The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-17

his summer holiday at Scarborough, Il
was certainly with no idea OF isolatinl
himself from the multitude. Socially
those three weeks in August gave hin
the chance of the year. For the remain.
Ing f~orty-ntne he was q "shop-walker'
"A rather superior n in a West END
establishment, 1t is true, but still 6
Shop walker" Whilst his holiday last.
ed he wa an Independent gentleman.
His frock coat (horrid badge OF ser
v1ltty!) was discarded in favor Of 8
light Norfolk suit, and all references tc
trade were excluded from his converse
ton. But fer The Cockney accent, which
ne had no of controlling, the
superficial observer might have sup.
posed Haslam to be a gentleman born
and bred.
It was the first night of his arrival
The high-class company in thai high
class Boarding house had dined, and the
gentlemen were out on the veranda, In
haiing the scent Of their cigars, and,
at q longer range, the sea
Fine evening, sir"
Haslam addressed a big, stout man
who had been sitting opposite to him
at table.
Yes! Better than we've been having.
You've only come today?"
That's all. One can breathe here.
Beastiy atmosphere in London! The
air of the courts is just awful"
Haslam had used this diplomatic
stroke on previous occasions. 1t vague
ly connected him with the law, and
gave him prestige.
Try one Of my CIGARS he pursued.
Been stopping here long?"
"A fortnight. Hope to remain a fort
night longer. My daughter likes the
place so much"
So that nice-looking young lady, who
had MADE so delightful a picture OPP
posite Easlam at dinner. was this
mans doughter. Haalam already scent
ed a romantic adventure. Few were
the holidays when he did not make
hay while the sun shone by enjoying
himself With pretty girls.
Three days in the free life Of the
boarding house suif1ced to make them
thoroughly acquainted. The Archers-
that was their narne-were very friend
full m~aneuvering, Haslam could MOI Sc
cure a prolonged tete-a-tete with the
daughter Muriel. She chung limpet-
X to her father, and wasgnot to be
drawn out-even for an innocent even
-ruedmooop qua OF EDS sul no uoI3s suI
meEt Of the band. But Haslam, though
a little discouraged, persisted in his at
tentlons. He would prove his quality.
The girl should see that he did not be-
long to the class Of 'bounder'' that
Iurked In v that boarding house.
Resides, from sundry signs, her father
must be wealthy.
About II o'clock one morning, Mr..
Archer Int young Hasiam went off to-
gether to battle. It was q piping hot
day. the kind Of day when the sea,
rather than the land, seems ones nat
urai element. Machines were at a pre-
MUM: after an hours waiting the pair
We're glad enough to secur one be-
tween hem. In a very little time Has
lam was in the water, and soon after
Ebenezer Archer made a diving debut
from h topme5t step.
"A glorious dip! Puts one all in a
glow" exclaimed Haslam, when they
were once more on the machine.
"Jolly!"returned the other, munching
q biscuit. TT makes such a difference
when h suns on the water. Hullo!
where's my ring?"
HaslamF looked up in the act Of tying
his boot-lace.
Your ring?"
yes, very strange! It has disap-
peared!"
MOT that ring With the single dia-
mond, MI. Archer?"
That's It."
But o never wore such a valu-
able piece of jewelry in the water?' in
CURED Haslam, staring thoroughly
S6 laS>I dl S1C ol2lS1 lta1. .s.n-
ooh, no! I put 1t on that little SHELF ;
and Mr.. Archer pointed to the tiny,
th~ree-cornered apology for accommoda-
ton which is all the average bathing
machine possesses.
TITS fallen down. Come, I'll soon find
Haslam suited the action to the word,
and, going down on hands and knees,
peered into all four corners Of the ma
chine. But, his search was not reward
ed. No CLEAN Of gold or gem lit up
those damp recesses.
Good gracious, can it have slipped
through the beards?" he suggested to
Mr.. Archer, in scared tones.
They're hardly wide enough apart
I think"
you wore it in here for certain 2"
TIN as certain as I a be. You
didn't notice it. Mr.. Haslam?"
Not this morning! But then, Tn
very unobservant Of such things. II
must be worth a pot-a good deal?"
ooh. a fair bit. but 1t doesn't much
matter. I'll leave word with the bath
ing man. He may pick it up on the
beach. We must hurry back, IL W.
are to be in time for lunch"
That same afternoon. Bert Haslau
sat on the esplanade. watching the
people. 1t was just the occupation fol-
a perspiring afternoon. and 1t exactly
suited his habits at the seaside. HI
recalled the incident of the morning
What a bioekhead old Archer had bee,
about hat ring! How little he minded
the loss, too-the old boy must be rich!
Suddenly Haslam remembered tina
an unopened letter from Miss Perkin.
lay In his pocket. Suffice it to sa,
that Miss Perkins sold at the shop, ant
was popularity supposed to be his girl,
because they either f1irted or spared
with n another on all possible occa,
sions. She was quite a remote realit.
at this moment. but still her preciou!
epistle had better be read. Haslan
dived into his pocket.
A curious, hard, round substance me
the approach Of his finger. He go
hold Of 1t, and pulled it out. Gracious
1t was a ringi Goodness gracious,
wns old Archer's ring!
For twenty seconds Haslam gazed a
1t in awed fascination. Then. with
hurried, suspicious glance around, h
slipped 1t back into his pocket.
How extraordinary, and yet how or
binary, after all! He remembered plac
inc hJc Onof Sofhor oo~aio,,1., ~