The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-08-22

from MS uomeSIc tyIunhy uhu hiieh
surroundings.
In the midst of this gloomy retro
spect the coupe stopped with jerk
before his own house. The door was
quickly opened by servant who ap-
peared TO be awaiting him.
'Some one to see you in the library,
SIR" said the man, "and--" he hcsitated
and looked toward the coupe.
"Well," said Clarence. impatiently.
'IIe said, sir, as how you were not to
send away the carriage"
"lndeed, and who is it," demanded
Clarence sharply.
"Mr. Hooker. He said was TO say
Jim Hoolser."
The momcntary annoyance in Clar-
ence's face changed to look of re-
Elective curiosity.
HE said he knew you were at the
theater, and he would wait until you
came home" continued the man, dubi-
ously watching his masters face. "IIe
don't know you've come in, sir-and-
ana can easily get rid of him."
'No matter now. I'll see him-and,"
added Clarence with faint smile, "let
the carriage wait"
Yet as he turned toward the library
he was by no means certain that an in
terview with the old associate Of his
boyhood under Judge Peyton's guard
ianship would divert his mind Yet he
let no trace OF his doubts nor OF his past
gloom show in his face as he entered
the room.
Mr.. Hooker was apparently eNamin-
ing the elegant furniture and luxurious
with his usual resent
full enviouspess. Clarence had got a
soft thing" That IL was more or less
the result OF his "artfulness." and that
he was unduly pulled mp by IL, were
in Hookcr's characteristic reasoning
equally clear.
AS his host smilingly advanced with
outstretched hand, Mr.. IIookers efforts
TO assume proper abstraction of man
ner and contemptuous Indifference 10
Clarence's surroundings, which should
wound his vanity, ended in his lolling
back at full length in the chair with his
eyes on the ceiling. But, remembering
suddenly that he was really the bearer
Of message to Clarence, il struck him
that his supine position was, from n
theatrical view point. infelicitous.
In his experience OF the stage he had
never delivered a message I'm that way.
lie rose awlSwnrdly TO his feet.
1T was SO good of you to watt said
Clarence courteously.
''Saw you in the theater," said Hook
err. brusquely. Third row in par
quet. Snsy said il was you and had
suthin' to say to you. Suthin' you
ought TO know" he continued, with
slight return OF his old mystery OF
manner, which Clarence 50 well remem-
bered. "You saw her-she fetched the
house with that flag business, Ell? She
knows which way the cat il goin' TO
jump--you bet. i tell you, for all the
of these secessionists, the
unions goin' TO pay! Yes, sir!" He
stopped, glanced around the handsome
room and added. darlSly: "Mebbc bet
ter than this"
With the memory of Hookcr's char
acteristic fondness for mystery still in
his mind Clarence overlooked the i'm
nuendo, and said, smiling:
"Why didn't you bring Mrs. Hooker
here? | should have been honored with
her company"
Mr.. Hooker frowned slightly nj this
seeming levity. "Never goes out after
n performance. Nervous exhaustion.
Left her at our rooms i'm Market street.
We can drive there in ten minutes.
That's why | asked the carriage TO
wait"
Clarence hesitatcd. without caring
In the least TO renew the acquaintance
Of his old playmate and sweetheart, a
that night in some vague way
suggested TO him providcntial diver
sion. Nor was he deceived by any
gravity i'm the message; with his re-
OF Susy's theatrical ten
denotes, he was quite prepared for any
capricious futile extravaganza.
"You are sure we will not disturb
here" he said, politely.
mo"
Clarence led the way 20 the carriage
II Mr.. Hooker expected him during the
journey 60 try 20 divine the purport
Of Susy's message he was disappointed.
Ills companion did not allude 10 IL,
possibly looking upon IL as n combined
theatrical performance. Clarence pre-
ferred TO wait for Susy as the better
actor.
The cnrringe rolled rapidly through
the now deserted streets and. at last,
under the directions OF Mr.. Tloolser.
who was leaning half out OF the win
dow. II drew mp at middle-clnss res
ON whose still lit and steam
ing windows were some ostentatious-
" public apartments. accessible from
D side entrance.
As they assembled the staircase to-
gcther IL became evident that Mr.. |
Hooker was scarcely more az his case
in the character OF host than he had
been rs guest.
lie stared gloomily at a descending |
visitor, Fruntcd nudibly M waiter In
Iftn t.nuunrr. a,tI rtstkr...H a.. fs,t. a I..,,t