Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-03-11
aLOVER Of The Day.
CHAPTER XIV. Continued.

W
at those city offices about the head OF
the firm, and Smithers, the clerk, who
had first heard and found the injured
Sir Andrew, had to repeat his story to
eager inquiries at least hundred
times in the course of each hour 1t
was not much of matter of surprise
that Smithers grew haggard and dis
tracted in appearance under this strain
which he had to bear in conjunction
with auothero Of a widely different
character. Important races had been
run at Newmarket on the previous day
and Smithers had rot only carefully
picked out and heavily backed five
losers. but, nearing on the excellent
authority of bookie, who was a to-
bacconist in the eyes of the world
round the corner. tfrat he laid a hun
bred to one against Toreador, the fav-
orite for the race, which had some dem
tai trouble, which had come
in a length head Of the second horse,
leaving the field no where.
You must be alfully hard hit, old
man! What are you going to do
about it? Pawning your watch won't
do you much good this time, and you
won't get much grace from that john
ME rounu the corner" one OF his fell
low-clerks said to him in one of those
brief intervals when the 'murderous
assault" on the chief was not under
discussion.
Luckily | was prepared" Smithers
stammered. II can pay up on set
Ting day I an aunt of mine died
last week and left me few hundreds
THE devil she did, Then why the
deuce are you looking so green about
the gills? If were you, old chap, I'd
give up this game. You'll never do any
good at it, and it will land you in a
place you wont like by and by. You're
the cleverest Johnnie at picking out
loser ever met with, and if you put
your name upon 4 winner it's sure to
be no price"
Smithers groaned impatiently.
You've kept the death very dark, :"
his unconscious tCrmenter went on ;
IF relation Of mine did me such a
kind turn | should stand a champagne
supper to all you fellows and ask you
to drink TO the chiefs recovery. BY
the way, was the poor old boy there
long after Graham left, do you know"
Il knew nothing beyond what | have
told you a dozen times" Smthers
snapped, How should | know more
than YOU when Graham left?"
Our commissionaire can settle that
point. What time vas it when you
heard the chief groaning? That is i'm
portant'
q was too agitated to take out my
watch to see the time
Il don't believe Graham did it," the
other man said, thoughtfully. His
lodgings and his person have been
searched, but nothing has been found"
What should be fcund?" Smithers
asked testify.
Why, haven't you heard? That pin
the poor old chap wore with the price
less black pearl and his pigeons blood
ruby ring are both missing. By this
time every pawnbroker in London is
IN possession of that pin and ring.
Whoever took them will have to clear
out of the country before he can dis
pose Of them"
What steps should you think Gra
ham will take TO ger rid of them, sup
posing he is the man who has got hold
Of them?" Smither ask ed, attentivaly
examining the nib OF pen with which
he had been trying to write while his
fa11 I, =
well il were in his place" the
other man replied, throwing himself
into the position of the criminal with
the zest of a hopelessly innocent per-
son: III were in his place and out Of
quad I should just show myself about
In all my usual haunts for a few days,
talk great deal about no o'e-'- pro-
pound a good many theories concern
ing it, lust to throw people oH The
scent, you know. and clear off with the
swag to Belgium or Holland just as
the chiefs brains came back from
wool gathering. He's a wonderful "'d
chap. the chief; the latest bulletin says
that he remembers seeing Sholto Ora
ham leave the office. and he can
swear that Graham never came back
again"
Hang this penw Mr. Smithers ejacu-
lated irrelevantly; at won't write
line I feel chippy! | shall ask the
sub for a days leave and go and look
after my aun's furniture"
Where did your aunt live? Lucky
dog to have come in for furniture as
we'll as dollars
Liver Oh. she lived out Hornsey
Rise way" Smithers said, hurriedly,
and "a he spoke the office boy opened
The door and announced:
Mr. Thorburn and Mr.. Vereker for
Mr. Smithersw