Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 14, Number 22, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 24 November 1883 — Page 6

6

mmm

THE MAIL

A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

[JFVOTO the Author'* Advance Proof Sheets.]

Mike Patchett.

Romance of the Gold Fields.

Br B. L. FARJEON.

Author of "Blade o' Qraw," "Grif," "Bread and Cbeese and Klnes," "Joahoa Marvel," Aa. $

[The story of "Mike Patchett" was com menoed in this paper Oct. 27th. Back numbers will be sent to any address on jrecelpjt ol Ave cents for each copy.]

CHAPTER XIII. THB THREE LETTERS.

Last week the reader left Mike Patchett and Horace in the room of the latter, who had yielded to the request of his strange acquaintance to read alood three letters which be had drawn from an old pocket—one tied with a red ribbon, the second with white and the third with blue. Here Is the

THB FIRST LBTTBB.

"THK SHIP IJTN,COHHAM, KKWT, ENGLAND, "January 14. "DBAR SIR: I have arrived in England, as you see, and you will be pleased to bear, although my health is not fully established, that the voyage has done me good. 1 bad a comfortable berth in the steamer, the table was liberally supplied and the passengers generally made themselves very pleasant. The captain was not companionable, but as he paid strict attention to his duties it would not do to find fault with him on that account. "We mado the passage, from pier to pier, in sixty-eight days. That is rather along pasfcage for a first-class steamer, but we were delayed by an accident to one of the engines, which put us back, ascording to the captain's reckoning, not less than five days. "It is a great happiness to me to find myself once more in the land of my birth. Living in Australia, with all its

Solden

chances, is something very much ke banishmeut, and I shall look forward to some future time to meeting you here, with your daughter, if my mission here is successful. You may depend I shall leave no stone unturned to make it so. "The first thing I did when I landed was to go to the nearest inn and order a pint of bitter ale, which I drank in one deep draught out of the pewter. This, 1 believe, is vyhat nearly every man does when he returns to England after along absence. There is no beef like English beer, and the pewter gives it a flavor which it does not possess when drank out of a glass. 'Having thus performed what I conceive to be an Englishman's duty to his native land, I took the train for London. "It Is a number of years since you have been there, but not many before I hope to lee you there. It is indeed a city of pleasure to those who have money to spend, as you have, and who can live in the style your health will enable you to command. I hailed witl#deligbt the ^numerous familiar sights with which 'the streets abound, and I walked through Temple Bar bareheaded. I was •n my way to Threadneedle street, where the liondon branch of the Colonial bank

Is situated. Having oashed the draft with wljtU'hyou furnished me, and delivered the letter of credit ^hich enables me to draw such unds aa I shall need In the prosecution of my task, I thought of our family, who were expecting my arrival, and decided to visit them at oaoe and ease their minds as to my safety, and afterwards to devote myself to my mission. am keeping a strict account of •ay expenses, which I shall be happy to submit to you in detail. Traveling, of course, is expensive living, a.so, and •uexpected charges crop up. But these 1 matters do not trouble, me, as I bear'is mind what you said in reference to itny task—that you were not at all particular about an extra three or four hundred pounds so long as it was carried out. "My family are scattered. Some live

In London, some in Dorsetshire, and it •ecupied me a fortnight to get my visits ever. My favorite sister was more than delighted to see me. and has listened in wonder to my gold-digging stories, in which, of course you figure. She is a deJvout woman and waa greatly exoited when I told her of the finding of the Sabered Nugget. I "Then I journeyed to Kent. "What 1 thought it best to do was to es ablish myself in some part of the county from which I could correspond and with facility make my inquiries. I cannot do that better than from Cobham, one of the villages in which you aaid I might be able to obtain some information. It is a most lovely spot* The woods and park are charming, and the place Is full of Interesting features. The population is small—between six and Jseven hundred, I should say—and some live here whose great-greatjrrand fathers lived here before them. There is a remarkable old church with fine brasses in

It, and a college almshouse for old people, and Cobham Hall, a notable man•Ion in the history of Kent. I will not dilate upon details of a village with which *you are doubtless familiar. What ^astonished me was to discolor in this sleepy hollo# an inn like the Ship, where a good meal and an excellent bottle of wine can be obtained at a moderate cost. "The time of year is not a favorable one to show off the beauties of even the loveliest vflllsga. In summer Ooftbami*

