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

OpeHcuj NO answer, ana the easement was
slammed down. With the exception of his
voice, had no more idea of Mr. Darke when
| left number thrty-ninc than had when
went. l had merely seen the outline of his
head when he looked out Of the window
Whether he was young man or an old man;
tair man or dark man, | was equally at a
loss to know.
Ironvillc is thirty-fivc miles from Ncwstonc
The mail-train runs the distance in rather un-
der an hour, and reaches the latter place at
halfpast five. As the clock pointed to half
past five, set off for q stroll up the platform,
determined that if any dwarf or giant; or
other strange monster arrived by the train, it
should not depart unseen by me- half cx-
pcctcd to find Mr.. Darke waiting for the train;
but he was not to be seen. True to its time,
the train crawled slowly into the station and
in another moment, the platform was flooded
with those strangely attircd individuals whose
business or pleasure induces them to travel by
night No dwarf, nor giant, nor strange mon
stcr. Only one passenger for Ncwstone; all
the others booked through, as was evident
from their frantic struggles to find their seats
the moment the bell clashed out its warning
note. And this one passenger? A slim gen
tleInan, stylishly dressed. Young without
wbiskers, but with a long, fair mustache,
which he was fond of stroking with his cxqui-
sitelv glOved thumb and finger. lie alighted
jauntily from first class carriage, smiled
amiably on the porter, who touched his cap,
took up his small black portmantcau, gave one
hurried, anxious glance around, broke into
smile again, staggered slowly down the plat
form, and pushing throug the heavy folding
doors, emerged into the street. Some swell
from London come to spend Christmas with
his friends, said to myself. But where can
he be going to at this time of the morning:
None Of the inns will be open for above an
hour
Without waiting to consider whether it was
any business of mine, / pushed through the
folding doors after the traveller lie WAS walk.
ing slowly across the little square in front of
the station, looking from side to side, as if not
knowing which road to take. Suddenly a
dark figure glidcd out from behind some pro.
lection and advanced towards him. could
hear the murmer of few words Then the
stranger took the portmanteau from the trav-
er's hand, and they went on together at q
rapid pace into the town. All this saw by
the light of the station lamps When the
two figures got beyond their influence, and
passed out of view in the denscr darkness be-
yond, impelled BY vague feeling of curiosi-
ty, drew my coat closer round me, and set
oil after them at stealthy pace, taking the
darker side Of the square as went. had
not far to follow. They passed into High
street, and stopped opposite number thirty
nine. y moment more, and they were both
inside the house and the door was shut; an
other moment, and saw the light shining
from Mr.. Darkc's room in the second floor
front.
Having no expectation Of seeing anything
more, tnrned back to the office, and there,
bending over jovial fire, fell gradually into a
dose, i'll which Mr.. Darkc, the traveller, Cary,
a black dwarf, and Binks the draper, were ali
mingled in fantastic drama, revolving end
lcssy in my weary brain. What had the tel
cgraphic message to do with the handsome
traveller! slecpily kept asking myself, at
intervals Of few minutes; but without
troubling myself to find an answer Sudden
ly new light burst upon me. started up,
thoroughly awake; and, tearing open the tlcs-
patch book, read over again the first part of
the message: "Lemonfingers starts by the
mail tonight" Well, what has that to do
with the handsome traveller? Why, this
don't the traveller wear pair of tightly fitting
lemon -colored gloves, and wasn't the outside
seam of the first finger of the right hand
glove burst openy This had noticed as he
strOked his mustache. But, oven supposing
the traveller to be the Lemonfingcrs Of
the message, what about the black dwarf!
There was no black dwarf lie was alone.-
Alone! Yes; but had he not with him
small black portmanteau, Of which he seemed
TO take particular care, refusing to let the pOr-
ter so much as take it out Of the carriage for
him! a theory, Ingenious but improbable,
remarked to myself, as put out the gas and
drew up the blind to admit the struggling day
My duty was over at eight o'clock. The
London train was about to start as went up
the platform on my way home. Passing a
group Of people standing near carriage door,
was suddenly startled by deep grutf voice
cxclaiming to some one, 1--WE shall be off in
half minute more" II would pick that
voice from thousand as Mr.. Darke's!" ex-
claimed under my breath, asI glanced quickly
round. The group had dispersed, except two
persons, a man and q woman, who were pre-
pairing to take their places in the train The
person whom l took for Mr.. Darkc was
a bulky middle aged man, dressed in q
good suit of black clothes. lie had black
hair, and thick black eyebrows; his whiskers
were black meeting full and bushy under his
chin; his face was pale, and marked by the
smallpox, and his eyes were black, bold and
cunning; altogether fierce fellow, whom it
would be unwise to enrage. His companions
face l could not see, it being concealed by
thick veil but judging from her figure, she
could not be much above twenty years Old
Shcwas well but rather cOnspicuously attired,
having over her silk dress voluminous scar
let shawl, comfortably looking enough certain
ly, on cold Christmas morning. But see
AS live, she has got on the very pair of lem
on-colored gloves that were worn by the
young dandy who arrived by the night-mail !;
the same pair of gloves without doubt having
the outside seam of the first finger of the
right hand q little torn. There, too, is the
identical little black pOrtmanteau, carefully
carried this time by Mr. Darke himself
What can il all mean2
Under ordinary circumstances, should
have at once gone to bed and slept till two or
three o'clock in the afternoon; but on Christ
mas day such proceeding was not to be
thonght Of So, having brcakfhstcd, put on
my Sunday suit, and left home with the intcn-
tion of taking long stroll into the country.
Before setting out went to the station to see
if | could not induce certain friend to ac-
company me; when whom should meet on
the platform but Mr.. ChOOp, tho chief consta-
BILE Of Newstone
Mr.. Choop is small, wiry, active looking
man, with sauntering and negligent air, as