The Ravalli Republican., 1898-02-02
AN ACCOMpLICE.

I wus sitting in my consulting
room and wondering was young,
we'll qualified and not wanting in Il
nfodicum of confidence in my pro
fessional abilities, bat for the serv
ices Of my humble self, John Hard
man, NJ. D., there seemed to be no
demand at all in the great city.
My melancholy meditations were
cut short by the din Of my front
door bell, and presently gentleman
WIS ,1shered into my presence.
"Dr. Hardman, | bolieve?" said
the newcomer. ALLOW me to intro
drce myself. am Mr.. Thomas
Sharp Of Rose Villa. live in your
neighborhood. ~." @
After expressing my pleasure at
making his acquaintance inquired
if could be of any service to him.
you are q busy man, expect,
DOCTOR said ne and then paused,
while / mendaciously limited that
such indeed was the case. But pos
sibly you will DO able to find me a
little time in Il professional capac-
ity." ~"
informed him that Of course
could do SO.
WELL, X may tell you at once he
went on pleasantly, u am as sound
as bell myself, but wish to en-
gage your good services, for my
niece. She is young and inclined to
be delicate, | think, and wants q lit
tie toning up, and, as l happen to
know some particulars about you
and your career entirely to your
credit, am going to place her under
your care. =
Iput in a few hurried words ex-
pressive Of my pleasure in undertake
ing the charge and was going on to
make some inquiries as to my pa
TENTS health and manner Of life
but my voluble friend cut me short
"You are the only son OF tho late
John Hnrd1nan Of Rlankley hall, .
he interrupted Il used to know
your part Of the country, and know
that you are the only surviving
member of that good old Hardman
stock Never mind how l-came to
know it. also know that your ia
ther came to grief over the x
bank failure, and that it has been an
uphill game for you since in consc-
qdence. ann pleased to seehow well
you are now getting on. -
Mr. Sharp continued coramble on
in this strain for some time, giving
me little information about himself
but, to my astonishment, revealing
no little knowledge of my history
Our meeting terminated very cor
daily, and he departed after receiv
ing my acceptance Of a pressing in
vitatioa< TO dine With him at Eos't
Villa on the following evening
Rose Villa turned out to be very
charming and well appointed domi
ci1e. | had made q few Inquiries in
directly through Polly (polly wus
my srnart: 1ittlo parlor n..aid), and i
seemed: that MI. Sharp was gentle
man OF me..s.lls, with no ostensibl,
profession, who had been for abou
two years in his present abode Hi
niece, a young lady of taking ap
pearance, in Polly's opinion, wa
the only other member Of the house
hold, and they were not favored b.
many if any callers. So much 70
amateur detective work My earl
impressions of Rose Villa and Q
Grace Fairleigh, my lovely patient
were distinctly pleasing.
Mr.. Sharp made capital hos
He was CHEEKY and entertaining, an
Miss Fairleigh, a fair haired, blu
eyed, handsome girl, was as graclor
as she was beautiful She was a
accomplished musician, playing we
and singing with a voice that fc
tone and sweetness is rarely equale
lp suburban drawing room. The
gave me that pronounced luxury,
really good dinner, and I spent
most enjoyable evening afterward
Miss Fairleigh and I becam
friends almost at once. J. was, draw
toward her as much by her ha
yelled shyness and maidenly MAJ
ner as by her rich. beauty. Ths
which appealed to. my curiosity
connection with my visits to Rof