Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-04-05
CHAPTER xvIII-(Continued.)

GHAG1hh Az
The jeweler appeared mystifed. Ger
tainly Charlues Baumgarten did not look
like a man who would deny his own re-
sponsibility; moreover, the young barris-
ter's irreproachable character was we'll
known. Yet Mr.. White knew that he
had come in and bought the jewelry.
at is altogether absurd" said Charles.
''You must be mistaking me for some one
else. Had 1 bought jewelry, l should
have paid for 1t in cash, tell you; not
by bill"
what shall you doT' asked Mr.. Jeph-
son.
II shall sleep upon It; and perhaps
have a quiet word with gentleman de-
tective."
AS he gained Pump Court, having
wished Godfrey Jephson good evening,
and turning into it in a brown study,
whistle high up greeted him. Gazing
upward, Charles perceived the face and
whiskers of a friend Of his looking out
from the window of some chambers not
far from his own.
"Hi, Baumgarten! Come up"
"Can't. Have some work to do"
''Then take the consequences"
A shower of something liquid was In
preparation of descent. Charles Baum
garten made dash, and disappeared up
the stairs. Peter Chester grandson
of that old Mr.. Chester who was once
rector of Great Whitton, received Charles
with basin of hot soup in his hand.
"You'd have caught 1t nicely, Charley,
basin and all Just look at the precious
stuff she concocts for a fellow, dying,
pretty near, of an infamed throat
told her beef tea, and she goes and makes
this"
Charley knew Of the storms that Peter
Chester, who, like himself, lived in his
chambers for economy's sake, and his old
laundress had together. Els your throat
no better?" he asked.
much you care whether it's better or
worse !" retorted Peter Chester, a slight
young man, with a delicate face and
blue eyes. "I'd never go from my word,
Baumgarten. You promised to come in
and sit with fellow last night, but
deuce a bit came you"
II added If l could Peter"
"Well, If you could not-that's to say,
as you did not-you might have sent Joe
in to tell me SO. Just get i'll yourself,
and see how lively your evenings would
be with your throat in flannel, expecting
q fellow who never comes |"
II was coming in at eight o'clock, when
old TOmpkins called in, and talked over
old times. Every quarter Of an hour 1
thought he'd go; instead of which he
stuck on till eleven o'clock"
you'll shine at the bar, Charley,
when you can invent a white lie after
that rapid fashion, and stare q man In
the face as you tell It,"
''Tomkins was in my chambers"
"TOmkins might be. But you were
not"
what do you mean, Peterr
Peter Chester was looking at him, and
laughing in a most provoking manner.
Il don't see why you should make a
mystery of 1t, Baumgarten," he said. IF
you did choose to go out and enjoy your
self, instead of passing the evening with
a sick Chum, there's no reason why you
should not admit 1t. Only you might
have dropped me half a word. Who was
the lady2 Come, Charley; confessions
good for the conscience"
"Tell me what you want me to con-
fess, and perhaps may do 1t. I'm all
in the dark"
"Oh, of course" mockingly returned
Peter Chester. "But a truce to TESTING
old fellow" he added in a different tone
"Why need you keep It SO Quiet2 Who
was the lady?"
what LADY,"
"That you escorted last night to the
Haymarket. Grand tier; first row."
II was not at the Haymarket last
night" returned Charles.
"Oh, but you were," answered Peter
Chester, with an emphasis that unmis-
takably pronounced his own belief it.
Hear me a minute, Chester" quietly
returned Charles. II have this evening
been pretty nearly persuaded out of my
own identity, and l don't care to enter
upon another discussion Of simluar ma
ture. 1 have told you that Tomkins
was with me last night until elueveu
o'clock, and I told you the truth. l did
not stir out Of my chambers, and by q
quarter past eleven 1 was In bed"
When we assert a thing In good faith,
1t is somewhat annoying to find the as.
sertion received doubtfulluy. Peter Ches.
ter stared at Charles. He knew him to be
truthful; but he did not believe him now
and Charles saw he didn't,
Charles stayed with him until ten
O'Clock, and then went home to his cham.
bers, letting himself In with his latch
key.