In its glory ond the people wake up: at other times they are more than half asleep. However, that does not affect the mission I am engaged on. "I inquired, as you directed me, for Mrs. Purdy, the name you informed me by which {should most easily find yoar wife. Some of the old people n*wt«nbered her, but no one could or en lighten me as to what had become ner. She had left the village years bef- *. one point all who had rwwmhioap1 her agreed. She must have been an wxse«dingly handsome woman. "Now, what struck m* as singular in the course of my Inquiries was that there Appeared tq be something known or suspected of her which none of be villagers would divulge. There was a mystery about her which excited my enrlosity, but though {endeavored to

Mt at the heart

of it I did not succeed. All that I have learnt Is that she was much admired and that she was very vain. All handsome women are so It* in their blood. If I were a handsome woman I ahould hatha same. So would you. "•oe tact MI dear—Mrs. Purdy bad not been seen in the vttlagr for eighteen jean.

^r"

"All this time I was foolish enough not to ask one question concerning her, and it only occurred to me at the end of three weeks' fruitless pumping. I was to speak to the miller over a friendly glass in the little room at the Ship—this miller is supposed to know more about Mrs. Purdy than any other man cr woman in Cobham—when I said to Mm: 'When Mrs. Purdy went away from the village, did sbe have a baby with her?' 'Yes,' he answered, 'she had a baby, and the baby's name was Peggy.' "Therefore I may say that I have a point to start from. It is established that

speak

whose name was Peggy. That is all I am enabled to report up to this date. "What I must do now is to cultivate the miller. If I can warm myself into his graces, and make myself a favorite with him, I may in a little while learn something from him which will help me in my mission. "I have nothing further to add to this communication except to express the hope that your claim in Peglegcontinues to turn out wdl. In the course of a few weeks I will write again. "I am, dear sir, "Your obedient servant, 1 "LBANDBB SMITH." "He writes like it," ssid Horace, fold ing up the letter and patting the red ribbon round it. •'He writes like what, Mr. Horace?" inquired Mike Patchett. "Like Leander Smith. That a man of the name of Smith should have been christened Leander is a very appropriate sign of this contradictory age." "There's nothing wrong in his being called Leander, is there?" "Nothing, Mr. Patchett, if this particular member of the Smith family is a good swimmer." "Sometimes," remarked Mike Patchett meditatively, "it's a puzzle to me to know whether yer in earnest or only laughing at me. He's a scholard is Mr. Leander Smith." "Is he?" "It takes a scholard to write sech letters as that. What der yer smile for? There's nothink wrong in it, is there?' "Nothing absolutely wrong. There is a dash of the guide book in it, and there is a monstrous deal of mustard to a very small portion of beef. By the way, aa he has to inquire for your wife, why does he inquire for her in the name of Mrs. Purdy instead of that of Mrs. Patchett? Pardon me. You saw a sign in my face just now and in return I see a sign in yours. I have touched a sore pointperhaps family secret, which is generally the sorest of points. Consider the question not asked." "I will Mr. Horace, with submission. It is a family secret, and I would rather keep it to myself. For all our sakes—for Peggy's most of all. Will yer read the second letter, sir?" "Certainly."

And Horace released It from it's white ribbon and read: THB SECOND LETTER. "215 GOWBR STREET, LONDON, "ENGLAND, March 18. "DEAR SIR: More than two months have elapsed since I wrote my last letter. If I remember aright, you instructed me to write only at those times when I had something important to wmmanloate. I have had until to-day nothing important or very definite to communicate, which explains my silence. Yet, as you will presently see, I have not been idle. On the contrary, indeed, I have been hard and|very anxiously at work in your interests, which I have not for one moment lost sight of. "In my last I informed you that it was my intention to cultivate the miller, in the hope of obtaining from him valuable information which he appeared desirous to withhold.

