Bridgeton pioneer., 1906-08-02

Copyright, 1905, by Beatrtp Rea4,e
BY Donald Allen

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him several months to accomplish it
and being man who preferred peace
and quietness he looked about for lodg-
ings and soon obtained what he want
ed.
Mr.. Stebbins had turned the sixty
mark, and there were young and en-
vious attorneys who spoke of him as
old Stebbins. He had never married,
and there were other young and en-
yious attorneys who said that it was
blessed good thing for at least one wo-
man that he hadn't. The fact was
that Mr.. Stebbins was bitter, cranky
and not at all willing to extend the
glad hand. He had never been known
to exhibit the least consideration for
womankind, even when one of them
was on the stand for him as a wit
ness. AS for being gallant, the idea
was ridiculous.
One day, in walking about with his
hands clasped behind his back and his
shoulders bumped over the old law
yer happened on an auction room.
There was sale going on, and in idle
curiosity he dropped in. An escritoire
was up for bidding. 1t was an antique.
The bids were low and the auctioneer
Indifferent, and as a result the law
yer found himself the owner Of the
piece Of furniture at what he knew to
be about one-third its value.
A minute after it was knocked down
to him a man came rushing in and
seemed greatly put out that the escri-
toire had been sold. When he found
that Mr.. Stebbins was the new owner
he took him aside and said:
"That article was included by mis-
take among lot of other goods sent
here for SALE 1t belonged to friend
of mine who is dead and was really
left to me by his WILL / will give you
100 francs advance on your bargain"
Mr.. Stebbins was sorry if any one
in Paris had died and sorry if any mis-
take had been made in loading up vans
with furniture, but he couldn't see his
way clear to parting with his purchase.
The offer was increased to two hun
dred-three hundred-five hundred, but
in vain. He said he might sell it when
he was ready to leave Paris, but not
before. The escritoire was removed to
his lodgings and rubbed up bit, and
it's next adventure took place a week
later.
The lawyer was In the public library
to look up some dates connected with
his case when he saw man who close
ly resembled the one he had met in the
auction room. They did not speak, and
the trifle was forgotten in five minutes.
Three hours later the lawyer returned
to his lodgings just in time to halt two
men who We're bringing his recent pur-
chase downstairs to be loaded into
van. The landlady explained that a
very nice French gentleman had called
and exhibited an order signed by Mr..
Stebbins, and of course she thought it
was all right to let the article go. The
man he had seen in the library had
put up the job to get possession Of the
escritoire.
Mr.. Stebbins sat down to reason it
out. He had paid so francs for the
piece of furniture. He had been offered
500 francs advance. The piece wasn't
worth the money. Why was the man
so anxious, then, to get it into his pos
session? 1t had been pretty closely
examined when first brought home 1t
was now given another inspection, but
the lawyer could discover no secret
drawers. He gave the landlady strict
orders and went his way
Ten days later he told her he would
be gone all day. Half an hour after
leaving the house he returned for some
forgotten data and found her showing
his room to a stranger-the man he
had met twice before. The stranger
hurried away without excuse and the
iandlady said she was showing the
room because the gentleman stood
ready to take it as soon as Mr.. Steb-
bins vacated The caller had looked at
and admired the escritoire and had
even moved it about, but had taken
nothing from it. She was talked to in
plain, legal Philadelphia language and
her key taken away.
a couple Oh weeks passed away De-
fore anything more happened. Then,
as the lawyer sat reading one evening,
the landlady came up with a young
woman behind her. This young wo-
man was plainly but neatly dressed
and looked to be lady's maid She
introduced herself, and the landlady
left. She had friends In Philadelphia,
and, learning that Mr.. Stebbins was
from that city, she had made bold to
call on him to ask for information.
The lawyer didn't believe her story
Tor minute, but while he was prepar-
ing to draw her out and show up her
inconsistencies she suddenly clapped
her hand over her heart and tumbled
down in faint OF course Mr.. Steb-
bins summoned the landlady-that is,
ne started to go downstairs to her, his
room having no bell. when lawyer
IKE idea came to him, and he turned
about. He was just In time to find
the fainting girl at work at the escri-
toire. She screamed. Then she was