The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-07
Russell.)
Copyright, 1903, by Robert How.


house fire. with none of the charms OF
the soft-coal variety-and occasionally
glanced at her son and her niece. VINO
were playing cribbage. The glance
Mrs, sMacomber cast at her niece were
of NE fondIy speculative kin with
which every elderly woman nay be sup
posed to regard a finance.
Fifteen two, fifteen four, n a pair
six. Jack Macomber held an ivory
neg over the cribbage board and tried
10 extract a better count from his hand
will Harry Gilbert call for you TO-
night. Edith?' Mrs. Macomber asked.
ASK if the river will run by Forl
washington Point tonight, motner'
lack said seriously. Hope he'll return
INV rain-coat. He borrowed it today
when ne went collecting. Says 1t JOCKS
had for our senior partner 10 call for
twelve dollar a month rents. IN a dol
lar an hour cab
That doesn't seem 4 high order OF
law business, but I'm glad your firm Is
doing something" said Mrs. Macomber.
..Oh. they're Harry's W rents. Most
of his time is spent in writing notes on
very unbusiness like looking paper and
Jack looked innOcently at Edith, who
studied her cards.
I'm afraid you don't TAX your at
fairs seriously" Mrs. Macomber said
reprovingly-
Yes. do Jack replied. Stay IN the
Office till four o'clock every afternoon
when it's too wet for golf
An electric bell rang, and a butler
entered with the steaIthy dignity Of his
kind. He carried . rain-coat over his
arm. and was followed by q tall good
looking young man in evening dress.
There's your rain-cOat, Jack" said
the young man., after he had greeted
tho ladies. Much obliged"
Don't mention it. Harry" said Jack.
Hang il on the tree, Edward" he added
to the butler.
one moment" ~interposed Harry
Gilbert. and taking the o a from the
butler ne drew a pair of gloves from one
of the pockets. As ne did this d narrow
bit of paper. a transfer-sIip, ftuttered
to the floor unnoticed by the young
man. who seated himself near the card
table.
As a penalty for being punctuaI you
Will have to sit out this rubber" said
Jack.
No penalty, for I've walked from Fiji
ty-ninth Street. Transferred across
town. but had plenty of time, SO I
walked and smoked"
Foolish man. You should reserve
your energy for rent-collecting,' said
Jack.
There's dlsinterested advice. Edith"
Harry declared. Il save commission by
collecting my rents. and ack says I
ought to give him half those commits
siOns because he's my partner: in other
words. pay him for doing my own
work"
It's the only business the firm mas"
protested Jack.
Jack will be a great lawyer some
day" Edith aid smiIingly. His
methods are right. Sixteen; game ana
the rubber" she added triumphantly.
Nothing less than amateur theatri-
Gals at the Carnegie Lyceum had drawn
Gilbert from his bachelor den on Mddi-
son Avenue to the Ganard Apartments
near Eightieth Street. though this al
luremeut was unnecessary, as another
attraction took him 10 the Macomber
establishment at least five nights in
every week.
While the coming entertainment was
being discussed the butler again APP
peared. and said there was a call at the
office telephone for Mr.. MacOmber and
Mr. Gilbert
business or the firm, I suppose. said
Edith. when the young men We're gone.
Business Of the club. more likely
answered Mrs. MacOmber. opening 4
book Of verses
Edith placed the cribbage-board and
the cards in a small desk. She picked
UP the neglected transfer-slip. and
seating herself in a low chair near the
fire. listIessIy twisted the bit OF paper.
It's singular what complete records
these little slips are" she said. as she
careIessly read the figures. The three
opposite the five * punched oft-that
means fve-thirty." She glanced At the
clock. Their At Mrs. Macomber. How
long does it take to walk from Fifty
ninth Street TO the Ganara?
Half an hour. 1 should think. SAID
her aunt.
Edith bit her lips and gazed ixedly
ct the transfer-Sip. Harry arrived
here about half past eight" she said
slowly. 1t couldn't We taken him
three hours 10 walk from Fifty-ninth
Street.
What do you mean. Edith" Mrs.
Nacomher asked, as she ooked up from
her book.
This transfer-sIip fell from a pocket
Of the rain-coat when Harry took his
gloves out. i is marked fve-thirty: he
arrived at half past eight he must have
spent HE interval OF time somewhere
else.
What = ne dido"
Why Gidn't ne say something about
it, Edith demanded.
The slip may be wrong. Suggested
Mrs. Macomber.
There might be 4 mistake Of a few
minutes: hardly one OF three hours."
Edith rose and paced the little draw
ing room. Before her engagement she
had found romance n condoning Harry's
youthful indisCretions. u their nature
now supplied her with food for doubt.