The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-15
CHAPTER II-cLlFToNs MAeNuM


On the evening when Hahn suffered
at the hands of Mr.. Norie and his
friends, Mr.. Symons, the auctioneer's
clerk looked out eagerly from his gar
den gate in Waterview terrace, in ex-
pectatien of visit from Mr.. Harvey
Crook
He was a businesslike young man,
this SynIons, destined, no doubt to a
future partnership with his present
employer. The business was growing,
and more than once Symens had stop
ped at the opposite side of the road to
judge the effect which large gilt letters
would give to the style and title, Law
son d Symons," on the office window;
and ne doubt it. would have been a
great Improvement to the windew.
Meantime the assidueus Symons lost
no opportunity of business, and
his pleasures We're few and cheap. The
slaughter of snails in his little front
garden and an occasional air on the
flute could not be called expensive
amusenents, even by the very busi-
nesslike and frugal wife who abetted
his ambitions. And among the oppor-
tunitles of business which he resolved
not TO lose. this opportunity brought
him by Harvey Crook was chiefly oecu-
pylng his attention just now. Some
thing had occurred to his mind during
the day. and that something had led
to eogitation and inquiry; and the sum
of 1t WAS that he sent a note to Crooks
hotel. to ask him to call at Wateryiew
terrace in the evening. And there he
stood at the garden gate in the dark,
looking out.
Crook came, few minutes late.
Good evening, sir,'' said Symons.
Would you step inside? My wffe's
out
''Ah,' replied Crook, that sounds rr11-
gallant, now. L should have been de-
lighted to make Mrs. Synons ac-
quaintance. AS it is. perhaps the ter
race would be as pleasant a place as
anywhere-sin we are to talk busf-
ness.
For Crook had no desire to take
risks, even remote risks, and a listening
little naid-ef-aH work was as likely
part of MIR. Symon's household equip
ment as anything.
1T can't be called a cold night" he
added
Very WE'LL" Symons responded. 'I
don't mind. OF course you'll under
stand haven't. told the wife anything
about this affair,
Symens was one of those men who
always speak of the wife; it is a par.
ticular sort of man, quite easy to rec
ognize after little experience.
'No?1 replied Crook. Don't talk to
her of business matters, 1 SUPPOSE?
'Yes-in a general way; but not in
detail She doesn't want it, you see.
She has plenty of detail of her own to
look after. / may tell her about this
after it's all over, but not till then"
well, perhaps that will be best. [
got your note. Have you had that other
collector round at the office yet %
Rather" Mr.. Symons chuekled,
think, but talks wonderful Eng
lish. Found him waiting at the
door when 1 got there in the morn
ing. He wanted particulars of the sale
of those magnums of Tolsay, of course,
just as you did. l pulled out the
marked catalogue, as in duty bound,
and told him what there was in it
; which wasn't much good to him.. as you
know. And then as a special favor, I
told him that / happened to know, pri-
vately, the address of one buyer, and l
gave him Mr.. NoFie's.
Did that satisfy hilm2'
Satisfy him? Well, I hardly know;
but he rushed out aof the office without
another word, and when I got to the
street door to look after him he was
very nearly at the corner-going to Mr..
Norie's!''
Well he won't be very successful
there, expect. But was that all you
wanted to tell me? Or have you got
, some of the magnums for me?'
.'No-not quite that. But I've found
out who has one. It's old Mr.. Clifton.
And who is he?'
sAh-of course you Wouldn't know,
not living hereabout. He's queer old
card-a regular collector and a rare
hermit I'm pretty sure he won't sell,
any more than MIR. Norie would. he
/, buys things often enough-books and
! pictures, and china and bronZes to any
amount, but 1 never heard of him sell
ing anything yet. He had one bottle
No. 96 star in the catalogue-one OF
those [ put no. name to. He usually
pays cash"
..And you remembered the circum-
stance today?"
sYes, in a sort of way Thinking it
over, [ had a kind of recollection that
y porter got into trouble with one buy
e er through trying to be obliging and
Rs rolling up his bottle in curious, dirty
old hanging picture he'd bought earlier
0 in the sale-Japanese, I think, or Chi
J, nese. A kick-kack-I forget what il
g is called
d ~Kakemono ?'
f "Ah, that's it. A dusty old thing
e with a tarnished gold brocade border
e figure of a sod or something, brown
e with age and smoke. You see, the
: porters are always anxious to see te
Mr.. Clifton's lots for him, because he's