HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Signal, 1896-12-10, Page 2•
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"Who can he be!" thought 1. aa 1 watch-
ed my compare ion in t h.• .ec and class care-
rleav of the Lundou & Ito%er railway.
I had haus so full of the tact that my
long expected holiday had carne et bast,
and that fora sew days at least the gay*
tier. of Paris were about to superoale the
dull routine of the ho eidtal wards, that we
were well out of London before I observed
that 1 was out alone in the compartment.
In these days we have all pretty well
agreed that, "three Ir company and two Is
nowt" upon the railway. At the time 1
write of, however, people were not so mor-
bidly
orbadly sensitive about their traveling o ,m-
panlona. It was rather an agreeable sur-
prise to ins to end that there was moms
chance of whiling away the hours of a
tedious journey. 1 therefore pulled my
cap down over my eyes, took a goof look
from beneath it et my visa -vie, and repeat-
ed to myaelf: "Who can be bet"
fused rather to pride myself on being
able to spot • man's trade or profession by
a good look at his exterior. 1 had the add -
vantage of ntudytng uuder a master of the
carTAiw
art. who used to electrify both his patients
anti hid clinical rl•.aevby lung shots. annme-
tinu•e at the m.s.t unlikely of pursuits;
and never very t•• • from the mark. "Well,
my man," I have he. ail him say: "1 can
ore by your ingrrs that you play some mu-
sical Iustrnrnent for yotir livelihood, but
it is • rat her curious one --something quite
out of my bine." The man afterwards in-
formed ns then be- earned a few copper* by
blowing "Huls 1lritstenia" on a coffee pot,
the spout of which was piercod to form •
rough Huta:. Though,* novice in the art.
I wan still able to astonish my ward eon.
pinions on faxraaon, and I never lost an
opportunity of practicing, ---11 was not
mere cu; loony, tern. which led me to lean
heck on tic cushions and analyse the
quiet. noddle -aged man in front of me.
1 uvrtl to .10 the t h tog sytrmetically,and
alT train of reflections ran somewhat in
thus aire. "General appearance, vulgar.
fairly opetent aimirc'remely self -posse sed
-look% lige a riot wuu could outchaff a
la•r,ter, anti yet 11.- at l.t. rase in middle-
daa,...eiety. F:ye. well set together ami
none railer prominent would toe a good
Ioi g-rnngr marksman. (cheeks flabby,
but the soft twee of expression redeemed by
a square -rut jaw and a well -set lower lip.
On the whole. a powerful type. Now for
the hands -rather disappointed there.
Thought he was a ..elf made mac by the
look of hits, but there is no callous iu the
palm mud no thicknras In the joints. Har
never been engaged in any real physical
work. 1 should think No tanning on the
backs of the hands; on the contrary, they
ars very white, with blue projecting veins
anti long delicate fineere. Couldn't be an
artist with that face. and yet he ham the
bands of a man engage) in delicate mani-
pulations. No reed acid spots upon his
clothes, no iuk shins, onitrate of.iiitver
Marks upon the hands 1 he to nega-
tive my half -formed opinion at be was a
pbotographert. Clothre ort worn in any
particular part. Goat made of tweed. and
fairly odd; but the lett ells.w, aa lar as 1
can see it, bac as much .p1 the Duff left on
as the right, which ie seldom the use with
men who do much writing. Might be a
commercial traveler, but the little pocket
book in tbe waistcoat is wanting. nor har
be any of those handy valises, suggestive
of samples."
