Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20

gone constituted one of the events of his
lifetime. And it was not so bad, after all
Miss Peggy Robeson-what of her? She
did not, could not understand it, save that
she had done all she honestly could-her
conscience was clear, and she sought no
further explanation save that he had gone,
and gone for good and all. Then she sat
down and wrote a note to John Lortmer,
consulting chemist
The next morning Constitutional's tele-
phone bell rang vigorously.
Constitutional felt in a good humor
Slowly he was narrowing these people with
whom 1t was necessary for ilim to come
into daily contact down to just one or two
persons. He was simplifying matters. he
was lessening the strain.
who is this?" he inquired, with the re-
ceiver at his ear.
This" said the man at the other end
SIS Cowen, Covington & Barrett.
Cowen, Covington & Barrett were the
leading law firm in Monroe.
''Well?" went on Smith.
''Well," went on the man, John Y. John
son, the owner of that corner property. Is
here. He's been here an hour, waiting for
you to come and close that title
'By George" said Smith, II forgot all
about It," He had for he had never heard
about it. Say" he inquired, can't you
adjourn 1t for couple OF weeks! / m
busy"
There was pause. Finally the voice once
more made itself heard.
johnson starts for New York the end Of
We've got to close. Wait a minute. He
says 1t can go over till tomorrow at the lat
est. How is that?'
WELL" reluctantly answered Smith,
"thatll do If you can't do anything else.
Can't you put 1t over until he comes back2"
Why" answered the voice, "he isn't
coming back You knew that. Wen make
1t tomorrow at noon. That's the best We
can do"
IAN right" answered Smith. Say, by
the way. what is the exact amount of the
check you want from me?"
I'm tell you in two minutes" answered
the other. There was a long silence, and
then the answer came in clear, unmistak-
able tones. "Twentythree thousand seven
hundred and sixty-nine dollars and fifteen
cents-got that down all right?"
I've got 1t down all right" acquiesced
Smith. 'Ill be on hand" He rang of.
"Twenty-three thousand dollars he ex-
claimed to himself. II haven't got twenty
three thousand cents-hardly that, at any
rate"
But he was not easily feazed Next day
at noon he appeared at the office of Cowen,
Covington & Barrett, and refused point
blank to take the property. He said he
didn't want it and that was all.
The next day at noon the firm of Cowen.
Covington & Barrett, having first duly ten
dered the Johnson deed for the property.
began a specific performance action-the
suit of Johnson VS.. Okeefe.
A week later another suit was commenced
against MIN by the VenderS OF mining
claim, for failure to pay off an installment
of s., 500, some weeks overdue.
Later, the mortgage started the fore
closure of the mortgage on his house
O'Keefe had bought it with a mortgage al
ready on 1t. This was commenced for fall
ure to keep up the interest. Smith, who
was good liver, had been using up what
money he had, and began to live on credit
| 1t did not last long. In few weeks the
whole town knew the truth
Ellington O'keefe was BANKRUPT No
| body quite knew why he should be, but he
| was. All sorts Of stories were told about
him. By some 1t was said that he had
| lived on blun and wind ever since his re-
| turn from the klondike; by some that he
| had spent substantial fortune on wine
| women and song. Everything was said
| about him that was bad-nothing that was
good. 30 far there were no judgments
against him but many suits. and his notes
Smith himself held his peace. He made
no representations. He simply said that
| everything would come out all right II the
| people would be patient-just what every
| bankrupt says.
| made life miserable for him-but he was
| afraid to. He knew that the plain clothes
men were still on the lookout for him.
Mrs. Patricia Jelliffe Robson went into
a paroxysm of rage.
| 'The imposter,' exclaimed she to her
daughter, Ito come here. a wolf in sleeps
clothing. To pretend to US that he was
wealthy-the common, ordinary fellow
| But" protested Peggy, enjoying the
situation In spite Of herself, The never told
he was very honorable and straightforward
about it when he found out that he was
poor"
| "of course" snapped Mrs Robson. he,
heart eaten out with disappointment
wnen ne couldn't help it-when 1t would