With this end in view I oonslderpd it wise to dfop for a time all reference to Mrs. Purdy and Peggy. Had I been too pertinacious it might have excited bis suspicions. I allowed it to be understood that I had wsolved to take up my residence in Cobban, in accordance with mf dootor's direction6 who declared (So I gave out) that the

Cobham air was pre­

cisely the air I needed to strengthen trie. My being somewhat weaklv-looking favored the presumption that I was in ill health, and the villagers were flattered at this testimonial to the balmy and healing nature of their ozone. The miller especially, was pleased. "'The doctor's a sensible man.' he said. 'There's no air 1 ike our air for the lungs. We'll make a new man of you.' "The miller is very asthmatic, and I could not help thinking it would be a good thing for him if the Cobham air would make a new man of him. In ursuanoe ot my resolve I threw myself nto his society, and made myself .generally agreeable to him. I asked his advice, listened to his stories, exchanged mild pleasantries witn him, and for quite a month did not spproach the subject of Mrs. Purdy. We became very intimate, and there was scarcely an afternoon that weoould not be seen together in the small tap room of the ship, discussing local matter* over a friendly glass. Occasionally he would indulge In jokesome reminiscences of the past, and I soon discovered that, in a shy wsy, he looked upon himself aa a regular Don Juan. 1 encouraged these harmless narrations, and bad many a userry jest with him with reference to the sex. There are some exceedingly pretty lassos in the village, and weeulogfised this one and that one in terms which would have been gratifying to them had they heard our conversation. I "The handsomest and straightest women in England," he said one day, 'are to be found in Kent. For beauty, hops and cherries, Kent against the world.' "This remark gave me an opening of which I availed myself. *'I should take you,' I said, 'to be forty yeaiaotdJI "I am fifty-eight,* be mid.

You surprise me,' I said, gazing at him in admiration. You don't look a day older than forty.'(Between yon and me be looked seventy.) 'Now, In your experience, as a judge of beauty, who would you set down as the handsomest and straightest woman in K« it?' "The handsomest and t.iiaighteat woman 1 ever saw,' be replied, In Kent oroutof Kent, was Mrs. l*urdy, the woman you were curious about when you first came to Oobham.' "I wiU tell you why I waa curious

Purdy*s equal

not to be found, and it there's O«M»thing excites me more than another it la when a handeome woman gets into my rniud.' "that's according to nature,' aaid the miller. 'It excites me too.* "To speak the honest truth,' I continued, 'I was curious to see whether, as a middle-aged woman, lire. Purdy retained her beauty. How many pretty girls have you known in your time who have grown up plain and ugly?* *-Many a score,' be said. 'There's that woman passing the window now, Mrs. Plum tree. You won't find a plainer not not to say uglier face in Kent than here. But twenty years ago sbe waa a mighty •uikL 1 ha vent admired beauty

pretty for no nothing, end give yon my Idea

of it. Women have either one season or four. More or less, theyareall nice look ing in Spring there's a freshness about them in that season which takes the eye end tickles the fancy. They're susceptible and frolicsome, and primming over with young life they step light and look bright. In Spring the commonest flowers have tender leaves. If the beauty is of the right sort the Summer ripens it, and it tickles some fancies a deal better than the Spring quality, Ripening in Summer, it will grow mellow in the Autumn, and with its white hair, in the Winter, is still agreeable to the eye. But if the beauty is not going to last— and it more often doesn't than does—the Summer tells a tale. Then instead of the sun ripening it, it draws all the goodness out of it, and almost before you can look round the pretty girl has grown into a very ordinary woman. It gets harder and coarser in the Autumn, and worse and worse in the Winter. That is why women have either only one season or four. Now Mrs. Puray was a beauty of the right sort, and if you could see her now you'd see most likely ss fine a woman of her age as you'd meet with in a day's march. When she was a maid all the young fellows, and some old ones too, went crazy after her, and sbe set some of them dancing to a pretty tune. She was full of mischief like a skittish young horse, there was no holding her. If she had had a fathei to keep a tight rein over her when she was a youngster she might have been steadier than she

Though after all, perhaps not. What's bred~in the bone will come out In the flesh. She had a mother who was onoe a country girl herself, but who was taken a fancy to by a fine lady who made her her lady's maid. Consequent! she got high notions in her head, an when she came back to the oountry, hav"g cities and traveledabout with her lady in foreign places, sbe gave herself airs and set herself above other people. It is more than likely that it was a case of like mother, like daughter I wasn't intimate enough with them to be sure of this, and I don't believe half I hear. The mother died and the daughter was left alone, a grown-up young woman, very well able to take care of herself. Sbe was a rare coquette, and could twist the cleverest man round her little finger, as the saying is. Then she married and had a baby. Her husband I heard got into trouble and left her, and that's all I know about her.'

