The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-11-14

L~ambsworthy, who shuddered at the
bare idea, thanked him, and sailed
forth to see if he could arrange.
He came back and told us he had
settled.
But" he said, "do you know I'm
nervous! What Seymour said is true,
and it might happen that the same
kind of thing occurred there! What
should / do if there were a robbery
there, too? Why, l should be taken
up; l am certain l should"
Sure thing!' said Seymour, explod-
ing afresh. Console yourself by re-
%membering that condolences like that
don't happen"
He was very amiable to Lambs
worthy that evening, pressing him to
try his tobacco after supper and shak-
ing hands with him warmly when they
said Goodnight" He, however, did
not want to go to bed after the others
departure; he said he should sit up and
smoke, and begged me to do likewise.
tits quite early" he said, mot IL.
Sit up with me, and we'll turn in, If
you want to, as soon as I've finished
this pipe"
1 consented. AS a matter of fact, he
had never been better company, and l
was just laughing heartily at a story
he was telling me, when
Good h%eavens!" 1 exclaimed, turn
ing pale, sit can't be Lambsworthy has
come back again tonight? Who is
it?"
Better open the door and see," re-
piled Seymour, philosophically.
1t was being beaten wildly as / bolt
ed into the passage. Another instant
and my worst fears were verified.
Lambsworthy stood before me with
chattering teeth, the portmanteau-the
accursed portmanteau-by his side.
Mot"
"Burglars?" he gasped. eyes! For
the Lords sake, give me some whiskey,
old man; I'm feeling ILL"
He followed me into the sitting-room
and fell into a chair.
"It's the same thing" he muttered,
"just the same thing. The house had
been broken into when l got there, and
no clue-no clue. The man showed me
the room. Everything scattered and
upside down. Seymour, l shall go
mad!"
He seemed in measurable distance of
it-even Seymour was concerned. 1t
certainly seemed like fatality. Wher-
ever the poor fellow went there was a
burglary; his nam would be on the
tongues of all Wicketsfield directly.
There was never anything known like
it.
We gave him whiskey and more
whiskey, and after that whiskey again.
Whether he slept when we left him at
last on the couch l do not know, but
his face was as white as a sheet in the
morning, and when Mr.. and Mrs. Car
donnel called with their daughter they
were aghast at his appearance.
1T is perfectly extraordinary" ex-
claimed Norah, "and as to the police,
who can allow such things" Words
failed her to express her contempt for
the stupidity of the police.
81 tell you what" said Mr.. Carbon
mel, 81 should go to the station myself
if 1 were you'll will go with you. Con-
found it all. Something must be done,
and without delay"
1 noticed in a moment Seymour was
almost as pale as Lambsworthy: I was
even prepared to hear him offer an
objection.
ar
Il should not do that, sir, Tiff l may
presume to advise" he said. 81 should
wait a day or two
and why, sir demanded Mr.. Car
donnel, peremptorily; why should we
wait an hour?"
YES" echoed Norah, haughtily
why should we wait five minutes. Mr.
SEYMOUR"
I'VE will go now" cried Stephen; 81
thank you for the suggestion. We will
go at once, and l will see the inspector
myself"
Seymour sat playing n~ervously with
an ash tray on the table. He seemed
to be trying to speak, and to have lost
his voice. At last he said jerkily, anc
with an attempt to laugh:
ITO tell you the truth, everybody
you are spelling a practical joke Of
mine. Lambsworthy was so very con.
cerned at the first burglary that
thought how extremely funny it would
be If the same thing occurred in the
next house he tried. The landlord i.
my tobacconist, and-well, there wasn'
a burglary last night at all; it was iusr
arranged between us for a lark!-er-
that's ALL"
If l live to be a hundred | shall neve,
forget Miss ~CardonnePs look of con.
tempt as he finished speaking; and
don't think Seymour will forget i
either. Her papa's violent opinion O
practical jokes and jokers paled init
insignificance beside it, and Lambs
worthy's good-natured assurance tina
mo harm was done" fell perfectly un.
needed in the room.
Yes; Norah became Mrs. Stepher
Lambsworthy, and refused to inyit,
Seymour to the wedding. Whether af
fairs would have ended like that il
the ordinary course, l don't know: bu-
that is how they did end, and Seymour
at least, has always been convinced