Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-05
Continued.

who was on the other side OF MIN,
drew his chair, as if inadvertently,
near enough to hear their conversa-
ton, which was carried on in a sub
dued tore.
DR. ManVille will only recommend
you to come back again to country
air, and to take as much of it as you
can" suggested Armathwaite.
Il think you don't quite understand
my case" lisped out Sydney in a
languid tone, but with an obstinate
expression on his unhealthy, suet-
colored face. Il suffer from the nerves;
any shock upsets me; and | have had
a great shock"
"Indeed!'
yes. You must know, DR.. Anna
thwaite, that | always carry about
with me wherever | go an ebony and
pearl dressing case with silver-gilt
fittings, which | had made for me
exactly on the model of one the
Warehouses of Stourbridge had given
to her by her father on her wedding
day. Well, in the little drawer at the
bottom | generally keep some money
not much, but couple of hundred
pounds or so, partly in gold and partly
in silver. And in the trays and other
compartments | keep my watches and
few articles of jeWel.y. | always
put back at night whatever l have
been wearing during the day, and as |
do so, ! sometimes look over the other
things to see that they are all right.
Well, last night"
Don't you think everybody has by
this time heard enough of that story
of yOurs?'' interrupted a harsh voice
behind him. For in his excitement
Sydney had turned his back upon the
rest of the company, and was hanging
on to the chair of the first listener
who had shown deep and unmistak-
able interest in his misfortune. The
sufferer jumped up as if ne had been
stabbed in the back
L think, Mr.. C-osmont, that that is
my own affair And if you really
believe, as you seem to imply, that my
story 5 not true, / can soon settle that
by going to Lord Kildonan and asking
him to let me put the thing into the
hands Of the police"
Either Of malicious purpose or
through loss of self-control, Sydney
had raised his voice so that its high
eneminate tones carried his words
from end to end of the room; and
Lord KiidOnan, who was in the midst
OF an argument about rare editions.
hearing his name mentioned stopped
IN his talk. Crosmont's dark face as
sumed in a moment a livid hue. and
it was with an effort which caused
the muscles of his mouth and eyes to
tWitCh in cOnyulsive hideOusness that
he bust into a constrained laugh, and
slapping Sydney on the shoulder with
familiarity which the latter strongly
resented, told him that he was too
touchy, that he mustn't take offence at
joke, then lie added quickly in a
much lower tone, while his eyes
seemed to pierce right into the lads
shallow brain:
you could never commit an act so
unworthy of gentleman as that
He had struck the right chord. The
word gentleman" was a fetch to the
heir of the advertisement contractor.
Sydney gave him a faint and sickly
smile Of condescending truce, and was
about to resume his talk with Anna
thwaite when the agent again inter
rupted him.
You haven't told me all the details
of the affair yet, Sidney. Seriousley,
| think, knowing this place as we'll as
| do, | might be able to find a clue to
the disappearance of the things, if any
body could"
At this moment Crosmont caught
the eyes of the young doctor fixed
upon him with great intentness. Sid
ney, offended at hea: ing his Christian
name from the lips of the rough-man-
nered man he disliked, shrugged his
shoulders and said languidly:
You have heard all the details al
ready, and | don't really see why you
should be able to find out any more
about il than DR.. Armathwaite can.
Don't YOU agree with me?" and he
turned to his other neighbor.
Wei, yes" answered the doctor.
Il agree that Mr.. Crosmont, having
heard the details, knows much more
about the affair than l do. And | also
agree that by hearing them l shall find
out a great deal that l don't know
now"
perhaps you have a special faculty
for discovering mares nests?" said
Crosmont crudely, choosing to take as
an offence speech which Anna
thwaite had uttered in a pc. fectly con
ciliatory manner.
I have not yet had experience
enough in hunting for them to know"
Wei, you won't be long in getting
it at the rate you are going" said the
agent III the same tone
Armathwaite, who was exceedingly
anxious, for Alma's sake, not to be
led into a quarrel with her morose
husband, affected not to catch these
last words, and again begged Sidney
Mason to let him hear the promised
story.
Il Was telling YOU" began the young
fellow at once, that I keep some
money always by me in my dressing
case. And the key l keep on a steel
ring with some others, which | always
leave in the left-hand breast-pocket
of little velvet morning coat you
may have seen me wea", garnet-col-
ored, and lined with silk CT the same
shade. | had it made from a pattern