill
sides covered with parks and ancient
forests. She thought 1t was the most
pleasing and enhancing sight she had
ever beheld As far as the eye could
reach the waters Of the Thames could
DO seen winding through the valley
like silver ribbon. On the sides Of the
quiet river the hillsidos were covered
with luxuriant foliage Of the brightest
hues, and the surface Of the river was
fecked with little pleasure craft whose
gay-colored canopios added TO the bright
ness, II not the grandeur, Of tho scene.
Now and then few bars Of sprightly
catch or glee would be waited upon the
gentle breeze from the pleasure-seekers
on the water below. Eugene allowed
Armida TO revel in the exceptional
beauty Of the scene for time and then
a. l.