The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-07-04

/ b. b offend his friend. swail, n -
ing eastward" he said, coming to = hslt
ITO the aristocratic neighborhood Of thl
Curtain Road. shGIl 60 to work agein
on Monday morning, 70 ron viii y sur
to find me At the studio any 6ay Naxi
week. Now be sure to give me an eariJ
call"
Stafford jumped into hanson, and d.
sired the driver to set him down at thu
foot Of the Curtain Road. He besuiled
the tedium Of the way BY opening the
two portrait sketches be had made Ia the
gallery at Penrhyddyn. Az he exaaained
them, new idea seemed to suddenly
strike him. BE scrutinized and compared
the sketches with the most eager inter.
est, and fell into deep train Of thought.
from which he was only aroused by IL
stopping Of the cab at its destination.
Stafford's object In visiting such ~
mote neighborhood was to endeayor 70
find the shop at which Sir L.aunce had
bought the picture Of Gree. The cifcum'
stance happened in this wise. The ianE
time Sir Launce visited London bust-
ness took him into Essex. While stand.
ing upon the platform Of the Great East
efn Railway terminus, his pocket was
picked. The thief was caught, and Sir
Launce was bound over to appear next
morning at the police court. He did 80 /:
and upon leaving the court took turning
which led him into the Curtain Road.
Passing brokers' shop, be was attracted
by the picture 30 often mentioned, which
was standing just inside the door, and he
stepped in and bought it.
The direction Stafford had received was
pretty exact-a brokers' shop, about half
way up the road on the left-hand side.
going northward. About that situation
EA discovered the kind of shop he had
pictured to himself-a grimy shop. upon
whose small-paned windows the dirt hung
in fakes
This must be the place." thought Stat.
ford, as he entered the shop. His knock
upon the counter brought forth from an
inner den a sharp, weazeped-face old
man. Stafford came to the point at once
by showing the sketch he had made, and
asking him if he remembered selling such
a picture a few weeks ago to a middle
aged gentleman.
well, had it by me so long that
scarcely remember how got It," answer
ed the old man.
If five shillings would assist your
memory, 1t is at your disposal" said
Stafford.
The old man grinned and held out his
dirty hand. And the silver key unlocked
the rusty portals of his memory.
Some time back, he said he couldn't
ot1r ,ho~ - 1
four, or it might be five years, one even
ing, after dark, a young girl brought it
into the shop and asked him TO buy it.
1t had been painted, she said, by young
artist who used to live in her mothers |
house. 1t was her own portrait, and he |
had given it to her; but her mother had |
met with misfortunes, and they were very
poor, and she wanted to sell the picture |
for bread. well, l saw that it was |
decent painting, so l gave her fifteen shil- |
lings for it. Ny son took fancy to 1t, |
50 l gave it to him, and when he died a |
few months ago it came back into my
hands, and one day the gentleman you
spoke of came In and bought it."
And did you buy the picture upon the
simple faith Of the girls story?" In
quired Stafford, without endeavoring to
learn her name or address,"
"Well, you see, it doesn't do to be over
particular in our business" replied the
old man, with a knowing grin. She was
the prettiest little creature you ever saw,
the very image of the picture. and she
had her story so glib that l didn't put
much faith in it. So l got her to give
me receipt for the money, and put her
name and address upon it."
Have you that receipt still?" inquired
Stafford, eagerly.
well, l believe I have it somewhere"
the old man.
1t was long search before the requir-
ID document could be found Upon a {
lirty scrap of paper was written, in a {
small, neat lady's hand a re- .
,eipt for the fifteen shillings. The sig
nature was "M Millicent, 10, Great .
richfieid street"
Stafford took possession of the paper
md left the shop. He resolved to go to
No. 10 Tich6eld street, and make in I
Iuiries. Hailing cab, he drove there at t
nee. But, as he expected, his journey |
vas useless; the people of the house knew /
lothing of such a person. :
The one important result of the inves-
igation was to dismiss from his mind :
very suspicion of Constance Grierson be-
ng implicated in the mystery. And away I
e went to Harley street, quite indiffer- t
mt to the reception he might meet at Il
he hands of her guardian. III
Baked again. Miss Grierson had left a
own that morning on a visit, and would
ot return for a fortnight.