Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-02-28
A MODERN CONSPIRACY.
BY MRS. Nj. l. RAYNE.

/ His titles were commercial ones, and
he had many Of them, the one to which
people paid the most reverence being
q noun of quantity conveying unity
of idea-in other words, he was mil
lionaire, word that is becoming abb
surdly familiar to democratic ears,
now that we can count them no long
err as phenomena, but ideals to which
every poor young man is expected to
attain.
Perhaps at this moment this particu-
lar millionaire was inspiring some
snch thought in the mind of his book
keeper and confidential clerk, who was
looking at him occasionally through a
! window with lattice easement set
into the wall between the elegant
inner office of the employer and the
outside room where the bookkeeper
stood or sat on high stool at his ledg-
er. He had no business to be watch
ing his empl oyer-it was his en-
ployer's privilege to watch him; but
their occupations were reversed just
at present, and the sharp eyes OF the
accountant pierced and gimleted and
corkscrewed into the passive figure of
the multo-millionaire, Powell Plum
mer, us if they were instruments in the
service of an inquisition.
There was nothing extraordinary to
see A handsome old man with a
pink complexion, snow-white hair and
placid face, which was just now wear
ing puzzled rather troubled look,
without losing any of its sweetness--a
face that inspired confidence and made
men out to be liars who called him
cold crafty, INSCRIPTIONS.
"Why will she not decide?' he said,
aloud, and the bookkeeper pricked up
his ears and peered through the lat
tced window at the unconscious
| figure before him.
"She loves me. / know It, Why,
then, does she trife with me and keep
Philip dangling about her? Sometimes
God help mel hate him-I even
wish him dead, such is my mad, un-
reasoning love for her"
The ear at the lattice distinctly
caught every word, and look of SUI
preme satisfaction crept into the face
of the listener IS the monologue con-
tinued:
but she does not love him-no! no!
she loves me, bless her sweet presence!
was harsh to Philip and cruel /
must write to my old friend and ask
forgiveness. The love of a lifetime
must not be overset in day. Ha! l
will send him souvenir"
He touched silver call-bell and q
boy in buttons stood at his elbow.
Ralph, go over to the house and ask
Lasher to give you-wait, will write
a line to him."
He sat down at his olivewood desk
and hurriedly penned brief note to
his butler The man on the other side
of the lattice nearly strained his eyes
out Of his head to read the rapidly
written words, but he could not. 1t is
only necessary to say that it was in
structions to the man Lasher to send
him two bottles of wine from certain
small cask in his wine-cellar. The
boy took the message, and in the
co arse of half an hour returned with
the wine. 1t was beautifully decanted
in bottles that had been prepared for
Chant, ornaments in themselves. To
make sure that it was the right wine
Mr.. Plummer took it from the boy,
who retired to his post. within call
Then taking a glass from an ebony
sideboard the millionaire tested it. At
that moment the boolskeeper thought
that he was struck by lightning.
The mahogany slide which shut him
out from the millionaire's presence
whenever such process was desirable
fell with click on the other side of
the lattice, and was not lifted again
that day.
The bookkeeper did not mind little
shut-of of that kind. There were
other peep-holes equally available, and
he took advantage of them, with the
result that a few moments later he
called up messenger and sent him off
at breakneck speed with note direct
ed to philip Armitage, ESQ.," and
marked private and confidential"
AT the close of the same day man
called at the Brotherton Detective
agency, and asked to see the superin-
| tendent
II want reliable man sent to the
Central European hotel tonight to
stay there for couple of hours. He
IS to ask for room IL, which Is the next
one to the suite named parlor b.
There is door of communication be-
tween the rooms, and your man is to
station himself at this door-which
will be closed and locked-in order
that he may hear the conversation in
parlor Is, and of which he will take
accurate notes. Have you the man we
need2'
Eyes, answered the superintendent,
1--WE have just the man you need. He
will go disguised as tourist, or in any
way you wish"
That is not necessary. The hotel
people will give him the room and it
is simply his testimony that we may
want afterward. A great crime is at
tempted, and must be frustrated"
| A young man smoking good cigar.
we'll dressed, well gloved and booted.
walked into the office of the Central
European hotel, and sauntering to the
rear laid his cigar on the marble