1 give these brief headings of my ideas
merely to dkmonatrate my mrthoi of ar-
riving at a conclusion As yet i had ub
to tied nothing but negative results; but
now, to nee a chemical metaphor, 1 was in
a prjtion W pour off this solution of dis-
solved
i•solved psaibllitiea and examine the resi-
due. I found mywlf reduced W n very
limited nnmbrr of occupations He was
anther a lawyer nor a clergyman, in spite
of a soft telt hat, and • somewhat clerical
cit about the necktie. 1 was wavering
now between p..wnbr'ker and hor.e.-
dealer; but there was tett much character
about ke face for the former; and he lack-
ed that extraordinary equine atmosphere
which bangs about the latter even in his
bones of relaxation; so 1 tawnier! • provisi-
onal diagnosis of betting man of mstio-
distical persuasions, the latter clause be-
frig
efng Inserted in deference to his bat and
necktie
Pray. do not think that 1 reaoond it out
like the to Rey own mind. it 1s only now,
sitting down with pen and paper, that I
can ms the enocemive etepa. An it was 1
bad termed my conclusion within alzty
seconds et the time whom I drew my hat
tat
TAE f4TavAi, • "onurR►rn our 'rl►t•p(•!' , ,- DEf. 10. pm
are out me:rreelect tit horse matted?"
-Snares, sir"' said hr violrutly; "wile*
of the enemyMorita. are but given • few
y..41114 w live, how can they squander them
They have mit even au eye to their
tsor worldly intere.t.," he added le •
ginner tune, "or they would never back •
si lig le hone at such short odds with • field
of,h!rty."
There was something in this speech of
hi. which tickled err itnntenasly. 1 sup
lust- it was the .add way iu which be hleud-
ed religious intolerance with worldly wis-
dont i laid the. Times aside with the con-
viction 'het 1 should be Able to spend the
beet two hours to tatter purpose than in
its perusal.
"Von .peak as if you understood the
matter, at :cul rate," 1 remarked.
he answered; "few men in
Enolan.i unilen000d these things better
in the old days before 1 changed my pro -
session. lint that is all over now."
"('hanged your pruteesiont" said I, In-
terroa;at i rely.
"Yes. 1 changed my name, too."
"Indeed!'" said 1.
"Yes: you see, a moo wants • real fresh
start when his eye. become opened, so he
has a oew dual all rouud, so to speak. Then
he Bete a fair chance."
There was a .hurt pause here, as I seem-
ed to be on delicate ground in touching
on my companion's antecedents, and be
did not volunteer any information. I
broke the silence by offering him a
cheroot
"No, thanks, said he; "1 have given up
tobacco. It was the hardest wreucb of all,
was that. It does ate gaud W smell the
whiff of your weal. Tell me," be added,
suddenly, looking hard at me with his
shrewd gray eyes, "w by did you take stock
of me so carefully before you spoke!"
"It isa habit of mine," said 1. "I am a
medical duan, and observatiou is every-
thing in my profusion. I had no idea you
were looking."
"1 can sae without looking," hs an-
swered. "I thought you were a detective,
at first; but I couldn't recall your Laos at
the time I knew the force."
•'Were you • detective, then," said L
"No." he answered, with a laugh; "I watt
the other thing -the detected, you know.
Old scores are wiped out now, and the law
canuit touch me, so I don't mind confer
ing to a writleman, like youreelt, what a
scoundrel 1 have been in my time."
"We are none of us perfect," said L
"No; but 1 was real out -and -outer. A
you know, to start with, and after-
wards
fterwails a 'crackaman.' It is easy to talk of
s
thee things now, for I've changed my
spirit. it's as if I was talking of some
other man. you see"
"Exactly so," said I. Being a medical
man 1 had none of that ,efhrinking from
trine, and criminals which many men par
ors- 1 could make all allowancra for con-
genital influence and the force of circam-
etauces No company. therefore. could
have been more accrpt..tble to me than
that of the old malefactor: and as 1 sat
purling at my cigar, i was delighted te ob-
serve that my air of interest was gradually
louwuiug his tongue.
"Yes; I'm converted now," he continu-
ed, "and u( course 1 am a happier man for
that. Aud yet," be added wistfully,
"there are 1.inen when I long for the old
trade again, and fancy myself strolling out
on a clopdy night with my jimmy in my
pocket. 1 def t ttau.e behind me in my
profession, td. I was nue of tbe old school,
you know. it wee very seldom that we
bungled* job. We need to begin at the
foot of the ladder, the rope ladder, if I may
say so, in eny younger days, and then
work our way up. step by step, so that we
were what you night call good men all
through."
