The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-03

were walking. the three OF us, doWH
Corporation Street to the :
Offices.
1t is no use our being at al. before
our time" said our client. II only
comes there to see me, apparently
for the place is deserted up 70 the
very hour he names
That is suggestive remarked
Holmes.
by Jove, l told YOU So" cried the
clerk. That's he walking ahead of
US there"
He pointed to a smallish, dark,
WelI-dressed man who was busting
along the other side of the Q AS
we watched him he looked across at
a boy who was bawling out the latest
edition Of the evening ape and run
ming over among the cab and busses,
he bought one from him. Then,
clutching it in his hand, he vanish
ed through a doorway.
There he goes" cried Hall Ply
croft These are the company's Of
fees into which he has gone. Come
with me, and I'll fix it up as easily
as possible"
Following his lead. we assembled FIVE
stories, until we found ourselves out
side a half-opened door. at which our
client tapped. A voice within babe US
enter, and We entered a bare, unfur-
niShed room such as Hall PycrOft a
described. AT the single table sat the
mar whom we had seen in the street,
with his evening ape spread out in
front Of him, and as he looked up at
US it seemed to me that I had never
looked upon a face which bore such
marks Of grief, and Of something be-
yond grief-of a horror such as comes
to few men in a lifetime. His brow
g~listened with p~erspiration, his cheeks
were Of the dull, lex white Of a fish's
hof1U and his oyno u,oro uTtJ1 ND
staring. He looked at bis clerk
a though he failed to recognize
him, and / could see by the
the establishment depicted upon our
conductors face that this was by no
means the usual appearance Of his
employer.
You look i'll, Mr.. Pinner!" he ex-
claimed.
Yes, l am not very WELL" answered
the other. making obvious efforts to
pull himself together. and licking his
dry lips before he spoke. Who are
these gentlemen whom you have
brought with YOU"
zone is MI. Harris, of Bermondsey,
and the other is Nj. Price, of this
town" said u clerk, glibly. "They
are friends of mine and gentlemen Of
experience, but they have been out Of
a place for some little time, and they
hoped that perhaps you might find
an opening for them in the compa-
ny's employment"
Very possibly! very possibly
cried Mr.. Primer with a CHASTITY smile.
Eyes, l ave no doubt that we shall
be able to do something for you. What
is your particular line, Mr.. Harris? ?"
II am an accountant" said Holmes.
All, yes, we shall want something
of the sort. And you, Mr.. Price?
"A clerk" said L.
Il have every hope that the com
pany may accommodate you. I will
let you know about it as soon as we
come to any conclusion. And now I
beg that you will go. For Gods sake
leave me to myself!"
These last words were shot out of
him, as though the constraint which
he was evidently setting o himself
had suddenly n utterly burst asun-
der. Holmes and l glanced at each
other, and Hall Pycroft took a step to-
wards the table.
You forget. Mr.. Primer. that. I am
here by appointment to receive some
directions from you" sal he.
certainly, Mr.. Pycroft, certainly
the other resumed in a calmer tone.
You may wait here a moment; and
there is no reason why your friends
should not wait with you. I will be
entirely at your service in three min
utes, if I might trespass upon your
patience SO far" He rose with a very
courteous air, and, bowling to US, he
passed out through a door at the far
ther end Of the room. which he closed
behind him.
VIVA now" whispered Holmes.
Us he giving US the slip?'
Impossible answered Pycroft.
why SOP"
That doc leads into an inner
room"
None"
rs It furnished ?"
1T was empty yesterday"
Then what on earth can he be do
ing? There is something which I
don't understand in this matter. If
ever a man was three parts mad with
terror, that mans name is Primer.
HI can have put the shivers on
him 2"