I did not interrupt the miller once in the course of this long speech, as I hoped to bear something lrom him, that would assist me. I was greatiy disappointed when he finished, I was as far off from success as ever.

Villages are rare places for gossip,' I said. Everybody knows everything about everybody's business.'

Yes,' he said, 'while they are together. Knows everything! I should think they do. How much a week a man getshow many pints of beer he drinks a day—whether be beats his wife. Oh, yes, oIPB But when they go away so to speak, ana

all's known. they are rubbed out, what is heard about them is more lies than not.' 'Did Mrs. Purdy go away, then?' I

"'Why, of course she did. Didn't I tell you? Sbe went to London.' 'And never oame back I said,pricking up my ears. 'Xnd never came back," he replied, 'not for an hour, as I have ever heard.' 'Did she take her baby—Peggy, you said the child's name was.' 'Yes, the baby's name was Peggy.' 'Did she take Peggy with her "'Naturally.' "'Have you any idea what part of London she went to, and what she intended to do when she got there 'No,' said the miller 'I haven't any idea whatever. She did not tell her business to a soul in the village.' "That was the end of the conversation. "I had learnt something, at all events, and I felt that it would only be wasting time if I remained any longer in Cobham. The next morning 1 packed up and came to London. •'But, being here, it perplexed me more than you can imagine what steps to take first toward the discovery of your daughter. I had absolutely no point to start from. Eighteen years had passed since Mm Purdy came to London. Nothing was kno^n and nothing had been heard concerning her by those who were acquainted with her as a voung woman. I must confess that before I left Australia I did not realize the difficulties that lay in my way. Had you received a letter from her, or any news relating to her, it might have assisted me. The task ot finding your daughter with *uch information at my command as I possessed was really like looking for a needle in a very large bottle of hay. I was so much at a loss that I found myself walking the streets in search of handsome women of about the age of Mrs. Purdy, and of handsome girls about the age of Miss Peggy, and I actually did go up to two or three and say, 'I beg your pardon, is your name Mrs. Purdy 7' or 'I beg your pardon, is your name Peggy?' with the result that I very nearly got myself in trouble. "Clearly that plan would not do. One might have as reasonably expected that It would rain gold aa have expected to discover either of the iadiea by a method so wild. "The idea of .the Poetofflce Directory suggested itself to me. I bought a copy of that ponderous work and consulted it. There are numbers of Purdys in it I selected the most likely, and taking down their addresses, began to make pil1 could fill a volume, dear r, with details of my adventures,which occupied me a number of days, and brought vexation to my saul. But I think, In simple desperation as to what else to do, I should nave gone on with every Purdy in the directory had not a racial acquainance on the top of the omnibus, to whom, without mentioning I waa speaking of the task upon which I was engaged, said, 'If I were yon, I should advertise in the morning paper*.'"

CHAPTER

Xni.

THB SBOOND LETTER CONTINUED. "Tfce moment this advice was given I recognised its wisdom, and wondered that the idea of advertising in the papers bad not in the first instance occurred to myself. But in the execution of a difficult task, we often loee sight of thoee simple methods which are most likely to lead us straight to the goal we are anxious to reach. "You will perceive, dear sir, that in rendering you an account of my proceedings my aim is to be faithful, and that I do oot desire for myself any credit which is not fairly mine. It would be an esay matter for me to claim that tb*JdM*$f advertising for your daughter ongfaated with me, and with me only for who suggested It waa an to me and yon. Bat, a faithfulness in set and word and I wish you to have full 1M. "That evening I composed shadvar» tannL which on the following dav I inserted in fonr of the principal London daily papers, and also in two weeklies with large circulations. To-day is Friday —the day on which the mail for Australia cloees—and I have not sesn the week-

TERRS HAUTE SATURDAY EVMIM MAIL.

ly newspapers, but the advertisement, I which I copy for you in the next paragraph, has already appeared three times in the daily journals: 'PBGGY, OR POLLY PURDY—Should thfa meet the eye df a young lady of that name, born in the county of Kent, or the eye of any of her friends, she or they may hear something to her advantage by communicating with Mr. Leander