•' I tee," said I.
"1 was always reckoned a hard-working,
conscientious man, and hada talent, tuo--
thr very cleyereet of them allowed that.
1 began a+ a blacksmith, and then did a
lift!.. .•.•ring an'; carpentering, and
es
"Yes, oar was nabbed. Dat be ddde'e
air eves let ea hew it was dome
e'd hove eat kis sued oat it-' He mid-
air
damped down tbe very ugly area
which were peeping ham his eyes "Pee.
baps I am boring you, talking about thane
old wicked days of miner
"Oa the contrary," i mad. "you i•tnreea
me extremely."
"I like to get • liturgies I can insett. It's
a sort of blow -u , you know, and i feel
lighter after it. When I am among my
brethren 1 dare hardly think of what has
gone before. Now, I'll tell you about aa- I
other job 1 was in. To this day 1 cannot
think about it without laughing-"
I lit another cigar, and compered myosis
to Ihtteu.
"It was when I was • youngster," said
b& "'Chore Was $ big city man in those
days who was kuown to have • very valu-
able gold watch. i followed hien about for
several days before 1 could get a chemise;
but when 1 did get one, you may be are
1 did out throw 1t away. He found, to his
diegu.t, when h. got boats that day, that
there was nothing 1n his fob. 1 hurried
off with my prise, and gut it stowed away
in safety, lntemiing to have 1t melted
down uezt day. Now, 1t happened %hat
this watch possessed a special value in the
owner's eyes because it was • sort of an
°astral pusseedon-presented by his father
on coming of age, or something of that
sort. I remember there was a long to-
scription on the back. He was determin-
ed not to lose it it he could help it, and ac-
cordingly be put an advertisement in an
evening paper utteriug thirty pounds re-
ward for its return, and promteing that
no questions should be asked. He gave
the addrssr of his house, 31 Caroline
*queer, at the end of the advertisement.
The thing sounded good enough so i set
off for Caroline square, leaving the watch
in • paro>el at • public house which 1 pois-
ed on the way. When I got there, the
gentlemen was at dinurr; but be came out
quick enough when be heard that a young
man wanted W see him I suppose he
guttered who the young roan would prow
'TOO SQ, t HAVE HOT rx)HDOTTEN ill 01.1)
ca��tvu."
thee 1 took to sleight-of-hand tricks, and
then to picking pockets I remember,
when i was home on a visit, how my poor
old father hood no wonder why 1 was al-
ways hovering around him He little
ku.w tint I used W clear everything out
of hie pocketa a down times a day, and
then replacer them, just to keep my hand
in. He believes to thin day that 1 am in
an office in the city. Thele ave few of
them could touch me in that particular
line of bn,sln°a., thongh."
"I tippets it in matter of practice?" I
remarked.
"Toa Erect extent. Still, a man never
quite loam it, it be has once hewn an adept
-ciente nue: yon have dropped some cigar
rah on your coat," and be waved his hand
politely In front of my breast, es 11' to
brash it off. "There," be said, handing
its my Rohl ae.arf pin, "yon ewe 1 have net
forgot my old claming yet."
He had done It so quickly that 1 hardly
saw the band whlak over my boom, nor
did 1 feel he gager* touch aaw, mad yet
Mere was the pin glittering In he hand
"it ie wonderful," i saM as I fixed It again
In Its place
"Oh, M•t's nothing! ant 1 have base
Its POMP really smart pea 1 wee 1• the
gang that picked the new patient walk Yea
remember the more it was gaar•ntsd to
resist anything; and we temsesed te open
the first that wee ever isaamd, within •
weak of its a�pe•r�ns 1t was dente with
g 54u aasd:711:t, ear, the first se mead
that yep could hardly w it spina the
lick sad the est atrtag w N prim
it egos it was • °Meer samara e
"1 iemsesbw it." said 1. Bet sorely
Maine ams was •savisfed Ise tical"
pocket, and 1 thought the job was over.
