Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-06-02

FN+7 @AAH NbAAAAhhAAF AAAAA va AAFG WIN
our confidence. Yes, sir, we trust you
implicitly. You don't suppose that we
should let you have charge of q twenty
thousand nnIIna .stoIl4a 81 SAiElu, H. oh y
Now, all y0u have to do is TO deliver
II safely into the hands of SIlas P.
Silsbury the New York millionaire. II
you fail-but, pshawl WE will not think
of such a thing"
Then he took from his escritoire q
leathern belt, which had q specially
constructed pocket in the centre. Into
this pocket he thrust the diamond. af-
ter having wrapped ii round and round
with wRshleAther. Locking the pocket
he placed the key in my hand. saying:
For the present ] will fRsten the
belt outside your vest and Your coat
and 0vereOat will protect it, But when
You get home place it beneath your
vest, and DO NOT let il leave you night
or day"
The clock was striking G as ] reached
the street. ! occupied myself for
some time making sundry purchases.
among them being a revolver, which
sincerely hoped should have no occa-
sion TO use, had a bag with me, and
into this packed my purchases.
1t WIS getting on for O'Clock when
] had finished shopping, and. jumping
on q RAtterseR bus ] gave myself up
to thoughts of my fianeee. TO whose
home was now jOfrneying. / was
going 10 tell her about the Jewel, and
her only.
Mary Hampden was q girl of whom
any man might be proud and ] counted
the winning of her as the most blessed
circumstance in my life.
Mary was busily engaged sewing
when ] was shown into her presence
but when she saw me she hastily put
down her work and rose TO her feet
with an exclamation of pleasure We
had exchanged but n few words when,
with q wOmans quick intuition, she
said:
Something has happened, TOM"
You are not al fault. Mary" ! said
'But that which has happened is SO
wonderful that I scarcely think you
will he able 10 credit ii when tell 1t 10
you
Then don't keep me waiting long,
she said, with laugh.
did not keep her waiting long. She
listened attentively 10 all l had TO say,
and when had finished. she said:
May see the Jewel, tiear?''
I said Yes" and Withdrawing ii
from it's receptacle handed il to her,
She unfOlded the leather and gaZed
long and earnestly at the glitTering
thing, then she slowly recovered ii and
restored II TO me with an air of such
evident reluctance that ] had much
difficulty i'll depressing smile.
What have you in that bag, TOm|'
she inquired, as ] rose TO depart.
"All sorts" / answered, carelessly.
"a revolver, for one thing''
Her face paled.
SIS it necessary to take it?" she
asked.
well, there's nothing like being pre-
pared for emergencies" sAid.
Heaven grant that yOu may never
have any occasion 10 use it, Tom
So we parted, Mary forcing 4 smile,
albeit her face was still pale and her
eyes anxious.
Soon ] was Oh the outside pavement,
underneath the silent stars, and the
cool night wind was blowing Oh my
face. While passing through the hal
had noticed that the cock registered
1O.15.
My chief thoughts were OF Mary
Our interview had made q great i'm.
preston on my mind and every word
she had spoken was indelibly impressed
on my memory, every expression her
face had worn was fresh before my
eyes. For her sake, no less than my
own, ] hoped 10 be successful in my
errnnd.
I ] had reached q lonely part of my
WAY, when. suddenly. a dark figure
I sprAng ND on either side Of me; q thru
/ appeared al my back Before ] haC
time to dart forward, or even TO ute
I @ cry, my arms were piniOned and
I hand was thrust over my mouth
7 bUASkAE i ulAl htSltA dlGANf bAA IL
strength was unavailing, pitted Hgains
the strength of three. was brOugh
4 to the ground and held fast down.
THE bag Where is the bnEY' crieI
one of my assailants in eager tones.
My hopes rose, but were quick,
dashed.
"FoolF said another voice. ] started
1t was the voice of Hamilton, my fel
low clerk. ] had always thought h
was q bad lot. Fool there's n0thini
of any value in the bag. He's got tn
stone in @ belt round his waist. Tnri
him over and wei soon relieve him o
it. Got it? That's good, Now tie hi
hands and feet"
While this was being done Hamilto
eOOliy surveyed me, snesr on his lip
You're a nice man 10 carry valuE
bles," he said. q gness you're curiou
to know how ] gnt wind OF the affair
You mny NOT know that from the dii
used room over our Office Il Is p0ssibl
TO hear all that goes Oh in the govern
or's Eanctum. ] happened to be ther
tins afternoon. and ] overheard ee
tain interesting conversation. Wei
tn-tal Bear my distinguished regard
to old Gllroy. Tell him I'm sorry
cannot present them in person. You
be able to explain why
His observations were cut short /
the sound Of approaching footsteps.
whispered conversation took pla'
among my captors, after which the
took TO their heels
Very soon n man Of the artisan elias
! attracted by my cries was BendiI
over me, unlOosening my hnnds. Til
occupied some time, and when w
freed the robbers had g0t clear ava
Disgrace, humiliation ana ruin stars