Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-08-14

She admired his dGtt handling 81 Il tire.
events (all except the Noah story,
which am not responsible for; the
monk wrote thaD, and as long as
stick rigldly to the truth don't see
how l can be found fault with. If l
were writing fiction would call the
young man Reginald Trevour instead
Of John A. Biggs. l don't see much TO-
nance about the name of Biggs myself,
although he was fine, stalwart young
fellow, deeply read in clippings stolen
from the American comic papers and
consequently possessing such vast
fund of information that it was an cdu-
cation in itself for any lady in the land
to talk with him. But the reader who
thinks everything is going smoothly
from now on is much mistaken. Neither
of the young people gave a thought to
the proud earl who paced the battle
ments with his chin in the air and who
was SO unliterary that he didn't even
take in q Sunday paper. The willy read
er who keeps his eye on that naughty
earl will run the best chance Of gaining
the guinea prize offered for solution
of the "Stobcross Mystery"
The two young people met often In
that leafy lane and talked most alb
sorbingly of-let us say of bicycles
and the component parts thereof. And
the arrogant earl kept his nose SO per-
pendicular that he saw nothing of
what was passing under his chin, as
one might remark. But was there
none to enlighten him? Reader, you
castle can be written without taking
account of the surly servitor-the me-
NAL whose forefathers have faithfully
shaved and spied for the baronial
house with which they have been con-
nected all through the centuries.
Peter Trevellicll, the Grabbed man of
all work about the castle, had sus-
picion of what was going forward, and
he stealthily watched the young pair.
For a long time he was bafiled, be-
cause he was 7G years old and no
sprinter on the cycle, and as most of
their conferences took place in the
aforementioned lcafy lane on their
wheels espionage was not without its
difficulties. Treyellick, the better to
further his sinister purpose, fawned on
the young man and pretended to be his
friend, actually winning his confidence.
All, youth, youth! When will you
learn discretion? Haven't you read
enough dime novels to know that
crawling servitors are ever to be dis
trusted?
AT last the young man gave Trevel-
lick a note to take to Lady Gwendolen.
1t was to be slipped into her hand
secretly, and Peter was to choose his
opportunity, which he promised to do.
John A. gave him shilling, which the
old man bit to test It's quality when
the donors back was turned. Then he
rubbed his withered hands some over
the other and chucliled, after the man
ner Of villains Oh the melodramatic
stage. lie steamed open the note
and read it. 1t was without address
or signature and ran as follows:
II have everything arranged, and
think there will be no fear of discov-
cry. If you can get away without Gre
ating suspicion, meet me in the old ar
Dor tonight at 0, and will tell you
ALL"
Resealing the letter, Treyellick hand
ed it to re lady and watched her fur
lively while she read. She was visibly
agitated by its contents, the color COM
ing and going on her fair cheeks.
Need ! state that when young Biggs