Jtast m this moment she rows abruptly to
leave the 'btta, and l had hardly time to
get my hand with the puree in it out of
her pocket without detectles. It watt sot
until .be had beau gouts some throe that 1
foaud out that in drawing out my hand
in that hurried manner the sew and IIL
Autug ring Lad slipped over my Anger and
remained iu the youug lady's pocket. 1
sprang out and ran du the diret'll..0 du
which she hail gone with the ioteutiun of
picking Ler pocket omx again. t;d bait
dlsappeatvrsi, however; and from that day
till ibis 1 have never set eyes on her To
make the matter worse, there wan only
four price halfpenny in coppers inside
the purse. 14arve me right for trytug to
rob such • pretty girl, still, if 1 had that
two hundred quid now 1 should not be re-
duced W-- Good bewtvrna, forgive nm
What aur 1 .eying!"
He .e'rtued inclined to relapse Into silence
After this; but 1 was determined to draw
bum out a little more, 111 could puesibly
1111111/14/e It. "There is late pter.onal risk in
the bench you have been talking ot,a I
reoiarked, "than there is in Inv -glary."
"Ab" he .aid, warming to his subject
near again, ••it is the higher game which
is beat worth aintim;at. 'Calk About sport,
sir, talk about lbhung or hitutiug! why it
is tame in compmriuon! Think of the
great country boos with du men servants'
and hadn't"' and ata firearms, and you with
only your jimmy and your crater bit, and
your mother wit, which is beet of all. It
is the triumph of intellect over brute•
force, sir, as represented by butte and
hen " '
"People generally hook upon it as quite'
the revers'." 1 remarked.
"I was never our of those plundering ,
lite -preserver fellows " said my eumpan-
hon. "1 did try my hand at garrutting a
once; but it was against my principles,
and I gave it up. 1 have tried everything.
I have been a hal ridden widow with
three youtrg chiklreu; but 1 do object te
physical force."
"Yon have been what!" said I.
"A bedridden widow. .ldsertisIng, you
know. and getting sutset..t :one I have
tried them all. Yon .rent interested in
.throe experiences." hr crwtintird; "to I
will tell you another anecdote. It was the
narrowest escape for penal servitude that
ever l had in my life. A pal and 1 had
gone down on a country beat -it (101910'1
signify when it was --and taken up our
headquarters in a little provincial town.
Somehow it got noised abroad that we
were there, and householders werewarn-
ed to be careful. as suspici..ua chs etre
had been seen in the neighhorbotbd We
should hare changed our plans when we
saw the game was up: but my chum was a
plucky fellow. and wouldn't consent W
back down. Poor little Jim! He was only
thirty-four round the chest, and about
twelve et the biceps; but thereis not •
measuring tape i0 England meld have
given the ifs. of hi. heart. Herb vee
were in for it, and we must stick W it; so
I agreed to stay, and we chose Morley
hall, the country home of a certain Col
Morley, W begin with.
"Now this Col. Morley was about the
last man in the world that we should have
meddled with. He was a shrewd, moll -
headed fellow. who hoot knocked about
and wen the world, and it seems that he
took a spacial prate iu the detection of
criminals. However, we kpew nothing of
all this at that time: eo we set forth hope
fully to have a try at the bouss.
"The reason that made ns pick him out
among the rest wast hat he had a good-for-
nothing groom.
oo d-for-
nuthinggroom, who wee n tool in our
hands. This fellow had drawn up a rough
plan of tbe premises for us. The piece
was pretty well locked up and guarded.
and the only weak point we could see war
a certain trapdoor. the padlock of which
was broken, and which opened from the
roof into one of the lumber rooms if we
could only find any method of reaching t be
roof, we might force a way securely from
above. We both thought the plan rather
a good one, and it had a epic° of original-
I&w about it which plea -:•d us It is not
the mere jewels or plate. you know, that
a good cracksmen thinks stout. The
neatness of the job and hie reputation for
smart:was are almost as important in LL
eyes.
