The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1899-07-13

witness, Cnarlle.
.'All right" replied the latter.
Lets get brandy and soda on it.
don't feel like playing pool"
The invitation was declined by
Partington, who said he wanted the
exquisite pleasure of beating Teddy.
Brownfield retired to the cafe, and
the play went on uninterrupted.
II have little mystery myself" "
said Partington, as he sent a ball
whirling across the table. Let me
tell you about it. This morning,
when I was dressing, found this
bunch of keys in my trousers
pocket. Where they came from,
haven't the least idea."
Here he produced bunch Of keys
and handed them to his companion.
"Do you know whose they are?"
he asked.
Biffles examined the keys careful
ly. There were three ordinary-look-
ing keys on silver ring; there was
nothing peculiar in the keys, but
there was in the ring. 1t was a
curiously cut, round piece of silver.
At one place it bulged out into the
head of a dragon, finely carved. The
rest of the ring was minutely chased, q,
and seemingly, there was no place
at which to slip the keys on to the
ring.
"Never saw it before" said Biffies !;
funny, isn't iG"
"Decidedly; where do you think it
could have come from?"
Must have gotten it at the dance, y
Biffles suggested.
Couldn't have" replied Parting
ton; "didn't wear these trousers at
the dance" "You see," he added,
as lie Strengthened up after making a
shot, Il went to the races yesterday,
came back, and went to tea at the
Cartoons; from there I went to my
room, about ten O'Clock. There [
took off these togs and got into array
for the dance. Just as 1 was leaving
my room I remembered / had not
taken my keys; I went back
to my room, got my keys out
of one of the pockets of this
pair of trousers and put them into
my overcoat pocket. They were
there when I came back from the
dance last night, and, of course, L
found them there this morning. But
this bunch Ifound in the left-hand
pocket of these trousers. Now,
where did they come from-if you
can tell?"
Must have got them at the Carl
ton's," suggested Biffles.
mo. I am sure I did not" Par
tington replied.
They were very much mystified.
The puzzle seemed to have no solu-
ton. A crowd of clubmen came over
from the other tables, and the story
was repeated to each, and the keys
handed around, but no one had ever
seen them before, and no one could
offer a probable explanation.
mighty peculiar" sneered a
young man, named Denny. IF l
were Partington I wouldn't tell it
around so much"
eff you were Partington, no one
would believe you," replied Biffles
in low voice; he had been standing
near to him.
That night Partington was walk
ing down the avenue on his way to
take the cars to the ferry. He was
going over to the Brooklyn shore to
see his fiancee, Miss Auburn, who
was at that time paying visit over
the river.
He had been engaged to Miss
Auburn for some time, and they
were very dear to each other. They
were entirely congenial, their
natures and tastes running in the
same line, and they had grown to be
each a part of the others life. The
best of understandings existed be-
tween them, bringing happiness to
each, and as both were people far
above the ordinary level. they had
every reason to expect that happiness
to last forever.
Partington was thinking Of all this
when he hoard step behind him:
us not this Mr.. Partington?" asked
a voice at his nv---and ha felt
touch upon his shoulder.
He turned and saw large man OF
a rather dignif1ed bearing.
"Yes, am he," Partington replied.
"Then arrest you in the name OF
the State, said the man, and open
ing his coat he drew out paper.
"On what charger" asked Parting
ton, completely surprised.
son the charge of grand larceny,
replied the detective-"here is the
warrant" and he read the paper to
him.
"Why, this is absurd" said Par
tington, when he concluded. ~
know nothing at all about it; these
people are friends of mine. l kno"
the Whitsons very WELL"
"Yes, we know you 60 there,' an
swered the man, with grin. "Come
now" he added, growing suddenly
stern, will you 60 to the statlot
quietly, or shall have to call hell
for you?"
"Oh, 1 will 60 with you to th'
station-house," replied Partington
"there is no harm in that
When they arrived before TN
| ,,auistrate PartinptOn was Searched