Smith, 215 Gower street, London." "I lost no time in setting this engine at work. I received the advice on the top of an omnibus on Monday evening last. On Tuesday I took the advertisement to the newspaper offices. On Wednesday it appeared for the first time. "During the whole of that day I was in a state of great anxiety. So that not a chance should be missed, I resolved not to leave the vicinty of my lodging for the remainder of the week, in case any one should call with reference to the advertisement, or that a letter should arrive by post which required immediate attention. But no person called, and no letter arrived up till eleven o'clock at night, when I retired to bed. In telling you that I paced Gower street foraspace of a dozen yards on each side of No. 215 for six or seven hours in the course of the day, looking out for the postman or for a visitor. 1 am telling you nothing more and nothing less than the truth. My labors were not rewarded. I went to bed at night no wiser than I had risen in the morning. I must confess to feeling a little discouraged. "I was up on Thursday morning before the first post was delivered, and received the letters for the house from the hands of the postman himself. There were none for me, and I wss disturbed by the reflection that failure might be my doom. Nevertheless, I paced the pavement again, to and fro, past the street door, for nearly the whole of the day. Nothing oocurred till night, when I observed three persons in the street who seemed to be making a speoial study of the street door of No. 215. They lingered on the right of it, and lingered on the left of it, and lingered before it. (This sounds something like a crib from a famous poem, but nothing is farther from my mind.) They stepped into the road and looked up at the windows of the first and second floors, and then they mustered courage to knock at the door. I answered the knock before the servant had time to do so, and asked them what their business was. The group I addressed consisted of an elderly man of the vagabond type, an elderly woman ditto, ditto, and a very thin girl whose age might be seven or eight. 'We want Mr. Leander Smith,' said the man. "I informed him that I was Mr. Leander Smith, and being now quite close to them I perceived that they had decidedly too much beer. Even the little girl had had her share. 'It's about that advertisement,' said the man. I waited and he continued:

Born in Kent, it said. We was all born there, me and the old woman and Peggy. Sometimes to her advantage. What Is it?' 'Your name, I presume,' I said, 'is unfortunately Purdy.' "He looked at me suspiciously. He did not like the work 'unfortunately.' 'Purdy it is,' he said, 'and so was my fsther's before me. Here you are—here

Purdy, and it's her father and

mother who's brought her to you. All tne way from Rucho-t®*, master.' 'I am sorry,' 1 said, 'that you nave been at the trouble and expense, because this young person is not the person I want.' 'Why isn't she?" he asked, growing

an,^he

is too young,' I answered^

"He produced the advertisement, snd held it out to me. 'It doesn't say anything about the young lady's age,' he remarked. 'It only says than Peggy or Polly Purdy is to communicate.' "He was right, and I saw that he was disposed to make a scene. I was compelled to satisfy him by calculating his expenses—in which a great many pints of Mer figured—and reimbursing him. adding of course, a trifle for his loss of time. I briefly narrate this incident as one of at least half a dozen which occured between that night and noon of the following day, Friday, the day upon which I am writing this letter to you. "Two hours ago I had the first gleam of hope. A note addressed to me wss delivered to the house. It continued but a few words, and was to the following effect: 'The writer will be happy Leander Smith at eight o'clock

"What think yer of that letter, Mr. Horace?" asked MikePatcnett. "There is still," replied Horace, "a great deal too much mustard for the quantity of beef served up." "That ain't entirely his fault," aaid Mike Patchett. "He couldn't tell what he didn't know. It was no easy task he had to do, and I'm bound to say he did it well, though it took longer than 1 thought it would. Ain't there a saying that all's well that ands well, Mr. Horace?'* '•Yes, and as this promises to end well, it would be ungracious to find fault with the peculiarities of Mr. Smith's correspondence. Does this next letter with the blue ribbon around it explain everything to date?" "It explains everything,** aaid Mike Patchett, "and sets every thing straight, You'll find that it didntcometilla long time *atter the one you've jest read. There was other letters between 'em, as come to the bank manager here, which ain't material in the way of explanation. When thisseooad letter come I got the manager of the bank to write to Mr. Leander Immediate, telling him to set downeverythink exactly saltoccured so th^t I might know tbelay of the land. Mr. Leander got these instructions about the time he wan winding up the job be undertook for me, and the letter you're now going to read was wrote in answer.'