"We had been very quirt for a day or
two, just W let au.plcion der away. Then
we set out one dark night. Jim and I, and
got over the avenue railings and up W the
house without meeting it soul. It was
blowing hard, I remember, end the clouds
hurrying across the sky. We had a good
look at the front of the hones, and then
"I MANAGED TO PICK MIS POCKET TOR THE
SECOND
W be. He was a genial -looking old fellow,
and be led me away with him into Ills
study.
"'Well, my lad,' said be, 'what is IV"
"'I've come about that watch of yours,'
said 1, '1 think I can lay my hands on it.'
" 'Oh, it was you that took it,: said he.
"'No,' I answered; 'I know nothing
whatever about bow you (oat it. I have
been sent by another party to nee roe
about it. Even if you bare me arrested,
you will not find out anything.'
"'Well,' he said, '1 don't want to be
earl on you. Hand it over, and hen is
my cheque for the aatouut.'
"'Cheques won't do,' said 1; 'I mud
have it in Idol.'
"'It would take an hour or so to collect
in gold,' said he.
That will just suit,' I answered, for 1
have not gut the watch with me. 1'11 go
back and fetch it, while you raise the
money.'
"i started off, and got the watch where
I had left it. When I came back the old
gentleman was sitting behind his study
table. with the little beep of gold in front
of im.e
"hHro is your money,' he said, and
pushed it over.
"'Here is your watch.' said I.
"He was evidently blighted to get it
back: and after exfoliateg it carefully,
and assuring himself that.: was none the
worse, he put it into the watch pocket of
his coat with a grunt of satisfaction.
"'Now, my lad.' he said, 'I know it was
you that Wok the watch. Tell me how
yon did it, and i don't mind giving you an
extra five -pound mote.'
" '1 wouldn't tell you in any case,' said
I; 'but especially I wouldn't tell you when
you have a witness hid behind that cur-
tain '
urtain.' You nor, i had all my with about
me, and it didn't ewape me that the cur•
talo wan drawn tighter than it had been
before.
Von are too sharp for us„' aald be,
good hunioredly. 'Well, you have got
your money. and that'. an end of it. I'll
take precious good tare you don't get hold
of my watch again in a burry -good night
-no; not that door,' be added as i marched
towards • cupboard. This is the door,'
and he stood up and opined it.- i brtabod
pest him. opened the hall door. and was
round the corner of the square in no time.
I don't know how long the of gentleman
took to And it out, but in pawing him at
the door, i managed to pick be pocket toe
the second time, and next morning tbe
family heirloom was In the melting pot
after ell. That wasn't bed, was 1st' "
The oho war-horse hal evidently forgot-
ten all •boons life conversion now. There
was • coos of triumph in the crselssion of
Ms anecdote whish showed that kis pride
in his smartness tar surpassed his repent -
since of hes misdeed& Ile seemed phased
at the astonishment and amusement I ex-
pressed at hie sdroitnena
Yea," he continued with a laugh, ''it
was a capital joke But sometimes the tun
lies all the other way Keen the sharpest
orf us come to grief at times. There was
.se rather curious incident which noenrred
in my career. You may poeibly hareems
the anecdote, for tt got into print at the
dere."
"Pray lit me bear tt," odd
"Well, it is bawl lines telling .osis
opines one's Mlt, but tail was bow it
happened : 1 hal made a talker gad beak
and inverted some o1 the "wag Ia buying
• very Ane diamond ring. I tbota
would be .oasetbiag to 611 bask apse
when all CM randy was goes sad time
wets bard. I bed joust parerioned 1R mod
was 'deg Mink to my Icdgtags ti the ems.
