The St. Johns herald., 1897-04-03

i cOndeScen0lng as l may say, re-
 marked Mir. Boffin. the butler, with sar- casm.
 "Eh: What:e laughed the annota- tor, gooa-temperedly. Come, my dear
 sir, don't look so .giun. You may as
 we'll put q cheerful face on it. It can
 be helped, you know"
 When l want your advice in regard to my personal appearance shall proD- ably arsk you for if. young man. re- torted Mir Bofin in a whitening tone.
 All right All right It's no use get ting shi~ty, my good fellow"
 And requesting you will not again apply that vulgar and beastly term to me, young man. gasped Mr. BOffin. No 0ffense-nO offense," said the other. ndlTerently. as he continued to look about him and Scrbble in his note book. Let me see. That's all here. Where now? Ora wing-room. An! yes. Axmister carpet, etc"
 And in an instant he was busy jot- ting down the contents of this apart ment, also, Nr. Boffin looking on with crushing and a stony store, and the bow-legged individual whistling-or rather hissing-fragments of popular tunes through his set teeth. They next went to the library. Here was very me collection of well-bound boOks-numbering some 2,O0O or 5000 volumes. The man with the notebook moved slowly round-inspecting the l shelves
 "Har' he said. as he scrubbed away rapidly, Il see your guv'nOrs a bibli- Ophile. He has some splendid old books here. know collectors Nrho would give their weight in gold for one or two of these"
 I'll tell my master what you say" Ob- served Mr BOffin, haughtily. T am sure he will be gratified by your recom- mendations, young mar" ''Ah. well. in spite of your SarcaSmS," said the other. DOt in the least put out or abashed T do happen to know a good deal about articles of yirtu, and there are many good judges who set store by my opinion, 1 can tell you"
 'HO! indeed, young man?' was Mir Boffin's comment.
 And now" said he of the notebook, as soon as the inventory of the library a rather lengthy proceeding-was com plete. We had better finish off the rest of the ground floor before going up stairs. Will you show the way"
 Very well, young man. But do this same under protest, and that's the can did fack'
 The inventory of the kitchen, pantries and other servants offices was soon completed. That of the cellar was a longer process. Some of the wines were of fine brand and of great age and value, and the annotator was careful to jOt these down accurately. They then went upstairs and worked off the bed rooms-fOllOWed by the inqusitive eyes of Hannah, tbe head housemaid, to whom the character of the visitors had not been communicated and who was very curious 10 learn what was in the wind. Nor should this have been diff ticult, for although the annotatOr him self was of no distinctive cut, the air, appearance and manner of his under ling simply gave him away. 4 more typical haliilf never tr0d in shoe leather.
 When the inventory was at length fin ished it was nearly 2 o'clock. The young mau shr- up his notebook with snap and thrust it into his breast pocket. He then said to Mr. Boffin, civilly-and indeed throughout he had | evidently tried to discharge his unpleas- ant duty with as little Offense as poSSi- l ble:
 T must be off now Of course. I shall l have 10 leave my man here in posses sion Very sorry. But it is what I am fOrced to dO Just a word in private" | drawing Mir. BOfin aside Make him l comfortable and treat him decently and | you'll find him a most civil and Obliging l fellow"
 If he is auythink else he won't find 1 it go down with me, ," replied Mr. Boffin, with dignity.
 Nc. perhaps not. But it's always 1 wise policy to be on good terms with a man in. I can assure you. Our friend | is used to genteel company. That is why I have brought him here. Good night"
 Good night young man." said MT. Boffin. rather notified by his conclud- ing speech.
 ''NOw. then my good feller," he re- marked. turning to the bow-legged bailif. after duly shutting and locking the outside door should say as the serva nts all, with the hunder-servants. is about your fit-eh?"
 Anywhere for me. guy'nor I'm no ways perti kler." answered the man. with q befttjng humility, which still further mOllided the butler.
 They'll be having their supper now" continued Mir. Boffin. You had better join them q once.
 Thank 'ee. guynor. could do bit of vittles' answered the bailiff. This inventory business makes bloke peck ish''
 II can't say that it has had that effect on me" was Mir Bohins answer. II feel as if should never enjoy my food again
 An. you amt used 10 this sort of thing. guvnor, and so it upsets yer.' said the bailiff, with d sympathetic shake of his head.
 No. my man l am not used to it.' answered Ar. Bofiin. And the dis grace of t has nearly settled me"
 "Disgrace"' cjaculated bowlegs. Well. now-thati is funny way to look at it Lord love yer, l was ill at hearlS only last week and at a docks