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tfO-OAY'S SHORT STORY.] An…

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tfO-OAY'S SHORT STORY.] An Eventful Day. By MABEL COLUNS. [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] Bthel, I have got promotion! I did not sxpeot ift quite so soon!" The girl to whom this was said, in a quick soft whisper, slowly raised her head. Her brown eyes were somewhat shyly lifted, but they looked frankly and clearly into George Marchmont's, which were so steadily fixed on her. In a, moment he had moved away, and Ethel's head was again beret over a. big ledger which lay open before her. She was a, cashier and book-keeper at Ster- ling and Smith's, oaie of the large Regent-I street jewellers. It was a well-paid post, a.nd a very good one. But she had looked" forward for years to the happy doay when she would resign from it. That would be very soon now, for it depended only on George Marehmomt getting his pro-motion. He was one of the salesmen, and had proved himself worthy of great confidence. He had cherished the hope far some time toot in a year at most he would 00 placed in such a. position that he would be able to marry. And all had been told to Ethel in. that brief whisper; in the glance inter- changed all was said between thein. At luaich-time she had an Hour free. She did not often go out oÎ the shop, but to-day she put on her hat and went out. She turned into a little aide street, knowing that George would come to look for her there, and so he did—and immediately that he was near enough to speak low he asked her bow soon the wedding might be. "Give your notice this afternoon, dear," be said, "Don't delay a single day! And let lis be married directly it is up." And. in a moment or two Ethel was again at her desk, and George at his place in the showroom. It was a very busy afternoon, and George went steadily on exhibiting jewels, for the safety of which he was responsible. A group of three gentlemen came in to- gether. Ethel looked up as they entered. and was struck by the face of one, which site felt sure she had seen before. It was not this which attracted her attention, for she beoame familiar wÜh many faces of persons whom she did not know from seeing them in the shop. It was the character of the head which interested her; long, narrow, dark- skinned with strange, brilliant, intense eyes. The clean-shaven face had a slightly Chinese expression. Ethel associated it with some amusing or agreeable circumstance, she felt sure, but she could not recollect what it was. This man, who was very well dressed, and wore a superb ring on a singularly delicate a.nd well-shaped hand, went to the place where Georga Marchmont was standing and spoke to him. The two men who were with him stood one on each side of him, but ieemed to have no concern with his pur- chases beyond that of friendly interest. He vaulted a necklace for a wedding present, and he seemed prepared to pay a large sum or it. George brought out some magnificent diamond necklaces, and he did not seem at all alarmed at the high prices asked for them. His fancy seemed taken most by a. necklace of diamonds with a black pearl set as a pendant. The price of hia was a thousand pounds. He took a long time comparing the beauty of this with the beauty of others shown to him; at last he said, decidedly: "I shail take this one. It is very extrava- gant of me, I know, but none of the others really please me. I have Bank of England notes with me, so I will pay for it and take it now." "Which of the two cases do you like best?" asked George, showing him one lined with white velvet and one lined with yellow satin. He tried the effect of the jewels on the two colours, and the buyer took some moments to decide between them. Eventually, he chose the white velvet. While he was mak- ing this decision George was turning over in his mind whether he would fetch one of the &rm to look at the notes, or whether be should take the responsibility himself. It was rather hard to come to a conclusion as to which would produce the best effect at this critical juncture. He decided to take the entire responsibility himself. He was perfectly certain that he knew a. genuine note, and he was also confi- dent that he could tell a genuine purchaser from a cheat. The purchase was completed; the case was closed, and the notes laid down on the counter counted and closely examined. "I should like a. receipt," said the pur- chaser. "Certainly," said George, and he went across to the desk where Ethel and another bookkeeper were at work, and. obtaining a billhead, wrote out a receipt, signing it with his own name on behalf of the firm. Then he returned to the counter, where the notes and the jewel-case still lay before the three men. He showed the receipt to the purchaser, then folded it and handed it to him. The man took up the jewel-case, gave