When. wilily as hook would bare 1t, • very
skyfNM7-dfemml young lady wane 1. and
took we sent be k% me i dida't pee
morel ahttnitn to be et (Irak but alit •
time .emsblmg bard a her Brews keeaid
a *salad my hand, wbtak es) etpothme-
e l tems\ assn acede ort te be s pare► Is
Mena r that 1 meld Inn pass the Was
mere pedtably er egreMbiy shun y tea►
ing the pares ay ewe i had be do
wag ser.hlly; bat i swaged at Ire Se
wells fay bend lefis her rabid ggia
*emoting te em yea I knew y.0 aR140's
rases aelag op teas Wiwi w►se yea teen+
the whitlows were ter nab tar yoe-Jeal
Joe"'
-Yes, air,' said a voles. gad another
team sores from uressg t s biases&
"Just you keep year eye a tits recd.
will yes, while 1 ride dews M ibe stadia
and fete\ a • ample et .a•t•bles!--Aa
revutr, geaIl....t You don't mdud wait -
tag. I appose/' And Col. Morley -tor 1t
was the owner et the hones himaelf-
etrod. eft. a•d is a few slnuar we Mani
the rattle of ►1• horwe's boots going d1uw$
the avenue
"Well, sir, we telt precious silly, as yea
stay imagine. 1t wasn't w much having
been wbbrd Mm bothered us as the feel-
ing of being tonght is such a simple trap.
We looked at each ether is blank disgust,
and them, to save our lives we couldn't
kelp berating hate laughter at our own fix.
However. it was me laugh".g matter; m
we eat to work geleg round the roof, and
seeing if there was • likely waeet pips or
anything that to Ott g:ve us a thence of
escape. We bed te give it up as a had
job; se we eat doves again. and made
up our meads to the steno Suddenly
au ilea Dashed tato my head, snd I
groped may way seer the ruof until I felt
wood under my fest. 1 best duwn sad
found that the colors' had actually for
gotten to assure the p•dlax•k' 1'.w will
otter motto. as you go through life. that
it is the shrewdest and most cunning tuna
who falls into the must absurd uststakrs;
and this was an example .o it. You may
gums that we did out lure much time, fur
we expected to Dear the constables every
moment. We dropped through into the
lumbar -room, slipped dowostairs.turvoprn
the library abutters, and were out attd
away beton the aduuished groom could
melee out wbat had happened. Then
wasn't time reuugb to take any little ,ua
vroir with us, worse luck. i should have
liked W have wen the colonel's face when
4e rame back with the constables attd
found that We bird. were Down."
"Did you ever come across the colonel
again," looked
"Yrs; we skinned him of every bit of
plate he had, deem to the salt 51■.0ns, a
few years later. It was partly out of re•
relate, you see. shat we did it. It was a
very well -M1111440.1 and daring tbt;,, one
of , he lest 1 ever saw, and all dens in open
daylight, tau."
•'How in the world did you do it1" 1
asked.
"Well, there were three of us in 11 -
Jim was one; and we set about it in this
way: Wr wanted W begin by geutug the
colonel vat et the way. so I wrote him a
note purporting ta oome from Squire
Brotherwick, who heed about ten Hilar
away, and was not always on the beet of
terms with the maser of Morley hall. I
dressed myself up aa • groom and deliver
ed the note myself. It won W the effect
that the squire thought he was able to lay
his hands iso the scuundrsls Who had escap
ed from the culotte! a couple of years be-
fore, and that if the colonel would ride
over they would have little difficulty in
securing them. 1 was sun that this would
have the desired effect; so, after haudiug
it in, and remarking that 1 was the .stain'.
groom, I walked off agalo, as if on the way
back W my master's
"Atter getting out of sight of the house,
I crouched down behind a hedge: and. se
I expected, in less Chau a quarter of an
bour the colonel carne swinging toast me
on his lo -s• n• man Nt.w, •r,.•r.• is an
AT MI WW1= WIZ i.usi AalIIPTLY.
