The sun., 1909-06-06

Of my betraying your secret Then
explained briefly that possession by tn,
, minister of the gold pieces paid to hei
and her husband had inspired my guess
Billy didn't give them to him.
poor Florence gasped, .he wasn't tha,
silly to pay 90 much for Ave dollar job
See. have them with me now. Billy
wante1 me to buy a hat
persuaded her first TO walk around
the coins were genuine.
You will befriend US. Mr.. Snifen,
pleaded Florence as We proceeded on oul
way: Both papa and Judge Precedent
think 30 much OF you; they used to think
worlds, Of each other too. before they, had
know what We shall do il they are not
reconciled; there is no light. no hope.
Oh. I am 80 miserable
'Miserable'. Why.you we're just going
That was why retorted Florence
The afIable cashier at the mint gave
Florence's two gold pieces the very best
Of characters.
..Yes, indeed he said. -as good as
gold OF the standard weight and finenees
can make them. Why: il is pleasure to
OF lot that had been shipped hack and
forth across the Atlantic as bullion for
fifty years without once being uncasked.
IL all came out, don't you remember. in
some famous trial or other few years
ago? BY the way. there is a dan gerous
counterfeit out, we are advised. 1should
like to see il"
Let me accommodate you ventured
and indeed he gave the two coins had
got from Mr.. Mincey the very worst OF
characters.
With the plot 80 thickened there was
obviously only one thing to do, l called
on the Rev. MIR. Mincey and demanded
his reasons for having said that the two
counterfeits came primarily from the
Neifs, remarking as an aside that II he
did not do so some other condolences Of
his sacred Office might come to en- un-
pleasant Eight After the usual clerical
indirections he complied. and then it
] seemed to see how ] might not only
smooth the love course Of Florence and
Billy but also confirm the Eeiffs. male
and female. in their feeting good for
tune.
".
| found old Peter Bullion mentally
counting over his money in an easy chair
by the fireplace. He was a large man.
who looked as il he had just eaten some
thing greasy in hurry.
| you know me we'll enough ! began.
TO feel that would not ask anything
unreasonable OF you."
That remains to be SEEM he growled
suspiciously. As a general rule II Is
unrea easonable to ask anything
Il want you to tell me the true cause OF
your quarrel with Judge Precedent. that
Is II II had any cause at ALL I added
adroitly.
ANY oause1' he snorted alphabetically.
sHe allowed some fool Of an expert to
brand as counterfeit certain consi en-
ment OF double ca giles to which my house
had certified and then shut on all further
evidence"
did you examine the coins'-
Il didn't need to examine them, I
knew
what II this was one OF them''
He took the coin with the hopelessly
bad character handed him, scrutinizing
date. engra wing and milling and sound
ing 1t on his thumb nail and the mottled
red OF his face dwindled piteously into a
mottled gray.
'As false as hell" he fs'tered. -and the
same issue"
Perhaps the Judge. as Judges often do,
knew more about the case than he had a
right to tell Perhaps he was really try.
ing to serve what he thought your best
interests. What them
Then I would beg his pardon from my
heart" and the arrogant old fellow act
ually looked as II he had heart.
Very good said 7. rising hastily and
hurrying away before he could reply
be In the Neiffs' room In half an hour
and you may have the blessed chance 10
do So
found Judge Precedent, mentally re-.
writing his opinions. on the settle in the