The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-25

and tradition. 1t IS strange no one nau
thought of a silverware exhibit before
Mr.. Smith proposed one, but nobody
had. and the idea was hailed with de-
light
Having proposed the plan, the very
least l can do said Mr.. Smith, lis to
offer for the exhibit the use of my
house and my service"
AS he owned many rare pieces of sill
verware himself, and the public at
large was curious to see the interior
of his new home, he was gratefully
thanked and the offer accepted.
! Two evenings the exhibit lasted and
all Circletown turned out The affair
was one of great social magnificence.
! Under nodding palms the silverware re-
posed upon rich velvets of ruby. green
and gold. Subdued lights flung their
rosy radiance upon cleaning statuary,
and soft strains of music throbbed
through a bower of ferns and lilies.
The host was irreproachable. With a
4 dignified and reserved, yet cordial well
| come, he put all at their ease, estab-
fishing for himself an enviabe reputa-
ton. Such social success had never
before been known in Circletown. The
real Mr.. Smith was having prece-
! dent established for him that he might
find difficulty in living up to.
AS was to be expected, Miss Lormer
was the object of Mr.. Smiths most
marked attentions. The town had rec
| ognized this, and the feminine portion
] of it was honestly endeavoring to ac-
cept the fact graciously.
NOW he will always live here" said
| the matrons, wisely nodding their
heads. IF he had not fallen in love
with one of our girls, he would prob
| ably grow weary of so small a place,
and return to Paris"
On the last evening of the exhibit,
Mr.. Smith escorted Miss Lormer to her
! home. In the little outside vestibule
he took a hesitating farewell of her.
Think the best you can of me al
ways" he said. although no man can
be all a good woman thinks he is, still
1 would have been all l seem to be,
had 1 always had the opportunities l
| have now"
Miss Lormer looked troubled and was
| about to speak impulsively when
slight cough was heard, and blushing
slightly, she said. Goodnight"
When Mr.. Smith returned home, he
| found the servants busily packing up
| the silverware under the stern super
| vision of the trustworthy Jenkinson.
Mr. Smith had expressed himself as
| disinclined to assume longer than was
| absolutely necessary, the responsibility
| of the borrowed heirlooms, and mad
made all arrangements for their return
| the next morning. 1t was very early
the next morning when Mr.. Smith
arose Indeed, it was still night. 1t
| was the day of the real owners ar
rival. and with his customary thought
| fulness of others, Mr.. Emley had decid-
| ed to leave But there were several
| small matters to be attended to first.
| All over the house he went upstairs
| and down, and not single sound did
he make. 1t was now that his great
| art showed itself. Bolts and bars open
ed like magic before the touch of his
| slender fingers, and after he had pass
| ed it was though an army of strange
| ants had been at work The walls and
| mantels, the cabinets, tables and floors
were bare and unsightly. He had taken
the precaution of having the silverware
| hacked in small boxes, but even so, he
found difficulty in loading it on the
cart he had driven out upon the lawn.
But at 8 o'clock the cart was hlled.
| Climbing into the high seat, and tax
ing, the reins, he turned back toward
the house and smiled.
ut is a very cold day, Jenkinson,
he said.
Then he clucked softly to the horse
and began his journey 1t was very
little journey. The horse had not taken
ten steps before some one stepped out
from the shadows and caught hold
| OF the DIlOle rem. NIL 1AillACS opA OAAo
to his feet, only to find himself looking
into the barrel of a revolver.
II beg your pardon" said soft
voice, but could l speak to you for
few moments?'
For the first time in his life Mr. En-
ley was stunned, helpless, at the mer-
| cy of his opponent The voice was that
of Miss Lormer.
eff YOU will get down from the cart,
she said, Il will put this gun away. 1
| am a very good shot," and she laughed,
but the thing makes me nervous"
"Who would have thought that you
were in the profession. too" Mr.. EN-
ley muttered in dazed tones as he me-
Chemically climbed down from the cart.
Miss Lormer laughed again, more
heartily than before, and it was then
he saw that she was not alone. A man
stood at the horses head. One of his
legs was bandanged and he leaned
heavily on a cane. He was tall good
looking young man, and he returned
Mr.. Emley's survey with great inter-
est. Noticing the exchange of glances,
Miss Lormer turned to Mr.. Finley,
slightly embarrassed.
"Allow me to introduce to you, Mr..
Smith, my fiance."
Mr.. Emley started and flushed.
Quickly recovering himself, however,
he bowed low to the stranger.
'I congratulate you, sir.
THANK you," murmured the real
Mr.. Smith.
YES" said Miss Lormer, reflective
ly, leaning her head on one side and
looking down at the revolver which
she held in one hand and patted with
the other; "you see met him in Paris
and we became engaged. / wanted
home here where l was born. so he
bought The Grange, and l picked out
the servants. That is why you weren't
known as an imposter at once! Mr.
Smith was coming here with me. but
had an accident. so ! extended my visit
in New York where 1 was waiting for
him. When l got here was rather sur
prised to see you, you know" (she
looked up with a twinkle in her eye)"
"but you were such a good actor /
hated to interfere. OF course. / had to
tell Frank, but he always let's me do
just as 1 please, and here we all are"
She smiled triumphantly, as though
having successfully gathered together
picnic party, and Mr.. Smith stood
leaning against the horse, evidently
much amused with the situation. 1t
was hard to realize that the gentle
manly Mr.. Emley was common
burglar, as, indeed, he was not.
land now that we are here what are
we going to do?" asked Mr.. Emley.
His voice had strange, unnatural