Jim west round to the garden side. A.
name running back in a minute or two in
a great state of delight. 'Why, Bill.' he
sad, gripping me by the arm, 'then never
was such a bit of luck' They've been re-
pairing the roof or something, sad they've
left the ladder standing.' We want round
together, and there, tare enough, was the
Ladder towering above our beads, and one
or two laborers' hods lylag about., which
showed that Rome work had been going on
during the day. We had a good look
mend, tow that everything was quiet,
and then we climbed np, Jim first and I
after him. We got to the top, and were
sitting on the slates, having • bit of a
breather, beton begtnnI.g busiaass, when
you can fancy our feelings to w the lad-
der that w. came Hp by soddenly stand
strelgbt up In the air, and then slowly de
mend said it meted 1n the garden belowt
At first we hoped it might have slipped,
though that was had enough, but we soon
lord that idea put out of our herd.
I " 'Hallo. rep their cried • voice from
below.
"We waned ear bean over the edge,
and there was • man, dressed, as far as we
maid make out, d0 ermine dram, sad
standing in the middle of the gram plot.
W. kept quiet
"'Halsor M shouted ,Mita. 'How de
yen feel yourself/ Pretty aomf rt•ib.
00 Hat bah Yea lands. ragas thsggit
we were geese 1e the essunery, what's year
epistle. e.wr'
"We both lay mY, sheer ltdl.g Peale
eeastd.rably atrsh, en yon Ma.
'It's all tigbt; l ser yen,' hs.
'Why, I bays bows waitlsg keiW thee
1 iiee Wei every Medd for Ahs bei weeps
At this plat the twin began le show
symptoms el slowing down, and y
sumpealw pat oa bb everasst sad gam
ether signs of being user tbe .ad a w
ursey. "You are gulag a to Dwarf"
he sant.
"Tor theostlaeut?"
"Tea"
"Mow leag do you intend to taetWp
"Only for • weak or au."
"Well, I moat leave you ben.
reswsaber say oaute, won't y.nit eau
Wilkie, I am pleased to have ssa4 pnu. Is
my umbrella befitted you?" b. added,
rtretebing mom. No; I beg your par-
don.
ardon. Here it is io the corner," sad with
eu affable •mile, the ex-crsckam•tt supped
out, bowed, and dlaappeartd among the
crowd upon the platiorm
1 lit souther cigar, laughed e. I toughs
of my late txwtpantua, and lifted up the
Time, which be bad left ballad him.
The bell had rung, the wheels were al-
ready revulviug, when, to my astonish.
snout, a pallid face looked at nee thrivigb
the wludow• It was 0 asuterted and agi-
tated that 1 hardly recognised the features
wb*I, 1 had been gaging upon during do
last couple of bourn 'Here, take it," he
said "take it. it's hardly worth my
while to rob you of seven pounds four
Millings; but 1 couldn't resist ones tsetse
trying my band;" and he lung something
into the carriage and disappeared.
It was my old leather purse, with my
return ticket, enol the whole of my travel•
lug expenses. His newly awakened soar
science bad driven him to lasiaat rest/tn.
tion.
iTHR Ex D.)
"YOU'LL NEVER HAVE AN) Mutt. d t:oi NLE
WITH 17."
other accomplishment I prose.* which 1
have not mentioned to you yet, and that
is, that I can copy any handwriting that
I see. It is* very easy trick to pick up if
you only give yonr mind to it I happened
to have come across one et Col. Morley'.
letters sums days before, and I can write
so that even now I defy an expert to dr
tett a difference between the heads. Tbls
ora. • great assistance to err now, for 1
tore it leaf out of my pocketbook and wrote
something to tins effect:
***bp Wq.lr Hrotherwirk has seen some
mspleious characters about, and the hour"
may be attempted agate. 1 have mot down to
the bank, and ordered them 10 wadi up their
bank cart te convey the whole of the plate to
• place d safety. It will save us a good deal
of anxiety W know that 1t L 1■ absolute secur-
ity. Lays It packed up and reedy. and give
the bearer a elms of beer.'
