New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-19

hand drawer by the fireplace Bring Mr..
Rogers down his ten pounds and let him go
Wen not compromise justice OF the peace ~
we can help it."
IF you put it that I'm afraid. LYDIA
Mr. Rogers began. and added. ingenuousiy'
The fact is. I wanted a word with you alone
"Oh you scandalous mani And me tucked
between the sheetsr' she protested while the
company haw-haw'd with laughter. You'll havs
to put up with more innocent amusement. my
dear There's a badger somewhere round at the
back in barrel: Wen have him in with the dogs
If you wish-unless you prefer a quiet round
with the cards.
"Oh. d-n the badger at this hour swors
Mr. Rogers. Cards let it be. IL we Lust piay
the fool; they're quiet. at any rate Here. Raby
-Penrose-Treg askis-which OF you'n cut IN
En-, Whitmore? You'll take hand. won't your
1 heard Mr. Whitmores voice for the first
time. He was politely excusIng himself
The Parsons tired tonight. and with better
excuse than you Hes ridden down from
Plymouth"
.Hullo. whitmore-what were you doing in
Plymouth
Mr. whitrore ignored the question. I'm
ready for hand. Miss Beleher.'' he announced.
quietly: "onIy let IT be something quiet-a rub
Der for choice"
Half guinea points, asked somebody.
Eyes, if you will
heard them settle to cards. and for a while
their voices sank to a murmur- Now and again
a few coins clinked and OF the guests
yawned audibly.
You're as melancholy gib-cats." announced
Miss BeIcher '"The next man that yawns III
send him out to fetch in that badger. Here. tell
us story. somebody"
IT heard the beginning Of queer one" said
Mr.. whitmore. in his deliberate voice; "the
foIHs were discussing it at Torpoint Ferry as i
crossed. 1t seems there's been murder at
Plymouth, either last night OF this morning
"a murder? Who's the victim?'
"An old Jew. living on the Barbican or there
abouts. Let me see-my deal. Is. it norf'
What's his name?"
His name? d" Mr.. whitmore seemed TO bs
| considering wait moment. OF shall mis-
| DEAL After a pause he said "A Spanish
sounding one-Rodrfguez I think: yes. Rod
riguez. They were ali full OF 1t at the ferry"
What. old Ike Rodriguez? The man who
was down in these parts buying up guineas the
| other day?' exclaimed Mr.. Rogers.
WAS hep asked Mr.. Whitmore. carelessly.
| why. hang 1t all. whitmore," said a guest:
| you know he was. More. by token. I pointed
him out to you myself on Looe Hill"
Was that the MANI
"Of course 1t was Don't you remember adj
rniring his face. 1t put you in mind OF Caiaphas
| those were your very words, and at the mo-
| nent I didn't clearly recollect who Caiapnas
| was 1t can't be three weeks since"
Three weeks less two days. said Miss
| Belcher: 'afor he called here and bought fifteen
| off me-said he'd just come from doing business
| with Jack, here; so. the strength OF his deal
| ing with other nobility and gentry. traded and
| he gave me twenty-four shi1ings ard sixpence
apiece for all but one which he swore was light
Wanted that one cheap. but L kept IT back
| Who's murdered him."
There was talk Of boy" said Mr.. Whit
| more. still very deliberately. AT least, boy
| was missing who had been seen in the house just
J previously or so gathered, and that they We're
| watching the ferries for him But nobody
seemed very clear about il. Why. surely. Ros-
ers that's a revoke
"a revoke?' stamInered Mr. Rogers so II
| isl beg your pardon. Tregaskis-but, d--n
the cards. I'm too sleepy to tell suit from
another"
THAT makes our game then. and the rubber
Rub and rub-shau we play the conqueror2
| No? AS you please. then How do we stand%'
I'VE owe three guineas on points" growled "A
voice which. to judge by it's sullOineSs. belonged
| to Mr.. Tregaskis.
'.As good as a gift with the cards you held.
said Mr.. whitmore. and thought heard the
coins Jingle in his hand, when from the shrub
| berry TO my left. where the gravel sweep mar
| Being town bred and unused to owls. shrank
/ closer against my mock orange bush; nay, as you
| may suppose. T in q state Of mind which
| needed less than an owls boot to scare me.
''HuIlo. Whitmore-you've dropped some %
your winnings. Here IT is by TIE table les-a
guinea. Take twenty-four shilling for il. now
that old Rodriguez is gomez
ct beg your pardon" Mr. Whitnore thanked
| the speaker. and the coin was restored TO him
It's close here as Mr. Rogers says. and think
I'll step out for a mouthful Of fresh air
| Phe-ewr' he drew long breath as he appeared
at the window; cit can't be long now before the
| dawn"
He stroIed carelessly out beneath the veran~
da, and stood for moment by one Of its Pill
lars And at that moment the owls cry sounded
again but more softly. from the shrubbery on
nv left I knew. then that IL came from no true
owl With a swift glance back into the room
Mr. Whitmore stepped out upon the gravel and
followed it, almost brushing the mock oranss
bush as he passed
ITO be contfnued)