The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-01-05

"He told me shortly It .oas none of mi
business"
then all the members have sent you con.
tributions, SO perhaps that accounts fol
it. By the way, have you seen Gibbertt
lately?'
"No. Why do you ask?'
"Well, tt strikes me he is acting
rather queerly lately. Hyou ask me,
don't think he is quite sane. He hal
something OH his mind. 1"
HE told me, said the new member,
with some hesitation, "but really ]
don't think I'm justified in mentioning
ii, though be did not tell it in conf,
dence, that he was the rightful heir tx
property in''-
"Oh, we all know that etory!" cried
the club unanimously.
II think it's the club whisky" said
one Of the Oldest members. II say it'll
the worst in London"
"vezbal complaints not received.
Write to the committee" put in John.
son.
"If Gibberts had a friend in the club,
which doubt, that friend should lool
after him. ! believe he will commit
suicide yet"
These sayings troubled Shorely as he
walked back to his Office. He sat down
and wrote letter asking Gibberts tc
call. As he was writing, McOabe, the
business manager Of The Sponge, came
in.
whats the matter with the old
sheet this week." he asked.
Natter I don't understand you"
IT have just sent an order to the
printer to run off AN extra 10000, and
here comes in a demand from Smiths
for the whole blooming lot. The extrs
10000 were to go to different news
agents who have sent repeat orders, SC
have told the printers now to run of
at least %, 600 and keep the plates Oh
the press. never read The Sponge my.
self, so I thought I would drop in and
ask you what tho attraction is. This
rush is unnatural"
Better read the paper and find out, u
said Shorely, who had the usual edito-
rial contempt for tho business manage
ment.
II would il there were not go much
of your stuff in IL, >, ire Grted MoCabe,
who had a fixed BELIEF that were it not
for the expensive and useless luxury Of
an editor paper might pay.
Next day MoCabe reported Devil.
dering increase In orders. He had ju
bilant Twelve done it at LAST air thai
exasperated Shorely, who felt that he
alone should have the credit. There
had come no answer to the note he hac
sent Gibberts, 80 he went to the club il
the hope Of meeting him. He found
johnson and asked him if Gibberts haG
been seen there that day.
"No," said johnson, "but I saw him
yesterday, and what do you think he
was doing? He was in gunshop on the
Strand buying cartridges for that vii.
famous looking seven shooter Of his.
asked him what he was going to dc
with a revolver in London, and he told
me shortly it was none Of my business,
which struck me as 80 accurate a sum.
ming up of the situation that came
away without making further remark.
II 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 begiu-
ming to believe that the novelist medi.
tated some wild action which might
involve others in a disagreeable compli-
cation. Shorely had no desire to be ao-
cessory either before On after the fact.
He hurried back to the Office and there
found Gibberts' bslated 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 have so many affairs to settle
thet Ii Is impossible for mo to call upon you.
However, have no fears. shall stand to my
bargain without any goading from you. Only
few days have elapsed since the publication
Of the story and did not promise the tragedy
before the week was out. I leave for Channor
Chase this afternoon. You shall have your
pound Of flesh and more. Yours,
BROMLEY drBBERTs.
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. 49,"
Once there, he sprang up the steps
two at time and knocked at Gibberts'
dour. The novelist allowed himself the
luxury Of man." and it$Nas the
Imam" who answered Shoroly's impe-
rious knock.
"Where's Gibberts?"
"He's just gone, sir, in q hanson.
"Gone where?"
"To Euston station, I believe, sir.
He's going into the country for week,
and l 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"
"Shorely saw 1t was open at @, and
looking down tho 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 in
90 minutes?"
The cabman shook his head as he said:
"I'll do my best, sir, but we ought
to have a good half hour"
The driver did his best and landed
Shorely on the departure platform two
after the train had left.
"When's tho next train to Channor?"
demanded Shorely Of porter.
Just gone, sir"
1.-THE next train isn't gone, you fool.