Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-07-19

cess VI OpSuluS anu Te5lzluE q Ten
days accumulation of correspondence,
an occupation which he suspended
temporarily to call his clerk in and
receive his report This proved to be
a tolerably lengthy session, Cor She
clerk, whose name appeared to be
Frank, demonstrated his command of
a surprising memory. Without Eotes
he enumerated the callers at tie Of
fee day by day from the time when
Labertouche had left for the &5fussil
with his specimen box and THE rest
of his bug-hunting paraphernalSs; nam
infinitely describing all othhgs. even
repeating their words With almost
Photographic fidelity.
Labertouche listened in'ently, with
out interrupting. abstract sly tapping
his desk with paper-cutser At the
end he said Thank YOU with a dry,
preoccupied air; and rss-Aned conSid-
Grafton of his letters. These seemed
to interest him little; ene after the
other he gave to his Gserk, saying:
File that" or "AnswfsS that so-and-
thusly" Two he sst aside for his
personal disposition, and these he
took up again aftef the clerk had
been dismissed. tbs first he read
and reconsidered fos a long time;
then crumpled it up and. drawing to
him a small tray of hammered brass,
dropped the wadded paper upon 1t
and touched match to 1t, thoughtful
ly poking the blazing sheets with his
paper-cutter until they were altogeth-
er reduced to ashes.
Quains was the second letter. Hav-
ing merely glanced at the heading and
signature, Labertouche had reserved
the rather formidable document-for
Quain had written fClly-as probably
of scant Importance. to be dealt with
at his absolute leisure. But as he
read his expression grew more and
more serious and perturbed. Finish
ing the last page he turned back to
the first and went over 1t a second
time with much elaboration and fire.
quent pauses, apparently memorizing
portions Of its contents. Finally he
said, "Hum-m!" inscrutably and rang
for Frank.
HE left New York by the Lusitania,
eh?" said Mr.. Labertouche aloud The
clerk entering interrupted his solilo-
guy. Bring me, please" he said,
Bradshaw, the Newsstand the latest
P. & o. schedule" And when Frank
had returned with the articles, he
desired him to go at once and enquire
at Government house the whereabouts
of Col Dominick James Farrell, and
further to search the hotels of Cal
cutta for Miss Farrell, or for infor-
nation concerning her. Have this
for me tonight-come to the hunga-
low at seven" he said. And i.
shall probably not be at the Office
again for several days"
'Tnsects?" enQuired the clerk.
insects" affirmed Mr. Labertouche
gravely.
I'm the Mofussu?"
There or thereabouts, Frank"
yes, sir / presume you don't feel
the need Of a capable assistant YETI"
mot yet, Frank" said Labertouche
kindly. BE patient. Your time will
come; you're doing famously now"
Thank you
Good afternoon. Lock the door
as you leave"
Immediately that he found himself
alone, Labertouche made Of Quain's
letter a second burnt Offering to pre-
JUDGE upon the tray of hammered
brass.
This matter attended to, he lost
himself in Bradshaw and the PENN
sular & Oriental Steamship companys
list of sailings; from which he de-
rived enlightenment He was to come
direct" unused Labertouche. In that
case he'll have waited over in Lon
don for the Poonah" He turned to
the copy of the Indian Daily News
which lay at his elbow, somewhat anx-
iously consulting its shipping news.
Under the heading of Due this Day"
he discovered the words: "Poonah.
London - Calcutta - Straits Settle
ments." And his face heightened with
concern.
That's short notice." he said
Lucky l got back today-uncommon
lucky! Still / may be mis-
taken" But the surmise failed 10
comfort him.
He drew a sheet of paper on which
there was no letter head to him and
began to write. composing deliberate
ly and with great care.
The building in which his Offices
were located stood upon a corner; at
either end Of the long corridor on the
upper floor, upon which the various
Offices opened, were stairways. one
descending to Dhurrumtolls,. street
the other to side street little better
than an alley. II may be considered
significant that, whereas Labertouche
himself was not seen either to enter
or to leave the building at any time
that day, an Attit mendicant did enter
from Dhurrumtollah street shortly
after Frank had gone to lunch-and
disappeared forthwith; while, in the
dusk Of evening, a slim Eurasian boy
with clerkly air left by the stairs TO
the alley