The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-07-15


alone should have the credit. There
had come no answer TO the note he had
sent Gibberts, so he went to the club IN
the hope of meeting him. He found
johnson and asked him if Gibberts had
been seen there that day.
"No," said johnson, 'but | saw him
yesterday, and what do You think he
was doing? He was in gunshop on the
Strand buying cartridges for that viii
famous looking seven shooter Of his.
asked him what he was going to do
with revolver in London, and he told
me shortly it was none of my business,
which struck me as so accurate sum-
ming up of the situation that came
away without making further remark.
IL you want any more stories by Glib
berts, you should look after him."
Shorely found himself rapidly verg-
ing into state of nervousness regard
ing Gibberts. He was actually begin
ming to believe that the novelist medi-
tated some wild action which might
involve others in disagreeable compli-
cation. Shorely had no desire to be ac-
cessory either before or after the fact.
He hurried back to the Office and there
found Gibberts' belated reply to his
note. He hastily tore it open, and the
reading of it completely banished what
little self control he had left:
DEAR SHoRELY-I know why you want to
see me, but l have so many affairs to settle
that IL is impossible for me to call upon you.
However, have no fears l shall stand to my
bargain without any goading from you. Only
a few days have elapsed since the publication
Of the story, and did not promise the tragedy
before the week was out. l leave for Channor
Chase this afternoon. You shall have your
pound of flesh and more. Yours,
BROMLEY GIBBERTs.
Shorely was somewhat pale about the
lips when he finished this scrawl. He
flung on his coat and rushed into the
street Calling a hanson, he said:
"Drive to Kidner's inn as quickly as
you can. No. g."
Once there, he sprang up the steps,
two at a time and knocked at Gibberts'
door. The novelist allowed himself the
luxury of a "man," and it was the
imam" who answered Shorely's impe-
rious knock.
where's Gibberts?'
"He's just gone, sir, in hanson.
"Gone where?'
"To Euston station, believe, sir.
He's going into the country for week,
and / wasn't to forward letters, so
haven't his address.
"Have you an A B C?'
Eyes, sir. Step inside, sir. Mr.. Glib
berts was just looking up trains, sir,
before he left. 4"
'Shorely saw it was open at O, and
looking down the column to Channor
he found the train left in 30 minutes.
Without word he dashed down the
stairs again. The imam" did not seem
astonished. Queer fish sometimes came
to see his master.
"Can you get me to Euston station i'll
90 minutes?'
The cabman shook his head as he said:
''I'll do my best, sir, but we ought
to have good half hour"
The driver did his best and landed
Shorely on the departure platform two
minutes after the train had left.
"When's the next train to Channor?"
demanded Shorely of porter.
Just gone, sir
''The next train isn't gone, you fool.
Answer my question.
1.-TWO hours and 20 minutes, sir, !"
replied the porter in huff.
Shorely thought of engaging spe-
cial, but realized he hadn't money
enough. Perhaps he could telegraph
and warn the people of Channor Chase,
but he did not know to whom to tele-
graph. Or, again, he thought he might
have Gibberts arrested on some charge
or other at Channor station. That, he
concluded, was the way out, dangerous,
but feasible.
By that time, however. the porter
bad recovered his equanimity. Porters
cannot afford to cherish resentment, and
this particular porter saw half crown
in the air.
Did you wish to It ach Channor be-
fore the train that's just gone, sir?''
Eyes; can it be done?"
cit might be done. sir, " said the por-
ter hesitatingly, as if he were on the
verge of divulging a secret which would
cost him his situation He wanted the
half crown to become visible before
committing himself further.
Here's half sovereign if you can
tell me how it can be done short of
hiring a special"
"Well, sir, you could take the ex-
press that leaves at the half hour. 1t
will take You 8 miles past Channor to
Buley Junction; then in II minutes
you can get local back to Channor,
which is due there three minutes before
the down train reaches there-if the To-
cal is ON time,'' he added when the
goldpiece was safely in his pocket.
While waiting for the express Shore
ly bought a copy Of The Sponge and
once more read Gibberts' story on the
way down. The third reading appalled,
him. He was amazed that he had not
noticed before the deadly earnestness of
the tone. We are apt to underrate or
overrate the work of man with whom
we are personally familiar. Now for
the first time Shorely seemed to get the