MItislike

it'll begin happily enough, taking it for granted that my Peggy will be satisged with her old father, and not turn her back on him. I look for'ardf with fear and trembling, Mr. Horace, to the meeting on the pier but what's the use of woriiting? It's like flying in the face of the shadder of the crow that fust put hope into my heart on Pegleg. No, no— the dark days are over, and there's a bright future afore me and Peggy." "I am sure I hope so," said Horace, and proceeded to read the last letter.

THB THIRD LBTTBR.

"21b GOWBR STREET, LONDON, "ENGLAND, July 29. "DKABSIR—Your esteemed favor, per the manager of the Colonial Bank, has duly arrived, and I beg to acknowledge its receipt. In it you ask me to furnish you with the particulars relating to the discovery of your daughter, and I hasten to comply with your request. The point to commence at is that at which I concluded my letter of March 18 where I was desired to call at an indicated address in South Lambeth road. "Exactly at eight o'clock I presented myself at the house, which wss a small tenement inhabited presumably by poor people. I knocked, and a woman came to the door. A decent looking woman, commonly dressed, belonging to the working classes. Before I left the house I discovered that she took in wsshing for a living. At the moment of jny entrance she was ironing clothes. "I informed her that I had come in consequence of the letter which had been left at my lodging, and she asked me to sit down. 'Was it you who sent the letter I ftskod* "'Well,' she answered, 'It was and it wasn't.' 'That is somewhat difficult to understand,' I said. 'Here is the letter. Your writing, I suppose?' 'No,' she said, laying a flounced petticoat on the deal table and proceeding to iron it, 'it's not my writing—that's

'Then, if you are not the writer, it is not you who would be happy to see me.' '"Bless you,' she said amiably, 'I'm happy enough to. see you and you're welcome to stop if it's agreeable to you. You're not pressed lor time, I dare Bay. My old man will be home in a minute or two, and it's he who wants to speak to you about the advertisement.' "I may here remark, parenthetically, that I do not pretend to produce the exact language of the woman and the other arsons I have conferred with ou your business. The woman was evidently a very ignorant woman, without education or refinement, and it will be no loss to what 1 have to say if I pay some small regard to grammatical obrrectness in setting down her words. 'He hasn't come home from work,' I said 'doing overtime, most likely "'Hedon't work,' said the woman he's too much of a gentleman.' 'Then, it is you who keeps the family.' 'There's no family to keep exoept ourselves.' "'Not Miss Purdy?' I asked, hazarding the suggestion, 'For, of course she lives with you.' 'That she does not,' said the woman. 'Where does she live, then 'Well, to tell you the honest truth— but here's my old man, just in time to atop my "Her latchkey, e»»w«~— —_ of knocking at the door. He was not well dressed, but there was something gentlemanly in hie manner, which at times struct me as being rather thea-

•e's my old man, just in time toMj^msn', being in possassitm-ofw y, entered without the ceremony

tr"^Oh,'

to see Mr. this even­

ing with reference to his advertisement respecting Miss Purdy.' "The address given was in South Lambeth road. "I cannot explain why I feel that this will lead to some satisfactory result. There is nothing in the note to inspire hope, but I am decidely sanguine, without Deing able to explain why. It is tantalizing that the interview is not to be held until after the closing of the Australian mail, and that it will be a month before I can communicate with you again. In the meanwhile you must restrain your impatience, natural enough under such oircumstenoee as yours. Apart from any pecuniary benefit which 1 may derive from the success of my mission, it will be a great happiness to me to bring a daughter to her father's arms. ,, "I have barely time to catch the mail With sincere respect and esteem, snd trusting that everything is well with you, I have the honor to remain, dear air. Your ooedient servant, "LBANDBR SMITH."

a novel in three volumes,

Mr.* Patchett,** aaid Horace, with a pleasant smile, as be took the blue ribbon from the third letter, "with a happy ending to the story." "Ah, sir,** aaid Mike Patcbet*gravely, "it's a story in two parts. The first is done with, the second's about to

According to appearance

he said, familiarly, as though

he and I were old acquittances.'you are here already. Leander, Smith, I presume.' 'That is my name,' I answered. 'You are punctual, sir,' he said. Can I offer you some refreshment "The woman looked at him in wonder by which understood that to offer some refreshment watt as much as could be expected of him. 'Thank you,' I said, but I have just dined. I oame straight here from Simpson's*9 *Ah,' he said, 'a cut off the joint. A bit of fish for a first course, with a pint of sherry. Saddle of mutton to foUow.

