pic
of conversation for a day. Then came the report of the inquest.

There was no clew to the murderers. The eager, thirsty-eyed crowd of men,
and women, and children, crushing and hanging about the shop, gradually
loosened their gaze. The jury returned that the deceased Abel Newt came
to his death by the hands of some person or persons unknown. The shop
was closed, officers were left in charge, and the body was borne away.

General Belch was in his office reading the morning paper when Mr.
William Condor entered. They shook hands. Upon the General's fat face
there was an expression of horror and perplexity, but Mr. Condor was
perfectly calm.

"What an awful thing!" said Belch, as the other sat down before the fire.

"Frightful," said Mr. Condor, placidly, as he lighted a cigar, "but not
surprising."

"Who do you suppose did it?" asked the General.

"Impossible to tell. A drunken brawl, with its natural consequences;
that's all."

"Yes, I know; but it's awful."

"Providential."

"What do you mean?"

"Abel Newt would have made mince-meat of you and me and the rest of us if
he had lived. That's what I mean," replied Mr. Condor, unruffled, and
lightly whiffing the smoke. "But it's necessary to draw some resolutions
to offer in the committee, and I've brought them with me. You know
there's a special meeting called to take notice of this deplorable event,
and you must present them. Shall I read them?"

Mr. Condor drew a piece of paper from his pocket, and, holding his cigar
in one hand and whiffing at intervals, read:

"Whereas our late associate and friend, Abel Newt, has been suddenly
removed from this world, in the prime of his life and the height of his
usefulness, by the hand of an inscrutable but all-wise Providence, to
whose behests we desire always to bow in humble resignation; and

"Whereas, it is eminently proper that those to whom great public trusts
have been confided by their fellow-citizens should not pass away without
some signal expression of the profound sense of bereavement which those
fellow-citizens entertain; and

"Whereas we represent that portion of the community with whom the
lamented deceased peculiarly sympathized; therefore be it resolved by
the General Committee,

"_First_, That this melancholy event impressively teaches the solemn
truth that in the midst of life we are in death;

"_Second_ That in the brilliant talents, the rare accomplishments, the
deep sagacity, the unswerv