Mower County transcript., 1902-09-17

All that you tell me: is very inter
testing kes q page from one Of
Montepin's novels. should very
much like to see this document of
which you speak, z and he leaned
loYer the table, his face all eager
ness, while Job, at that@moment,
seemed suddenly overcome with a
cough, that caused him to turn his
head. After he had settled the.
paroxysm he turned around, facing
the banker, and said, pleasantly:
s"And SO you shall-so you shall. Of
course, q have no reason to make a
demand on you unless I have the
papers to back my statement up -
Ellison's eyes frightened, for, look
| ing past his visitors head, he saw
Ia door open a few inches at the fur
ther end of the room, and part Of a
face appear. He made some signs,
and, while Job was fumbling in the
pockets Of his vest, a man entered
noiselessly and stepped behind the
curtains OF a closet, against which
the table was placed where the two
! were seated: =. ~.
Ellison, keeping his eyes steadily
fixed on the little man, saw that he
was still trying to get at the paper,
which he had evidently concealed
with extraordinary precautions.
He finally extracted what he was
looking for, and, opening the docu-
ment,. which seemed to be old and
time-stained, stood, up, and leaning
over the, table, opened it, holding it
in one hand, while with the other,
extended, he seemed to.be guarding
his possession. S5y s., - -
Here is the document in the
case" he said; "you may leok, but
you mustn't TOUCH" waving Ellison
back. See and read; there is no
reason why you should take it in
your hands," ..
Ellison read the paper over, which,
from the signatures and the word
ing, left no doubt Of it's genuineness.
He. sat back in his chair, and
sighed, saying, after. a pause:
eyes, there is no doubt that you
hold me in the hollow of your hand
with the document that I signed
with Martin Frale nearly II years
ago.. Come closer and listen. I want
you to hear something that perhaps
should be whispered, for a hotel is
all ears, as one might say"
Job leaned forward to hear what
this revelation was, leaving the
precious document ON the table. He
had hardly moved when hand
reached out from behind, the portiere
I over the closet, took the paper quick
ly, substituting another in it's place,
and then a man emerged from his
hiding, and slipped out of the room
without being heard by the others,
deep in whispered conversation. It
! was only after he had gone that El-
lison suddenly rose, and, changing
the calm tone in which he had been
speaking, brought his fist down on
the table with a bang. II.
cts no use, Mr.. What's-your-name,
your attempting to bully me. I
don't believe in the existence Of the
copy of the agreement"
| ''But you saw it before your eyes?"
~."I never saw anything of the kind"
II laid it out before you. Here it
is" and, reaching over, he picked up
the paper that had been placed
there and opened it, while Ellison
seemed to enjoy his surprise.
''That terrifying document! Where
is it?:" he exclaimed, displaying q
wild hilarity as Job opened the pa
per he had picked up and showed
that it was blank.
"Now, them" harshly, what do
you mean to do, you scoundrel? You
threaten me with your pieces of
blank paper.
Job had retreated to the door. BE
showed evidences of fear at the
others vehemence.3 III ,s.-.,.
||~~s>"It was not a blank piece of paper
that / showed you, Mr.. Ellison; it
was merely q copy of the original,
which your confederate gathered in,
and which he is privileged to keep!"-
and then, with q laugh, he opened
the door quickly and went out. ~, ~