The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1906-06-15

Hastily putting on his dressing
! gown, Mr.. Jones followed with nerves
strung to their highest tension. This
time the Asiatic walked with no un-
certain step. He stopped at Mr.. Percy's
Goor and tapped gently. The light in
the room was turned on, and the door
opened by }1r. Percy himself. Mr..
kassala entered, and the door closed
noiselessly behind him.
For some minutes Mr.. Jones stared
at the door in blank amazement Then
he turned around and walked slowly
back to his own room.
Where is Mr.. Kassala?" were the
bishops first words on entering the
breakfast room the next morning. Al
though his lordship had betrayed no
consciousness of his existence, Mr..
Jones felt that the inquiry was leveled
at him.
II do not know, my lord" he an
sWered
"John," said the bishop to his but
Ter, will you inform Mr.. Kassala that
breakfast is on the table,
In few minutes John returned with
the information that Mr.. Kassala's
room was empty, that his bed had not
been slept in, and that nobody had seen
him that morning.
THAT is very singular,' said his
sordship. Then, after a pause, "One
hardly likes to say SO; but must con-
fess my confidence in the bona fides OF
hoe
spoke about burglars last night Mar
maduke, in reference to my crozier,
which seemed to have a peculiar at
traelion for Mr.. Kassala. l hope it IL
saf&'s
II }ut the case on the top of my
wardrobe last night, and it was there
FIVE minutes ago." said Mr.. Percy.
The chaplain was bursting with in
dlgnation at Mr.. Percy's concealment
of his midnight interview with Mr..
Kassala. He longed to expose him,
tut shranA from the necessity of q
painful scene.
Mildred" said Mrs. Dacre sudden
ly, ''let us look through the drawing
room silver at once. I hope the eques.
TRAN statuette of your father is SAFE"
While the ladies were ticking on
their household goods, Mr.. Percy went
to his room to pack, and Mr. Jones
followed.
MAY have his lordship's crozier?"
asked the chaplain.
certainly. Here you are. But you
Go look unhappy, Jones. What is the
matter?''
Mr.. Jones took the case without re-
plying.
"The key was in the lock last night
he remarked.
"Was it? Then it must have dropped
out somewhere. Perhaps it's on the
floor" Both Mr.. Percy and the chap
lain looked very carefully for it.
"Never mind,' said the former, after
five minutes fruitless search. 1T will
probably turn up after I've gone. Re-
member that I'll be responsible for any
damage"
The chaplain was very pale Mr.
Percy he said, II know of your mid
Light interview with Mr.. Kassala"
Mr.. Percy fixed his monocle. do
you, old man." he replied "Then
won't be the one to get you into
trouble over it. You may rely on
me. If you don't say anything ]
shan't. Now, good-by. It'll take me
all my time to get my things to-
gether."
Mr.. Jones left the room more beWil-
dered than ever. His lordship, after
leaving stringent instructions regard.
ing Mr.. Kassala, should he again ap-
pear, went by the noon train to town
| with Mr.. Percy.
Mr.. Jones appeared singularly dis
| tracted all cay, and about II o'clock
at night, with determination on his
face, he forced the lock of the crozier
case. His worst fears were realized.
In place of the crozier of ebony, gold
and jewels, there reposed on the purple
velvet lining a common bedroom po-
ker!
At that very moment the bishop OF
Bister's crozier lay on the table of a
London mansion. Twelve men were
gathered round it, complimenting their
host upon it. Their host, by the way,
was lately his majesty's secretary of
! state for Egypt. He was now attired
in long blue cassock-like garb, such
as Asiatic priests may wear
by the burglary of the bishop of
Bister's crozier, Lord Ribstons SUBJ
scription has been paid for the next
two years." said one of the men, maxi
ing a cipher note in book.
"Gentlemen," said the man in the
priestly garb, rising to his feet amid
applause, Il am proud once more to
have been able to fulfill the mandate
of the Burglars club. With your per-
mission, will now pack up the bau-
BILE so that it may be returned by the
midnight express; in order to ease the
mind of most worthy man, his lord
ships chaplain. But before do so,
wish to propose new member-Mr.
Marmaduke Percy. Yesterday he saw
through my disguise, and OWNED my
purpose. He could easily have be-
trayed me. But he behaved in a