The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1912-08-13

him. and haunting activity which
drove him from the lock to the Inn.
and again from the inn to the lock
maddening. / had been for some
hours whipping the mill.stream, which
lies over against the LIGHTHOUSE AZ
Pangbourne; but meeting with no So
cess amongst the club which on this
particular July evening were aggrava-
tingly indifferent even to the succulent
frog. | had punted to the bushes in
the open river; and there lit my pipe
and fell to speculation upon him who
favored me with SO close an atten-
ton. l have said that he was con-
spicuous man. and to this | owed IL
that / had seen him. He wore the
straw hat of Jesus college, Cambridge.
and velvet coat which shone brown
and greasy in the falling sunlight;
but his legs were eDcased in salmon.
pink riding breeches. and he had
brown boots reaching to his knees.
! sat theirs. in turn wondering II he
were honest or a rogue. an adventurer
OF an idler, a river-man or q fop from
Piccadilly. And as the problem was
beyond me. left IT at last land taking
up my punt-pole | gave three or four
vigorous thrusts which sent me i'm
mediately to the landing-stage of the
Swan Inn. and thence to my room.
l could hear by no means In
harmonious music floating out over
the water from girls guitar; there
were several launches waiting for the
lock-gates; and | recall we'll the face
OF very remarkable woman, who
presently came TO the landing-stage in
gig. the cushions of which were
OF an aggressive yellow, but one which
was a striking contrast TO her black
hair and ivory-white skin. Quite apart,
however, from her lndisputable beauty.
] had reason to watch this conspicuous
oarswoman, for no sooner had she
come to the landing-stage than the
man in the velvet coat went to her
assistance, and taking a number OF
bags and baskets from the boat. ac.
companied her up the village high
street, and so carried her from my
view.
Here then, thought /. is the end OF
my mystery. The man had been wait.
ing for the return OF his wife. when l.
with preposterous conceit, plumed my
self that he had been looking to speal.
with me.
One dimes up river, as most people
know, in semi-public state. Loafers
loiterers, fruit-sellers, boatmen-all
these congregate near the open win.
dow, and discuss verbally the dishes
which the diner discusses more sub
stantially, Custom so stales us that
this publicity in no way interferes
with our pleasure. forgot the ri
diculous romance OF the Velvet.coated
man, and even his existence. until OF
sudden he presented himself, nc
longer watching me upon the bridge
but standing at the easement, and ask
Ing to be admitted
I'm most horribly sorry" said he
ito intrude upon you at your dinner
but my train leaves for town I'm ten
minutes, and / particularly want your
opinion upon something which they
tell me you know more about than any
man in England"
by all MEANS" said /. but your
estimate of my opinion is hopelessly
fattering; 1t concerns jewels, l sup
pose?"
Exactly" said he; and l shall be
under very large obligations to you
If you will tell me whether two ON
eralds | have in my pocket are oil
any value. and If so, where would be
the best place to dispose of them?"
He took little paper box from hi.
coat, and laid it near to my plate.
saw that II was a box which had con
tanned tabloids of nitro-glycerine G.
drug prescribed for disease OF tn,
hearth; and that it had been sold By
chemist OF the name of Benjamin
Vain. whose shop was in the Higl
street at Reading. These things l OBJ
served with my intuitlve habit o
grasping detail. learnt In long conten
ton with rogues: and then forgo
them as the man opened a screw o
/ tissue paper. and ] beheld two of tn,
finest emeralds / have seen during M
career.
Well" said he, after a pause, do
you find much the matter with them p
- should want my glass to se9y
said / with caution; the light is fail
ing. and my eyes are not as good al
they were"
You mean magnifying glass.
SUPPOSE" said he, producing a len
from his pocket well, l happen t,
/ have one"
Why St was I cannot tell you, bu
this trining circumstances I marked
down in my mind as my first soun,
cause OF suspicion against him.
They are fine stun" said I; ID,
\ you happen to know where they COM
/ from ?"
OF believe they come from SALE
burg bee stammered; "at least ! hav
/ heard So"
THAT could not possibly be-" sal,
/ ]. the worst emeralds we have ar
\ the best product of that mine / fame.
I they are from Venezuela"
"Ah that's the place" said he, "
/ remember &c now: but I've q wretchel
head for geography"
While he said this the train to Lon
I don steamed out Of the railway sta
ton. which IS not n stones throw
from the mn. and be, forgetful of hii
tale to me. sat watching II unconcern
eddy ! had discovered him In sec
ond lie. and ] waited TO entrap him {,