The Florida agriculturist., 1906-04-25

was conducted with the utmost
secrecy. no one handling the papers
without Mr.. Perrin's knowledge.
Every night all the papers were Sc
curely locked up, Mr.. Perrin himself
carrying the key.
| One evening Arthur EviSon was re-
turning from solitary walk across
the common when he was somewhat
astOnished to see Walter Jerrard in
company with an employee of Josiah
Grey. EyisOn knew that his fellow
clerk had hitherto had nothing but a
nOdding acquaintance with his present
companion, but he put down their be-
ing together to chance meeting
They had not seen him, and he speedi-
| ly forgot the matter.
| 1t was EvisOn'S custom several even
ings in the week to stroll over the
common and climb ErkOn Beacon, a
lonely hill about two miles from w.
Here he would sit and smoke a sOli-
tary pipe while he contemplated the
glow of the furnaces of W, and, far
ther away, the lights of the shipping
in the bay.
About a week after he had seen
Walter Jerrard in company with JO-
siah Grey's clerk, EvisOn was on
Erkon Beacon in the early evening.
The light was yet good, and presently
he distinguished two figures come to-
gether at the foot of the hill and greet
each other. To his astOnishment Evi-
son again saw Jerrard and his new
acquaintance.
This second meeting caused him to
think seriously of the matter and in
the morning he cautiously led up to
the subject during a conversation with
Jerrard. Without touching directly on
what he had witnessed, Evison was
enabled by a little diplomacy to draw
out Jerrard. 1t was very evident
that the latter intended to keep his
new friendship a secret for he stated
that he had been otherwise employed
on the evenings that Evison had seen
him at ErkOn Beacon.
The rest of the conversation only
plunged Jerrard deeper and deeper in
to the mire, although he was quite
Unconscious of it. However, it left
EvisOn strongly determined to watch
his fellOw-clerk' movements, for he
began to feel that there was some
treachery afOot.
During all this time EviSOn was
growing every day to care more and
more for Dorothy Perrin, until at last
he found it impossible to keep it to
himself. He saw Dorothy frequently,
and on every occasion his passion be-
came more intense. He found it very
hard to refrain from telling all to her,
but out of feelings of respect to his
employer he deemed it his duty to
speak to Mr. Perrin first
Accordingly Arthur managed to get
alone with his chief one evening after
the other clerks had gone, and i'm
ject.
Il want TO ask a great favor of you,
sir" he commenced, and then paused.
1.-The fact is, L want-er-" he paus-
ed again. for although he had definite
ly decided beforehand what to say, the
words failed him at the auspicious mo-
ment.
My dear fellow said Mr.. Perrin,
for EvisOn was a great favOrite with
him. IF l can possibly help you 1
will. but | hardly know yet what you
are in need of. Is it money?''
NO. sir" cried Evison, his face
flushing. ''I-er-I want to get mar
ried.'
''Oh, is that it?'' returned Mr.. Per-
rim. cordially. I'm pleased to hear it;
who is the lady?"
well. / havn't spoken to her vet;
don't know whether it is advisable"
''Why not? She will be a lucky
oir in NV npipiOp -