Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-06-28

Of the room.
You'll have some wine?" said
BARLEY Bradstone.
Thank you, sir thank you, Mr..
Barley but I'm a teetotaler, IL you
remember"
BARLEY Bradstone nodded.
ooh, yes, | remember. But what
is it?"
Mr. Movie produced a pocket-book
from the interior of his shiny frock-
coat, and taking out paper, handed
il to BARLEY Bradstone,
You can rely upon that informa-
ton, sir" he said in his hollow voice
BARLEY Bradstone looked at the
paper.
when did you get this?" he asked
| in a constrained voice.
"At a quarter past ten this morn
ling. | considered it, and caught the
eleven fast train, Mr.. Barley" he re-
piled, meekly.
"And-and you think it is right?"
said BARLEY Bradstone in a low
voice.
I'm sure of it, sir" replied Movie.
Il got it from a source which has
never yet sold me. I'd stake my oath
upon it. sir"
BARLEY Bradstone went to the win
dow and looked out, probably to hide
the light of satisfaction which gleam-
ed in his eyes. Then, after a moment
or two he turned to Movie again.
You were quite right to come
down with this, Movie" he said; "it
is too important to be trusted to a
wire"
Thank you for your appreciation,
Mr. Barley" said Movie, servilely.
According to this" said Bradstone,
touching the paper with his forefin-
ger, the person named-we will men
ton no names, Movie, just take the
initial V. according to this informa-
ton V. is liable for something like
forty thousand pounds. That's so?''
THAT is So" assented Movie, blink
ing and rubbing his chin. Rather
more than less, Mr.. BARLEY. Nearer
fifty. OF course it's a secret"
How do you account for it," asked
BARLEY Bradstone thoughtfully, and
watching his companion covertly and
closely.
Mr.. Movie stretched his lips into
a undertaker-like smile, and couched
Seems singular and improbable
2 doesn't it, sir? Here's a gentleman
| a tiptop swell as we may say, one OF
t the old county families looked up tC
and respected as sound man, ant
l yet" He rubbed his chin ant
: smile again. This is the key tt
the riddle, Mr.. BARLEY: wild OATS
r Barley Bradstone sank into a chat
and nodded.
| wild oats, sir! Mr.. V. began i
early, and kept it up as long as h,
| could Went to the Jews-and Thu
| Christians: | don't know which /
worse" and he coughed again Bart
ley Bradstone's eyes dropped with
k faint shadow of consciousness.
Borrowed right and left on pos
| Iobits and | o Us and reversions, am
t on anything or nothing. Quite tn
l old story, Mr., Barley Sixty pc
= cent interest, any interest they like
V to put on, so that he had some none
l. to play ducks and brakes with"
"That was before he came into tn
$ property" said BARLEY. why didn
4 he pay it off them"
e "He did; some of it, replied Mr.
/, Movie. "He has been trying t
a clear it for years past; but this kin
y of things not easily got rid of, an
It these have been bad times for lane
S lords. There are a good many in tn
:, same fix as Mr.. v, but not so badl
8 perhaps"
r And he cannot pay it off now?
e asked BARLEY Bradstone.
n Mr.. Movie shook his head.
= IF my information is correct-an
d III answer for it--he certainly cal
not"
IT How is it that his condition ha
been kept so secret? No one su
< meets 1t herein his neighborhood
ID "The gentlemen who hold the bill
III are only too pleased to keep quit
while he pays the interest, of course
+, sixty per cent"
d "Of course" assented BARLEY, can
Q, have you got list of the names {
these people?"
II, Yes. sir" said Movie, and h
ID handed him a paper from his poke
d, book.
Of BARLEY Bradstone examined
s. and whistled.
ID Tough customers!" he sal
Id Sharks all of them. Are you SUI
,r this is all?"
S. Il am quite sure" said Movie.
" may as well tell you, sir, that my i
ID formant is the confidential clerk
e. Mr.. VS. solicitors" He paused
lie moment. He owes us d hundred ,
is 1.-TWO"
"Us?" said BARLEY sBradstone, wit
10 la frown.