Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-17

crOuching for spring. Mr.. ChOop is dis
tant relative Of mine by marriage, and was
aware of the State Of my affection. He was
in the passive mood when l encountered him
on the PLATFORM and looked the most amiable
and artless Of men.
How are you this morning?" he said, as
we shook hands, "And how is Cary? Have
the old man and you made matters up yet? "
l shook my head dsconsolately.
Well, faint heart, you know" he added,
with smile. "What brings Inc down here
Business to be sure The fact is" mysteri-
Ously taking my button, there was daring
burglary committed last night at Ironville,
and property to large amount was stolen
From information received half an hOnr ago
by telegraph, have reason to believe that one
of the accomplices, having in his possession q
considerable part of the stolen property, ar
rived here early this morning by the mail
train. slender young man, fashionably
dressed, light flaxen mustachc; wearing
lcmon-colorcd kid gloves, and carrying small
black portmanteau."
Mr.. Darke's friend, by Jupiter!"
"Eh what do you mean?" asked Choop,
sharply, with his eager ferrct-look, that
changed him at once into another man.
Three minutes sufficed to put him in posses
sion of all knew. Mr.. Choop gave on al
most imperceptible jerk with his thumb; and
tall ungainly man, having the appearance of
farm-labOrer in his best clothes, lounged up
! and recognized Timothy, Mr.. Choop's conf
dental subordinate.
Mr.. Choop sent Timothy off to number thir-
ty.ninc to make certain inquiries then went
himself to the booking Office to ask the clerk
whether he remembered to what station Mr.
Darke and his companion were booked. The
clerk booked so many passengers by that
train that he could not positively remember,
but he thought through to London. Mr.
ChoOp then desired me to accompany him to
the telegraph office. The eight o'clock train
had hardly got halfway to London yet By
consulting timetable, Mr.. ChOop found out
at what part of the line the train ought to be;
so at his request telegraphed to the station
at which the train would next stop, giving a
brief description of Mr.-Darke- and his COM
panlon, desiring the train to be searched, and
the individuals in question detained In n
quarter of an hour we received a reply: "The
train has been searched, but no individuals
answering to the description given by you
were in it.
Telegraph to each station at which the
train has stopped, " said Mr.. Choop, "till you
discover at which of them the man and wo-
man got out"
So tclegraphcd to four stations without
success, but the fifth answered. ayes thein-
dividuals you mention reached here by the
eight A. NJ. train"
"Tll have you yet, Jim Riley exclaimed
Mr.. Choop, with a grim smile. Erred, my
boy, If you want to see bit Of fun, and like
to 60 with Timothy and me, you are welcome.
AS the clock struck twelve we found our
selves at Fulwood station-Mr. Choop, Timo-
thy and myself After making few inqui-
ries of the station master, Mr. Choop sent
Timothy in one direction, while he and took
another. Mr.. Choop put-cautious questions
to several individuals, but without ginning
any decisive information. Neither was Tim
othy-whcn we met him-able to furnish any
satisfactory intelligence. Mr.. Choop consid-
cred for few moments. at must be as l
have suspected all along" said he at last We
shall find them at the Ten Tramps. Stcpo
lads, best leg foremost"
We left the village at a rapid pace, and still
keeping on the high road, got into barren
moorland country. Fields, hedgerows and
trees wcrc gradually left behind until we at
length were shut in on every side by swelling
hillocks of moor, which swept away as far as
the eye can reach, and bound the horizon
with their sinuous, graceful lines. Following
the guidance of Mr.. Choop, we quilted the
high road after time, and came 10 halt un-
der the lea of higher hillock than common.
Mr.. Choop, taking off his hat, clambered up
the hill, and took a stcalthy survey over its
summit lie then beckoncd me to follow
Pccping over, found that VIC were on the
summit Of ridge Of country, from which the
road swept down into q small valley in the
middle of which, and close to the high road,
stood small, square house.
"Thc Ten Tramps. dare wager that Jim
Riley and his wife are in that house." said
Mr.. Choop. at is n notorious gathering
place for all the rogucs in the district"
MIR. Choop descended, and he and Timothy
held secret council for some minutes. Then
Timothy opened small bundle-brought all
the way from Newstonc-and proceeded, with
much gravity, to induct himself into q wagon
er's blue smock.frock, plcntifulIy braided and
buttoned, after the fashion in which the wag-
oncrs delight. He next turned up the bot
toms of his fustian trousers, so as to bring in
to more prominent view his laced-up boots !;
when he gave his hat push back, and his
hair pull forward and set off at o swinging
pace in the direction of the Ten Tramps,
whistling the "Plough Boy" as he goes. Mr..
Choop and passed the next half hour to-
gether, smoking cigars and discussing various
matters, with glance over the hillock every
two or three minutes in the direction of the
inn.
why not wait till night" asked Mr..
Croop, "when you could approach the inn
without being seem"
Because, after dark, we should be pretty
sure Of finding half-a-dOzen rough customers
there, who would make the matter awkward" "
Then why not take half-a-dOzen men with
you, SO as to avoid all risk? 2"