The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-03


which set every doubt about the hnan-
cial position of Kershaw. Klein at rest.
The bankers declared that might trust |
him unhesitatingly for such a sum as
named The other replied that the I
coloners brother was Of great standing |
and position in Chile, and that he himself
carried letters which proved his I'M
doubted probity. More complete vindica-
ton could not be had, and went home
to laugh eonsumedly at the gentleman
who had found such a mares nest, and to
wonder if my friends would laugh very
much if they heard. How little I thought
at that time of the old pleasantries with
which I had once greeted the tidings Of
la marriage!
did not hear more Of Klein for some
fifteen days, at the end of which time he
wrote saying that Hermann Rudisic was
with him at Basingstoke, and that they
hoped to call upon me on the following
Friday. The march of events was from
that time quick. On the Thursday I read
in a daily paper Of an accident In Berk-
shire to Chilean visitor, who had been
thrown from his carriage and seriously
hurt. The account said that his life was
despaired of, and that he was then lying
at the house Of his host, the Well-knoWn
Colonel Kershaw Klein, who had taken
Lord Aberly's place, the Woodfleds. On
| the Friday morning received a long let
ter from the colonel deploring the acct
cause his commission to purchase the
stone extended only to the 10th Of Au-
| gust and it was then the Sd. He hoped
however, that matters would look bright
er at the end Of that time and would
bring his partner to London the moment
| he could travel.
Now, at the first thought this intelli-
gence set all the inherent suspicion, which
is part Of me, at work once more. Sug-
gestions of doubt rose again and again.
instantly to be suppressed. Had I not
satisfied myself completely as to the
colonels standing, his means, his repu-
tation and his personal character? Was
he not staying in Lord Aberly's house?
Had not he passed most brilliantly thru
a London season? Were there not twenty
members of the Bachelors club seeking
to pay for the sake of his daughter the
fine imposed upon amorous backsliders?
If one were to suspect every man
with such credentials as these, the soon
er one shut ones doors and locked ones
safe for good the better for all hope
Of doing business. Of all this I was
certain. and had already come to the de-
termination to put from my mind sus-
picion both Of the count and his daughter,
when there came to me by the afternoon
delivery another letter concerning the
matter; but this was anonymous, and in
a hand I did not know It was a curious
scrawl written upon a slip Of account pa
per, and it's contents we're but these
words:
: "You will be asked to Kershaw Klein's
house in three days. I told you the other
morning not to trust yourself with the
man; say now, accept the invitation"
p This was plainly from my friend Of Hyde
park; and I confess that his pompoue
! mysteriousness and pretence of knowledge
1 amused me. Even he no longer complained
:. Of Colonel Kleins reputation, nor advised
me now to avoid him. His letter finally
Q Quoted NY scruples, and from that mo.
ment I resolved to daily with them ne
i longer; and to let no silly fears delay
< the negotiations for the sale of the treas
ure of White creek.
In this resolution I waited rather anx
: fously for the coming of Klein and hi:
d partner, but three days went, and I saw
X nothing of them; it being on the Monda!
q morning at II o'clock that the forme
II drove up to Bond street in a singh
8, brougharn, and came with his daughte
B. into my private office. He seemed in
:. great state Of distress, saying that Ru
q disic, altho better, was still unable to Sc
If foot to the ground; and begging me a
% the time was so short to take the grea
jewel to Berkshire-his house was JUS
IS across the lire dividing the county fror
II Hampshire-and there to settle the matte
: that very day. heard him mechanically
j. my eyes glued on the exquisite pictur
) which his daughter made; her gown c
IS tour Of her figure admirably; and he
~ deep brown hair rolling from the :shelte
w Of a great straw hat in si1ken wave
T. upon her shoulders. If she had fascinate
l. me. at the dance, the fascination was in
1s tensified, there. I would cheerfully hav
IN rislSed the best parcel of rubies in tn
= place to have had the pleasure Of keepin
Ia her in the office even for an hour: and
did not hesitate one moment in acceptin
< Klein's offer.
ae Come down today" said he, land brin
ut your man with you in case we don't c
We business and you have to return alone.
ct don't like mailing with big stuff on M
st you never know who gets wind Of It.
if suppose you have somebody you cou
We take"
It. Even with the girls eyes upon me ar
n her laughing threat to make me tran
- at tennis awhile" had a measure of sa
l." tsfaction in this request, and thought il
he stantly Of Abel.
in Yes said I, with a light laugh,
p will bring my own detective He's dow
lis below now"
~ THAT'S right" said Klein, land we
re catch the 2:40 from Waterloo. I've o
Die oered the carriage to meet that al
there's just time for snack betwe
JUS whiles. Never forget your food, SIR
W; dent for all the business In Europe.
nd once lost a commission for railway
Use Venezuela thru a sandwich-but the1
t. that's another story, and I'll tell it y
'ou over chop at the Criterion. I guess T.
ut. got an appetite on, ana sos Margaret
MT little girl?'
ks He slapped his chest to signify that
to void was there; and we all went off do1
our Piccadilly, returning afterward for t
gem which I had placed in a fat-vely
uld case, I put it into my jewel pocket, Gu
to ningly contrived in my vest, and with
VS. more delay we got to Waterloo and to Q
cen saloon, Abel travelling second GLASS;. by t
md by, and in another compartment. The
but was a well-turned-out wagonette to me
can us when we reached Basingstoke, a
but after a drive of something under an he
lch thru some of that glorious pine scene
the of southern Berkshire, we entered sh
or drive edged by thick laurels, and W.
ex- shortly at the gate of the Woodfelds.
nan the exterior of the house I saw nothi
her for as I descended from the Wagonet
TO I CHANGED to catch the eye of the TO
at man, who had a finger to his lips, e
71sh an exclamation almost broke from
Ute lips. Notwithstanding his disguise, I r
laln ognized the man in a moment He
This the ''Oxford youth who had given M
'us- cigar in the park on the morning at
,Vor the dance in Grosvenor Crescent.
ton The discovery was not a pleasant q
ar an It made discord Of all the music Of M
Iia garet Kleins voice-she was quickly b
the sorba AZ NV +a1rino considarsh1e notice
III @o1y ~ IN hi +o{