Evening star., 1922-01-29


hands. Nobody worried about it. It
was just an old iron box. 1t has
probably been lying in lumber room
for years"
TITS been lying in my shop for
five months. Is it worth q great deal.
Isaac"
Isaac thoughtful1y stroked his chin.
II am OF opinion that IL it is undam-
aged it Is worth many thousand
pounds"
Jim looked aghast. "But only
gave six-and- -sixpence for the lot"
'It Is the fortune Of our profession" !"
The upshot Of it was that Jim left
the box in IJeac:s hands. At first
Isaac wished to waive the question
Of commission. but finally agreed to
sell It on q 10 per cent basis-fair
bargaining on both sides.
Jim returned home almost dazed by
the news. Was it fair to obtain such
a large sum Of money in such a way?
And yet, who should have it If not
he? The old lady had not even any
relations.
He said nothing about his find to
his wife or to Annie. He did not
wish to buoy them UP with false
hopes. Perhaps, after all, Isaac might
be mistaken. A thousand pounds!
Why. he could retire upon it to shor-
veil Green, where 1t was SO quiet
and peaceful. Eut no! Clara would
not agree to that. The Camden road!
JIa datoofad tba rop,dnp rood. tuf
still, there it was. Clara was his
wife. 1t vas only fair to consider
her wishes.
He went back to his work as
though nothing had happened. Weeks
went by and Jim heard nothing about
the enamel box. And then one morn
ing he received a note from Isaac
When he entered his friends shop
he knew that something exceptional
had happened. Isaac was excited.
Come into my little room," he said.
+ r y X
INIHES they were seated he elab-
w orately> produced a check from
his vest pocket and handed it across
share. I have kept my commission"
1t was a check for f4.14o. Isaac had
sold it for 1850 to a well known
collector.
The rest Of that day vas like a
dream to Jim. Truly, he returned
and pretended to be busy. In the
afternoon he even went out and trun-
died his barrow. calling out "old
iron. Old iron.'
II need not do this any more" he
thought. His mind was occupied
with many visions 1t was a bright
spring day. with light, f1eecy clouds
scudding above the chimney pots.
How beautiful it would be in that
Sussex valet The flowers would be
out. and the young pollard willows
reflected in the cooi streams. Pleas
ant to lie on the bank and fish and
forget this grimy life. And Annie
racing hither and thither. picking
the buttercups and marguerites and
! nesting by his side. Freedom
| Freedom by one of those queer twists
Of fate!
The day wore on, and he still con-
| tfnued his work in q dazed, preoccu-
pied manner. When evening came. a
| feeling Of exhaustion crept over him.
Yes; probably he was tired He
| wanted a rest and change. How
fortunate he was. And yet he dread
ed breaking the news to Clara. She
! would Immediately demand a COM
plete social upheava!-a new house.
! new furniture, luxuries and parties,
! social excitements. During supper
he was very silent.
! II win tell her. afterward." he
thought. Annie WAS in bed. She
/ should be told tomorrow. But to-
night ii must be broken to Clara,
After all. it was true. she was his
wife. He tried to recall the moments
| Of passion and tenderness Of the
early days OF their honeymoon. bu,
! all the other ugly visions kept dane
| ing before his eyes. But still. she
twas his wife. and II she wished to
live in the Camden road. we'll
It was nearly dark, and Clara went
| out Of the room humming. She
| seemed peculiarly cheerfut tonight
Almost as II she knew. He fingered
the check in his breast pocket. She
had gone upstairs. When she came
, down he would lay the check on the
table and say, Look. Clara! See
what has happened to u.s."
| And then he would be q little ten.
i der with her-try to make her UNI
derstand how he fe't. They would
start all over again.
! Jim was sitting there with his fin.
! gers on the check that was to be
their means of reconciliation and with
| the tears already banked in his un-
uttered speech when Clara; put her
head in the door. She had her hat
| on. She said, I'm going to the post.
| Jim removed his hand from his
breast pocket. He sat back and
heard the door slam. I'll tell her
when she comes in"
| But Clara never came in. He wait
ed half an hour. and then he thought,
"She's gone to some dissipation with
4 friend. I'm sorry she, has disap-
/ pointed mo on a night like this
| though"
| He sat dreaming in the chair till
! he became suddenly painfully aware
Of cold. 1t was quite dark. He
| lighted the gas. 1t was l o'clock
He felt his heart beating with q
physical dread. Something had hap.
pened to Clara. He blundered his
way out into the hall. where gas
jet hickered feebly. and sroped fol
his overcoat. On 1t he found a note
pinned. He turned up the gas higher