The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-07-27

per: Lamont TINT man.
'Goodncss, Mr. Marcel. what's thu
matter? lamont Why, hr'f
gone came down here an hour ago.
woke mc and gave me weeks money
instead Of notice, and left the house
without another word"
A month had passed-a terrible
month that lived through In alternate
fits of madness and spells Of dumb
stupor. One day / would tramp the
streets with eyes strained for a sight
~ the man who had ruined my life:
the next J would sit huddlrd over that
empty bench seeing no one. speaking
10 NO one. Al times there would come
that soft tap at the door, and Nctta's
whisper that she had something to tell
me. then her father would call mr
from thu stairs, but ! never answered
rith"r-my interest In life was sus.
pended.
4 month; md then, one ncyCr.to-be-
forgotten evening, n still stranger thing
happened Sitting there 50, heard
heavy footsteps outside, and next
pcrcwptory knock. Before ! could stir,
two men had walked IN. ! know that
then ] spraug mp with choke ~ In
credulnus passion. One man was
stranger to me; the other Lamont,
haggard hint smiling Lamont! he
had folded his arms; he could speak
coolly. Nnrcringly.
so you think ! made pU with your
precious invention, Mr. Marcel Stand
still walt! ! might have dome
should have been justified. considering
that II was you who robbed me ~ the
one woman I'm ever likely 90 love ur
want. No matter! Shall tell you why
went from this house as did? Can
you believe mc?"
Speak ! could not. The very world
seemed to have stopped turning.
II wanted NCtta-aHd you were too
blind and busy to see Il. Her fnthcr
had said 'Ncttn's husband must have
500 Of his own. She will never mar
~ without my consent Very we'll:
for long enough sweatcd and starved
for that. own that lent you money
from time 20 time just 10 keep YOU
buried In what ! considered FOOLS
dream. ] knew she cared for you most.
II any man; but that YOU would never
think of q wife while your problem re-.
manned a problem. That night, sir.
when You told me you had solved IL,
knew the crisis had come for both.
iorestalled you. ] went straight 20
baldwin. got leave to speak 10 Meta
she refused me point-blank. There
were high words. offered TO buy the
house and make II over to her: but nc.
Finally she locked herself in the kitch-
en-. haven't your british phlegm; in
1T of chagrin told baldwin I should
pack my box and 10 hack 10 France
the next morning he might let her
think ! had committed suicide
thing he liked. kept to that: left
the house as soon ne daylight came.
But you have accused me; II shall I've
thIashed out. This gentleman will see
TO that"
The other man cleared his throat.
Now ! saw that he had kept his back
against the door.
"Mr. Marcel, I'm detective. Rather
curious information was quietly
brought to us by Miss baldwin the day
following the theft. Your invention
had been stolen by man named Pierre
Lamont. and you were too Frustrated
yourself TO take any sensible steps. We
we're TO get back the article intact with
out making an arrest, u possible, and
she would settle expenses and"
"Mlss---llaldwinl" / whispered,
hand TO my heaylng brain. What were
they saying? Meta Meta had done
this for me. while I had sss stup:tiy
crushed and inactive!
&" Ssh Miss Baldwin the young lady
who let Us In iust now. ! was told OF.
went TO work, and ran across my man
here three weeks ago he had rot gone
so far. after ell. He told me something
that put me on another scent altogeth-
or You'll be rather surprised, II moth.
ing more. II stood 90 reason that the
thief, IL he meant business, would never
attempt to patent the affair here, or In
his own name either. l made inquiries,
and yesterday. SURE enough. word came
TO hand that shady agent, wcll known
to Che police, was forming syndicate
ia Berlin 10 put your clock exclusively
on the market there. keeping himself
well In the background In London. !
shadowed him for just two hours, and
then saw him In confab with the man
we warted--the mnn who. az Il Hap
psned. Lamont here saw creeping down
this staircase ut five a. IN. on the day
az the theft--wiih your invention un-
der his arm. no doubt. Lamont thought
little 81 II. but there's no doubt ihe
thief had his notion as TO where the
blame would be sure to liz next morn
ing. Nnwi- He Iowercdhis voice note.
''Ev--Ax. Marcel. "A h. rather uBfar-
tunAte that the man who stale your