The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-07-12
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LAST MANS CLUB

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nlaa tssfi Tie rcd article Clancy. III We
sparkling eyes at.t the ever ptrsea, emile.
listened with & totai lack of und"taeand-
tas Indeed. he fell relieved ~fea "a H."'u
entered the room aud handed the oh''t "a
card BARNES tuckerst up his eyes anu
held The paEteDoari near tbs window ia
order To read II
Clarence Potter" he exclaimed. finally
''Why. that's AN old school ehum ] haven
seen In twenty-five years. Tell hin 10
come up at once
In a shor, time the door opened and an
agreeable looking gentleman or miaaie
age entered. Tho moment the old nam
caught sight OF him he rushed across the
room and gave him a bcnrish hug. and fol
lowed this unusual performance by taxing
both OF his hands In k.s own and shaking
them with vigor and enthusiasm.
Hello, Clnrry. old boy" he cried.
many n day has come and gone since !
last set eyes on you. Where IN the world
have you been keeping yourself, and why
haven't you ever come to see me-"
It's your fault" replied the other re-
provingly. You know that when we
formed our Last Mans club ! begged you
TO join. 1t has been the connecting link
that has held us together for a quarter Of
a century. There hasn't been a year that
we havpD't met In friendly iptarcOlrSe'
Very true" answered Barnes. nodding
his head regretfully. But you know l was
never of g convivial nature: I didn't go in
for big dinners or anything of that kind.
My slippers, a cup of coffee and a stogie.
and I'm the most agreeable man you'd
want to meet. BY the way, have a cup of
coffee. No? Why, on a cold day like this
a dish of hot coffee is the acme of bliss.
You'll have a stogie. I'm sure. l thought
90. Here's a match"
by the way. resumed Barnes, while
Potter was lighting his cigar. lis your
Last Mans club still in existence?"
Yes" said the other, with some agita-
ton. That's what l came to see you
about"
oh" laughed the chief. I'm too old
to join anything OF that Kind now"
Its not that" retorted Potter hurried
1y: NO new men can come in. The Gov
enant prohibits additions. AS deaths oc-
cur the club gradually ceases to exist. To-
night / am to entertain the club at my
house, and there are just thirteen sur
vtvors.''
Makes you feel creepy suggested For
ward, hitherto silent.
purely a coincidence" said Potter, ner-
vously. But what I came to see you
about" he continued. turning to the chief
inspector, Concerns both the customs and
the Last Mans club"
MIR Forward, my friend, and Mr.. Clan
cy, my assistant, are both in my conf
dence." said the old man, anticipating the
next remark Of his visitor. you may
speak with the greatest freedom"
"My story can be told briefly" responded
Potter. sinking back into an easy chair and
putting away at his stogie. 1T has been
customary at each of our dinners to pre-
sent the members with some little souve-
mir of the occasion. The character of the
keepsake has always been kept a secret
until it was presented to the members.
This year. when 1 learned that I Was to
be the host of the Last Mans club. / de-
ternlined to give my associates a genuine
surprise. So l sent abroad and ordered
thirteen hungarian opals. Now, although
these rare stones were ordered two months
ago, they did not arrive until today. L
called at the custom house, made the en-
try, paid the duty and received the goods.
I opened the little case containing the
gems. and was delighted with my pur-
chase. When exposed to the sunlight
numberless rainbow tints flashed forth
from a series of small flakes. The re-
Election came from surfaces of regular
dimensions. The goods We're imported
from kremnitz, and were all that could
be desired"
Now comes the queer part Of the story.
On account of some official red tape 1 was
not permitted to take the opals with me
Immediately, but was told to call for them
later in the day. AT the hour designated
l was too busy to go. SO / sent my conf
Dental clerk, Mr.. George West. He re-
ceipted for the stones and delivered them
at my residence. They were received there
by Mary Martin, an old family servant,
and she placed them on top of my desk in
the library. When I reached home at S
o'clock this afternoon the opals were
gone"
Gomez echoed Barnes.
Yes, gone" repeated the other despond-
emily. "A most careful search has been
made. and L nave not been able to locate
them anywhere"
but they had left the custody Of the
customs?" suggested the inspector.
Apparently" replied Potter. "Official-
ly l suppose you have no interest in the
matter. but l appeal to you on the score
of old friendship to help me find the
Well" sighed the chief, looking at the
cosey fire and then at his slippered feet,
IF you give me plenty of time l may trace
them"
Time" cried the other, excitedly,
there isn't a minute to spare. The dinner
is set for 8 o'clock. The money loss is
the least part of the affair. My wonder
full souvenirs are gone The di%sappoint-
ment will be intense
But surely the members are in ignor-
ance of this character of the surprise you
had in store for them?"
Most of them are" replied Potter, but
I let two of the boys into my confidence.
Only this morning l met Charles Hazard,
the secretary OF the club, and Howard
Winchell, the treasurer, and told them
what ] intended to spring on the boys.
But OF course that has nothing to do with
the case"
Probably not responded Barnes. but
In order to work ~irltelligently 1 must know
the names of all the persons who had any
knowledge Of the opals.'
quite right" scented the agftated
visitor. Now 1 think 1 have given you
all of the Information In my possession.
VIII you help me?"
"IIl try agreed the chief. But tell
me, has anyone else been in your house
Sipco Nom toIa,p,