OIIVFI WWMVI4V The best dinner in London for and Englishman who does not care for kick SbftWB*' "This speech was sufficient to oonvince me that he and his wife did not belong to the same station in life. An odd union, I thought as I glanced from one to the other but my .anxiety was too great to devote much consideration to a human contrast which is not at all uncommun in this wonderful city. "'Shall we proceed to business? I

**"^1 "have no objections,' he replied,and then be addressed his wife. 'Mary Anne, tako a walk** "She obeyed without a murmur put her irons in the fire, folded up the flounced petticoat, and went from the

r°"'Women

are indiscreet,' be observed,

when we were alone. 'In a Matter of business they area thousand times better oot of the way than in the way. 'I hope you do not send her away on my account.'

A

'Partly. I thought it might not be agreeable to you to have too many witnesses. There is, if you will pardon my ssying it, an air of mystery about such advertiseasents as yours which seems to mean secrecy.' ... "I became suddenly suspicious of him. •Are you a detective?' I asked. »What 1 am or am not,' be said, *ia not material to you, I take it, if I can be of any assistance to yon.' ••If I echoed. 'ThfiW is a doubt,

^""ihere is nothing certain in life,' be •aid, 'except death. In the matter we are conversing upon everything will depend upon drcumstsnces. We must d^i cautiously with each other. It is natural that you should be suspicious of me, it is natural that I shduld be suspldotis of you. We are at praaent stranmn—to be better acquainted, possibly, if we can arrive at an understanding. But that depends. You must satisfy me upon certain points. Your name is really Leander Smith.' 'It is,' 1 said, not knowing exactly what to think of the man who had invited me to meet him. 'I have

aeaos iv ww ni?wii ww ily that I began to bav the man, and I plunged serous and debatable gi

90

seed

of and alias.* 'Can you furnish me with proof that your name is Leander Smith and that yon are the gentleman who pat the advertisement in the paper respecting Miss Purdy?* ••Had there not been so much at stake believe I ahould have terminated the interview there and then. It seemed as if he bad sought the Interview not to impart information but to extract it. However, I kept my indignation in cheek, teaolviog at the aame time- to be exceedingly cautions in my dealing with him. «I had in my pockft a mass of evidence which I produced and showed him. A letter from my sister, receive^ that week, with the addressed envelop I and commencing 'My dear Dsand^jcj, I duplicate of a draft on the bafo order contained the words, 'Psy t^ noalpte of Leander Smith, Esq.'

"With th^^

•P

I for the payment of the advt»tisements in the newspapers. These he examined with care and returned to me. 'Quite satisfactory,' he said, 'fexcuss 1 the caution I am exhibiting, Lonct-in is so full of adventurers that any man, »ot being you, might represent you. in tb hope of making something out of it. Advertisements are inserted in the papers very often as a trap. Now, what 1 desire to know is that no harm is intended to the young lady in question.' b.&"

Whatever is done with reference to her,' I said, 'will be distinctly to her advantage. You appear to take a great interest in her. It is not unreasonable, therefore,, to assume that you are ac-,

quainted with her and can produce her.' "He smiled, shook his heed and said: 'It is not your turn yet to ask questions, There are preliminaries, which we have not spoken of. Now.I am acandid manr and will not disguise from you that 1 am looking out for my own advantage as well as the young laay's. Would yon know her if you saw her?' 'I will be equally candid.' I replied. 'I should not know her. I have never seen her.'

