Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-04-29

minus, Jasper aWak1ng from refresh
ing sleep, drew aside the curtain and
watched Mr. Etheridgs get out. waited
until he approached the cab-stand
then following up behind him nearer.
heard him tell the cabman to drive
him to Kings Hotel. Coyent Garden.
to the square in which his chambers
were situated, dismissed the cab, and
saw it crawl away out of sight, and
climbed up the staircase which served
as the approach to the many doors
which lined the narrow grim passages.
On one of these doors his name was
/ Inscribed in black letters; he opened
this door with key, struck light.
and lit a candle which stood on a
ledge, and entered small room which
served for the purpose of a clerks
office and clients waiting-roon.
Beyond this, and communicating by
a green baize door, was his own bust
ness-room, another in which he slept.
and beyond that smaller room.
~He entered this, and holding the
light on high allowed its rays to fall
upon man lying curled upon a small
bed.
I He was a very small man, with a
thin, parchnent-lined face, crowned by
cIogecropped hair, which is ambigu-
ously described as auburn.
This was Jaspers clerk. factotum.
slave. He it was who sat n the outer
Office and received the visitors, and
ushered them into Jasper's presence
or put them off with excuses.
He was a singular-looking man, no
particular age or individuality. Some
of Jasper's friends we're often curious
as to where Jasper had picked him up.
but Jasper always evaded the ques-
ton or put it by with some jest, and
i Scrivell's antecedent remained mys-
terry.
That he was a devoted and neved
firing servant was palpable to all; III
Jasper's presence he seemed to live
only to obey his will and anticipate his
wishes. Now, at the first touch OF Jas
per's hand, the man started and sat
bolt upright, screening his eyes from
the light and staring at Jasper expect
antly.
Awake, Scrivell?" asked Jasper
Eyes, sir quite was the reply; and
indeed he looked as il .e had been on
the alert for hours past
That's right. / want you. Get UP
and dress and come into the next
room. I'll leave the candle"
"You needn't, sir" was the reply.
81 can see"
Jasper nodded.
Il believe you can-like a cat" he
said. aud carried the card with him.
In few minutes-in a very few
minutes--the door opened and scrivell
entered.
| lie looked woefully thin and enamel
ated, was dressed in an old but still
respectable suit of black, and might
have been taken for an old man but
for the sharp. aielt look in his gray
eyes, and the sandy hair, which
showed no signs of gray.
Jasper was sitting before his dress
ing-tabie opening his letters, which he
had carried in from the other room,
''Oh, here you are" he said. Il want
you to go out"
Scrivell nodded.
do you know Kings Hotel. Covent
Garden?" asked Jasper.
Kings? Yes, sir
Well, want you to so down there
He paused, but he might have known
the man would not express any sur
prise.
Eyes, sir" he said, as coolly as If
Jasper had told him to go to bed
again.
Il want you to go down there and
keep a lookout for me. A gentleman
has just driven there, an old man,
rather bent, with long white hair. Un.
derstand?"
HE will probably go out the first
thing. quite early | want to know
where he goes
"only the first place he goes tor
was the question.
To be continued