Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-18

day, so see that everything is in readi-
ness for his coming. He is bringing
two friends, and his letter seems to in
dicate that they, too, are men OF posi-
tion."
A stony silence ensued during the
remainder Of the meal, after which
Boulter pompously sailed forth to re-
arrange the portraits in oils that hung
in the hall, for he had large house
and believed in doing things in style.
Without exception these had all been
under the aucrfoneer's hammer, but it
was Boulters idea to hang them in
chronological order and give to each
some little bit of family history.
In the other departments OF the
Boulter establishment things progressed
on proportionate scale; the family
plate" for which Boulter had paid be-
tween two and three hundred pounds.
was brought out from boxes and chests
and put in such a condition as would
beft its meeting with an Earl.
The eventful day grew quickly near.
and Boulter's spirits rose accordingly.
1t had occurred to the schemer that
perhaps one day would be hardly suff1-
Client to enable the noble Earl to make
proper advances to his daughter-by-
the-by, the thought had never struck
him that the titled dignitary might be
q married man-so he had determined,
provided the visitor fulfilled his ex-
pectations, to persuade him to proiong
his visit.
A sumptuous dinner was in progress.
weight of the viands and blazed with
the magnifcence of the costly plate
and other valuable appurtenances of
the feast. The Earl and his two
friends had proved most charming and
affable companions, the former regal
ing the delighted Boulter with glowing
descriptions Of the ancestral domain.
displaying at the same time the most
familiar knowledge of his fellow -aristo.
Gratis and their doings. But all thoughts
unconsciously gave way to the great
pageant they had that day witnessed
the coronation procession.
"Magnificentw muttered Boulter, Wig
orously setting to work on the contents
Of his plate.
"Ahem! decidedly grand, Boulter,
old fellow"
They were quite on familiar terms
already, "as they should be-" Boulter
thought.
And SO events progressed; the process.
sion was discussed and suggestions
made and all agreed for the hundredth
time that 1t was the finest thing of
its kind they had ever seen until Mrs.
Boulter displayed decided inclination
to lapse into the arms of Morpheus,
when an adjournment was made,
Miss Bessie shortly afterward being
engaged in playing the accompaniment
to a song which the Earl had been
pressed to sing. The invitation to stay
day or so, despite strict laws of eti-
Quette, had been warmly received
The full glory of 2 o'clock moon
was stealing through the blinds, cast
ing beams Of radiant light across the
drawlng-room, when a silent figure en-
tered, bag in hand. A second later he
was Joined by another.
rs that you, Charlie?" inquired the
a4ft , ~. :. ,,.' ..'A-,.'e-., :. :, !, ~, -, 49,,
DQrtm6orfp, r'rs''Fps".,,
"You'll Soon be there IL you two
don't shut Up yE5tr cohfounded row."
muttered third as he stole into the
room with his boots in his hands.
"Well," chuckled the Earl, softly,
"if this isn't the biggest bit Of luck
I've ever had in my natural, don't
know what Is. Here that bowling ass
of Boulter swallows my yarn about
Earldom, treats us as if We We're lords,
and then places this opportunity in our
way Of helping ourselves to his valu-
ables. AS If any Johnnie couldn't get
the die Of a coronet made and have a
few quires Of notepaper stamped with
it! Oh this is sport" and my Lord
buried his face in his hands. while his
sides shool, with suppressed laughter.
Come on, Charlie; It's entirely your
suggestion that we should take away
little of that silver, so I suppose we
had better begin collecting it. eh?"
"Of course-of course; I, for one,
never thought the acceptance of Boul-
ter's invitation would result in more
than three free seats for viewing the
procession, but since I've been obliged
to give up my bank-clerking it would
be very silly IL wasted chance of
raising myself in the social scale by the
acquisition of this worlds goods"
Evidently this logic met with unani.
nous approval, for within the hour
quite nice lot Of property had been
slowed away in three innocent-looking
Gladstones and three equally innocent
looking gentlemen were ready to start
from Boulter's.
81 think we'd better wait a bit longer,
Charlie; 1t might look fishy IL three Of
us We're seen leaving before It's fairly
light. The back door leads out into
an alley running into Seymour street.
Jeffs can 60 by that, you and by the
front. I've got the key"
In the dull light of an October morn
ing the noble Earl and his companion