i-

A •_

'Are you a Londoner?' 'Yes.' 'You look as if you were a traveled man.' 'I have been pretty well sll over the world.' 'As far as America, perhaps.' 'Say Australia, which is a good many thousands of miles farther.' "'I infer that you have come front Australia lately?' 'I have—within the last year.' 'Perhaps,' he said, looking me full in the face,' upon this very business.' 'Perhaps, I said, but this is my business, and ao not, as far as I am awareof, concern you.' 'We will not wsste time in disputing whether it does or not. You saia that appeared to take an interest in the young laay. But with you there is something ,1 more than anappearance of interest—it is a real live Interest you take in her, and I should say a great deal depends upon it. Well, then the discovery will be worth something substantial. I come now to a vital point. What is the reward?' 'To whom.' V* 'To the person who puts you on the track of Miss Peggy or Polly Purdy, and whs will be instrumental in bringing you together?' 'By which person,' I said, 'you mean yourself.' }y 1 tint assenting nod, 'I mean myself. "This branch of the subject, I mustadmit, had not entered into my calculations. Ordinary expenses I waa' by your instructions, prepared for^ but here waa something quite out of my reckoning. It was easy enough to see that the man I had met intended to stick out for a substantial reward. 'Does it not occur to you,' I said, 'that such reward—if any—' "'Depends,' I continued, 'upon the value of the services rendered in the prosecution of the inquiry?' 'Does it not occur to you,' he retorted, 'that su'ch reward without—without the 'if any'—depends upon the value the gentleman who offers

hiB

services places

upon them? That is the more businesslike wsy of putting it.' 'In that case,' I said, and I felt myself growing very serious, 'the amount of the reward would have to be fixed before the servioes are rendered.' be"doneff

Yr

%hat

18

have to

"And he eyed me coolly and commenced to make a cigarette. "For a moment or two I was at a loss the man before me waa evidently a shrewd bargainer, and I was once more in doubt whether his purpose was not to extort money from me. There were, however, but two courses to pursue— either to discontinue the conversation or to ascertain his views. 'We will discuss the subject,' I said, 'in a practical manner. Every man ia-j worthy of his hire time is money.' "He interrupted me again. 'Do you propose,' be asked, 'to pay me at so much 1 per day?' 'Yes, if it is agreeable to yon.' 'It is not agreeable to me. What I stipulated for is slump sum—part in advance, the balance upon completion of the contract.' 'Will the contract occupy along or a short time in its completion?' 'Some few weeks, I should ssy.' 'Then yon cannot lead me to Miss Pnrdv immediately?' 'No, I cannot promise that. I will give you another proof of my candor. Unless I am much mistaken, you are working in the dark, and have no point to start from. The lever, my dear sir,, the levers you have no crevics in which to fix it. Nov I am on the track, and must work my own way. Were I tomake you as wise aa I am, I should lose my sdvantage over you, which I Intend to keep tillTam fairly paid. No man in the world could speak more plainly.' 'Plainly enough, in all conscience,' I aaid. 'You will not mind perhaps enabling me in some wise to judge whether your information and assisti really likely to bring tl cessful issue. There being aMiss Purdy in existence-' I paused purposely.* "•Oh,' be said, 'there is certainly a Miss Purdy in existence.' 'There waa, or is, necessarily a mother.' "He answered without hesitation. •There was, necessarily, a mother. There is no longer one—there being no vital necessity tor the existence of mother. Mrs. Purdy is in another and, let us hope, abetter world.' ••This waa the first intimation I received, my dear sir, that your wife is dead. It waa given se frankly and readto have confidence in boldly into dangerous ano oenataoie ground. 'To the point then, at once, 1 said. 'How mora do you ask for your serViC6S?^ "His answer staggered me. 'Fivehundred pounds,' be said. 'Yon can't be serious,' I said, when I recovered myself. 'I sm quite serious,' be responded. 'One hundred and fifty pounds down, the balance when 1 bring yon face to face with Miss Purdy. You are astonished, I perceive you require time to consider the proposal. Take it: take a week. Next Fridsy night, at thia hour, I will be happy to meet yon here, when yon can give me your answer. After tbst night I raise my terms. Perbspe, In the meantime, you may obtain a clue which will enable you to dispense with my eistance. I wish you every successor"* without me—mark my words, sir—without me, Peggy

IP

stance are

the affair to a sue-

Pardy,*toeaeh

self will be forever Strang^ po^j other. That I do not ioe^mmedlately giving me an «n83£ther I have conshould prove to you resources. I wish fldence in my g%» you a good ev#

roee mD(j waJked

to tbe

it.

Before I went out I

door and M^Jwill take tbe week to eaulderyour 4-oposal. Is there absolute! ao abatement in yonr terms?'

There is,' be replied, 'atmlntely ne abatement.' «pray favor me with yonr name,' I aaid, 'in case I want to write tcyou.'

Omtbmtd cm Bfmih Pm*.