New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20

I As a matter of fact
| .Nv dear papa as say knew good cigar
| when he met one Some people" said young Mrs
Carthew, with great severity-"some people
| don't ,. q,
| think that do know a good cigar from a bad
| one. 1900.
is that why you always smoke bad ones may
Il smoke bad ones? Why. do you happen to
| know what this cost?
| Whatever it cost. Matthew. is no good rea-
! son why you should drop all the ash over my
! carpet 1t is OF very little use my buying ASH
! trays"
| Mr. Carthew with a great effort 10 preSerN"
calm, do you happen. as matter of fact to
know what this cigar cost
| II am not and do not profess 10 he judge
| of cigars" replied the young lady shortly, hu'
| Judging by the way the ash drops about all over
! the place. ! should say it was dear at any price
Poor papa used to say
1t is so painful to have to record that MT
| Carthew interjected here an impetuous remark
| concerning Mrs. Carthew's papa that the least
discreet chronicler can 90 IS to mn, at II mus
| 10 the remark Instead. she stood up and rang
! the bell
yes. ma'am"
Light the gas in the spare room. Mary
Very good. ma am.
The following day. the 24th was not the most
fortunate day in the life of Mr.. Carthew. \
space Of twenty -four hours comes To all now
| and again when from the beginning to the end
| the Fates scowl at us As the hours go on one
| becomes reckless. and there arrives a sense of
something like disappointment when by chance
| thirty minutes go by without the occurrence Of
| something contrary or disastrous. Mr.. Carthew
! breakfasted alone: went up by the %" from
| Surbiton Station where the bOokstall boy served
! him with a Morning Leader" in lieu Of a
! Times: entered a first non smoking full Of
| matrons and babes who were going up to the
= stores TO buy Christmas presents for male reia-
| tives: arrived at ST. Swithns Lane and there
! in his capacity Of an iron and steel merchant
! spent a most distracting day When business
for a few moments gave him rest the thought
| Of his severe. perturbed and indignant young
| wife at THE Glen came to take its place 1t
| was a relief when > o'clock came to be able to
send the clerks home.
Going to stay late tonight. SIR asked the
| chief clerk respectfully. Long time since you
missed your early train Thought perhaps, be-
! ing Christmas Eve
'My work is very much behind hand Beecher
l shall stay for an hour or two"
shall | stop too. sir?
Il would rather be alone.
Wont forget the big safe is open. sir? You
| didn't close it just now.
Il won't forget. Beecher. I've taken the key
off my bunch because it wanted cleaning.
| Good might. / want to get through Of
| these papers without being disturbed"
Il see sir Good night, And II youl excuse
me- ] should like TO wish you the cOmpli-
| ments''--
Thank YOU Beecher Same to YOU
Mr. Beecher being stopped in St Swthin's
| Lane by a well-dressed mal and woman. who
| asked II Mr. Carthew in his office. replied
with a faithful remembrance Of his masters
| instructions, that Mr.. Carthew mad gone home
| an hour ago.
Well George" said the resignedy.
| then we must come round in the morning
! Wen get off ome now.
Apparently the couple reconsidered this lat
| determine ton: They stayed for half an
! hour in the Bay Tree, and the evening being
| then dusk they came down ST. Swithins Lane
| once more and assembled the steps Of No. A.
| A bare-armed kneeling woman cleaning
/ the first floor stairs. and Julia engaged her in
ed
| cent being unperceived. George went The
door Of the Office opened with unexpected ease
| and George took from retired pocket small
green-b aZe roll. The gas had been turned low
| but not too low To prevent nearly everything
| in the Office from being visible: a ladder stood
| against the high shelf that contained edgers.
and George. walking gingerly. stopped himself
just in time to avoid going underneath it.
MY word" whispered George GROSSLY. Tina:
was a near About the most unluckiest act
that appen to any one" He took off his
tweed cap and mopped his forehead. "A silly
thing to go and leave EN- about the place like
that One step under that ladder and there'd
been no luck for me-not this journey, at any
rate"
The door marked private" opened with ease
but George closed it again quickly on finding
that there was in this inner room also light
He listened anxiously. There was no sound
from within. and. taking his courage with both
hands. he pushed the door gently once more.
and putting his head in, looked round the room
Ii empty.
This" said George cheerfully-"this now. Is
what you may call bit OF all right"
The private Office had already been described
TO him by the admirable julia who had gained
the Information by much spacious kindness the
previous evening to the bare-armed. burly
housekeeper. Julia representing herself as a
fellow -labOrer in the vineyard, one accustomed
working her finger to the bone, and with the
knowledge OF a unique remedy for housemaid' s
knee. had so far ngratiated herself into the
4 hurry ho,,sekeeper's confidence as to induce that
lady to show her over all the Offices and par
} ticularly those belonging to Mr.. Carthew.
1 Thus George knew that he would find the fire.
place there. and the two windows looking out
King William-st. way there. and the round Of
/ flee chair there and the big safe there. The
I safe eight foot high green painted safe.
+ with big brass escutcheon over the lock at the
! side.
First OF all said George. nodding his head
! toward this. II shall ave TO ave you off,
He took the green baize bag and selected
chsel with padded head; took also small
! hammer. Looking around at the mantelplece
! he saw among cards Of boat saings and
I diagrams Of machinery. a Tantalus. Mr. Cart
hew did not care for drink himself. but occa SION
J ally gentlemen connected with the called