"Having composed this precious epistle.
I addresaed it W the butler, and carried it
back W the Hall, saying that their master
bad overtaken me on the way and asked
me to deliver it. I was takes fn sad made
mach of downstairs: while a great pack-
ing -case was dragged into the hall, and
the plate stowed away, atom( tattoo -wool
anti duffing It was nearly ready, when I
beard the sound of wheels ups Me gaesl,
and .unteed round just in time W see •
business -like aimed car drive up W the
door. On. of my pals wan Meting very de-
murely on the box; while Jho, with an oi-
ilcial-looking bat, sprang out and bustled
into the hall.
"'Now, the," I beard him say, look
sharp' What's far the bank? Come oat'
"Walt a minate, dr," said the butler.
"Can't wait. There's a panic all over
the country, and they are clamoring ter
us everywhere. Must drive on to Lord
Blackberry's place, unless yen ere reedy.'
"'Don't go, sir?' pleaded the butler.
There's only the one rope to ole.-11tew,
it 1s ready now. You'll look after It, won't
yon,"
" 'That we will. You'll never have any
[mors trouble with it now,' said J1m, help-
i.p to path the great owe Into the car.
"'I think I bad better go with you and
we it stowed away in the hank,' said the
butler.
'All right,' said Jim, nothing abashed.
'Yon can't Dome in the car, though, fee
Iwwd Blackberry's box will take up all the
spare room. Let's ate. ---it's twelve e'etock
sow. Well, you be waiting at tbe bank
deer at halt -pee me, and you will jr*a
calci s&"
. 'AU right -hall -pest saw' sails the
butler.
'Yiood-4ay,' Mel my eesm. sial
sway woes the ear, while I mods a ilt
to/ a Ebert mat pet assent it ereesel a trews
at the net We Steve right est taw the
east cerate, pet • dews -amts w Iwndoa.
eel/ baton sadalgbt the ogre% Meer
was for lase •..rel how"
I maid net Mip tag at the ewer
tido .r Me 4114 dEs1Eg it saes a dr
.wbee sum 10ve.“ 1 rat
it le al ' Y ways Yon=
whisk sew
CANCER CURED
-AAD A—
LIFE SAVED
Dy the P.rslstent Us. of
Ayer's Sarsaparilla
"I was troubled for years with a
sore on my knee, which several
physicians, who treated me, called a
cancer, assuring me that nothing
could be done to save my life. As
a last resort, I was induced to try
Ayer's Sarsaparilla, and, after tak-
ing a number of bottles, the sora
began to disappear and my general
health improve. I persisted in MO
treatment, until the sore was Ala.
tirely healed. Since then, I use
Ayer's Sarsaparilla occasionally as
a tonic and blood -purifier. and, its.
deed, it seems our s r-iu h I could *
keep house without lt,"-]Les. S. A.
FIELDS, liloomlleki, Ia.
AYER'S
Tie ars Wilts Fair smi.r.
Ayer's Pets Rogulats the LiMM.
1.10 I
TUB coAL
RELIABLE
always on hand.
The 1 est and only Scranton Coal in
this market.
HARD,
FT and
BLACKSMITH
COgL
always on hand.
All Coal weighed on the ,n.ellll
soaks, se that you are sure at Need
messera
WINE. LEE.
N Harbor Qum.
>l[I>t's i LU'$ Blows-
IJNDEk OATH
Ram= wlnr-swess R•1losiIISI.
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t�dT. - *.ede r_Mdewe side dM
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•sae!leaner sod Won was as
ei w M •
vee edea Me r Mr brim
nee 4 Me, bet t.Mr rte Y o•Ibdq viewed IOW
Wise J. w a�tymeee PeeklaMr Ms me esters se,la
WM
AMNIA Warilliere alb • .atl1•1111
Leda less..
rwr.. ism rise ak tree noshes*re toile
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Grebe bat gip y tyim..ii "sedan
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well
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fris•�ei.1r •
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