him the notes, and in a moment the three men very quickly left the shop, got into a motor-car which stood at the door, and were gene. As tha car flashed away, going on the wrong side and whisking round corners in the way motor-cars do. George Marchmont flung himself out through the swing-doors of the shop, to the amazement of the men in charge ot them, who could not open them quickly enough for him. Hatless and wild. he toro a.t full speed down Regent-street. Poor George had lost his reason for the moment—to think of pursuing a motor-car! In a short time he realised hi.3 folly, and stopped and staggered about; the friendly policeman took his arm and led him back. He stemed unable to speak. They went intO the shop, and the police warned the crowd away. George caught sight of Ethel's drawn, white, frightened face as he came in at the doors, and the tears came into his eyes. The chief was standing close to him. "What has happened?" he demanded. "I am ruined!" said George, wildly. "It is awful. I never heard of such a thing!" "But what i3 it?" said the chief again. "Ploase explain, Mr. Marchmont-" "That man who was here just now bought the diamond necklace with the black pearl pendant. He paid me in Bank of England notes, ten hundred pound notes; they were genuine. He asked for a, receipt. I gave it him, and I took the notes from him, or I thought I did—it is the most amazing thing- he has gone with the necklace, the receipt, and the notes!" The chief took him by the arm. Ccome into my room," he said. He meant to be kind. George felfc he was under arrest. The chief went back to the shop and sent a message to Scotland Yard, then he noticed that Ethel's head lay on her ledger. She had fainted. She had seen and heard all. It seemed impossible to bring her round, and a doctor -was the. nBxt person sent for. The chief had a great liking for Ethel, for her own sake and also for the sake of her father, who had been a friend of his. Everything was set aside for the moment while Ethel was carried into a quiat room and cared for When the doctor came and took charge of ber. and said he was sure she would soon recover, the chief went back into the shop to find a, condition of intense excitement. There were poiioe in the shop and outside, where several stood round a motor-car, though onl the chauffeur was in it. The three men who had gone away with the neck- lace were stikftdirrg in the shop, and the pur- chaser of the necklace was asking for George Marchmont. George neard his voice and came out, closely followed by the policeman who had been watching him. The purchaser of the necklace went up to the counter and put on it the esse containing the necklace, the receipt, and the notes. "I 90rry to have caused so much anxiety," he said in a quiet, clea.r voice; I ought perhaps not to have left the shop at all; but I have only been gone a quarter of an hour. I regret the anxiety I have caused, and will make any amends I can. My namo is Henry Duveen. of the Amusements Music Hall." He put a card on the counter. The Superintendent of Police looked at it and nodded. A wager was laid that I oould not perform this trick without stage accessories, in ordi nary private life. These two gentlemen rep- resent two London daily papers." The explanation produced an amazing effect —all faces expressed utter astonishment- George's most of them all. Henry Duveen looked at him- I fear this must seem a heartless joke to you." he said. "You look prostrated. Will you (jpme and &,00 me in my dressing-room to- night?" He left the case of jewels on the counter, and the receipt, took up the notes, and then, a-fter speaking a few words in a low voice to the chief, weint away. The police soon went away also, and the shop resumed its usual aspect, save for the absence of Ethel from her pest. George returned to his, preferring to do so. In the evening he went to the stage-door of the. Amusements Theatre, and was at once taken to the great conjurer's dressing-room. Duveen was on the stage, but in a few moments he came into the room. I hope you have forgiven me," he said to George, looking at him earne8tl. I ain afraid to ask yon if you have. It was very selfish of me to expose you to s'1ch terrible a.nxiety. Of course, it means a great deal to -me as you will understand. My powers will never be doubted again. Will you please accept these notes, the amount of the wager itself, as some little recompense for the trouble I have caused yon?" And ho put into George's hand the ten hun- dred pound notes. It is nothing," he said, in answer to the look he met. "I make money 30 fast! And will you forgive They shook hands warmly, and George took a. hansom and drove straight to Ethel's home to td1 her boy the eventful day had eD4ed.

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I BILLIARDS. ————»————

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