The record-union., 1897-02-28
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toward the town.
A full week passed before Colonel
Walton sought his companions again,
and then he stood and beamed upon
the pair, who eyed him somewhat dis
ccnsolately.
''Well, dear boys" he said in a voice
overfowing with geniality, "a whole
weeks thinking, and what have We
done? Now, then, one at a time.
What's your idea, Ned, about those
keys?"
My idea is that it can't be DONE"
the man growled in reply, "and We
might just as we'll get out of it at
once"
"Ah, 1 anticipated it, the Colonel
replied, vaguely addressing the uni
verse; they leave all the work to me,
OF course" He shook his head sol
emnly and settled down between them.
I've been to London, dear boys" he
remarked, after a moments contem-
plation of his patents; been to Lon
don and spent fifteen guineas on
present for lady"
Hum, that's the attraction, then.
That is why we are all fooling about
round here"
"Ah, it's beautiful present"
"Oh. confound the present. Why
don't you talk business instead of run
ming after petticoats ?"
Its too warm for business, dear
boys, and she is such a charming
woman. How beautiful she blushed
when 1 gave it to her. Thank good
ness, we have not reached the age
when a pretty woman has forgotten
how to blush; it is so wonderfully at
tractive"
The two men simply gasped with i'm
patience, but the Colonel imperturba-
bly, continued: "a pale-blue Russian
leather casket, lined with white satin,
containing half a dozen cut-glass bot
ties of perfume, and locked with a tiny
gold key. What a delightful present
for a lady, and all simply for the
sake of friendship, my boys, to the wife
Of my dear friend CASTOR"
The others, who scarcely had gone
to the pains of concealing their impa-
tient annoyance, became suddenly In
terested as they noted the twinkle in
premeditated persistence, "a gold fill
gree key"
Now, then, Colonel, no bluff; what's
the game?'
"a gold fligree key" the Colonel
sighed ref1ectively, 80 sweet an ex-
ample of the metal-worker's art that
for safety the lady asked her husband
to place it on his ring, where it rubs
it's aristocratic shoulders with the keys
of the strong room and the safes"
For moment the Colonel's two COM
paniOns watched him closely, and then
the twinkle in his eye became contagi-
Gus, and they chuckled in chorus
Colonel, Colonel, no wonder they are
looking for you over the water"
Colonel Henry Walton had had his
little joke and was satisfied. He sud
denly became alert and business like.
What do you think of this, boys?"
he asked taking a sheet of paper from
his pocket and holding it before them.
Headed paper signed by the Chairman
and manager of the bank. The bell
will sound such and such time
auditors going through the books, etc,
ETC. Signed, Joseph Beverley, Chair
needed a deal of care to manage this.
Old Beverley wrote his name. put down
the pen, and said it was a pretty idea
but 1 had a presentiment Slater would
go a bit wrong, SO l remarked as he
took the pen that 1 thought that it
would suit his slapdash S, and kind
OF put in his head what to write
very smart"
Yes: but l had to cut my finger to
stop him at the right moment, or /
swear he'd have started senbbling.
The Colonel gazed reflectively at his
forefnger, bound round with court
plaster, and his companions grinned
with delight at his story.
Now, then, boys, you know every
thing have permission to introduce
my two friends at Gaston's tonight, so
we will just look in at your hotel and
make ourselves respectable. You'd bet
ter bring one or two bits of wax, one
never knows but what those little things
may not be useful, and don't forget the
KEY of the strong room is the largest,
and the safes the two smallest, on the
bunch'
The three men strolled through the
town to the hotel and then towards the
bank
For moment, as they crossed the
threshold the Colonel face clouded over
gravely, and he whispered: Fail to-
night, and all is over; but the shadow
instantly passed as he enthusiastically
shook the managers hand and presented
his friends.
AS they entered the drawing room,
Colonel Walton, in the first glance round
observed that his present to the mana
gers wife stood upon the little inlaid
cabinet in the corner.
An hour was passed in conventional
English conversation, and then CASTOR
Slater, with an apology to his new
guests. suggested to the Colonel that
they might have just one game if his
friends would excuse him and entertain
the ladies.
Colonel Walton protested that his
companions We're quite aware of his