Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-02-25
INisceitIa b c on S
LEMONFINGERS.

round, of all nights in the year, and there found
myself coopcd in the little office; two great staring
instruments In front OF mc,a haring gsslght over
head, well heaped Crate by my SIDE, not forget
ting threev volume novel 10 assist me IN Willing
away the long dark hours
The night messages at Newstone were never very
numerous There were rarely any Tor private peo
pie they referred, mostly, to the business of the
railway company. That evening felt very low
spritc Il went against the grain to work on Chr St
mas eve, whea everybody else seemed keeping the
holiday and enjoying themselves Garry and had
been engaged about two years; and, fUr any pros
pect of marriage we ght be engaged for twenty
wears longer. Mr.. Lancaster, Carrys father, was a
trade sman in good way OF business and naturally
refused to let his daughter marrya fellow who was
getting only seventy pounds year. lie several
times advised Garry to give me up butt as she would
not do that. he contented himself with Ioroiddins
me the house. trusting to time and distance-for
they lived several mics from Newstonc-to aid his
cause.
knew that Mr. Lancaster always invited num-
her of Young people to his house Christmas eve,
and pictured them there, dancing--CaTy fitting
about in her white muslin dress, with the ribbon
around her waist that gave her only month be-
fore. Would any thought Of my miserable self ever
cross her mind as she moved among the gay COM
panyl Perhaps my detcstcd rival, Drinks, the dla
per, mishtbe even dancing with her, and pressing
her waist with his arm at that very moment
Thought nstcalmly to be bourne; so away went on
the platform for change ofscene.
clear. starlight night, With keen breeze that
whisted shrill ard dry through the telegraph wires
above my head, and brought to my ear the faint
sounds, made soft and sweet by distance Of the
Christmas waits. LIntcrs fitting like freaies
among the wagons in the station yard; hoarse shouts
of men, and Wild shricks from distracted locomo-
t;vcs that seemed tearing mildly up and down, mere
ly to keep themselves in glow such particular
to do. SO into the Office again, with nunibed nm
gers, glad OF such haven.
The long dark hours sped slowly; when i was
reused by the quick tinkle of the electric bell.
private message: se
Mr.. Korf, Ironville, to Mr. Dirke, 80 High Street.
Newstone: 4e
Lemonfngers starts by the mail tonight. All
Chone Take care of the black dwarf.
was accustomed to qneer messages, but this was
the oldest had seen. spelled it over twice to
see that had got down correctly; then copied 1t
out on one of the printed forms; signed it; entered
at the foot tho time had recelvedi t-three, forty
fve--and placed it in an enveloP
Number thirty nine Hi h street, was the residence
of Mr.. Breem the tailor, and was only five minutes
walk from the station. Mr. BTeem generally had
APARTMENTS 70 let, and Mr.. Darke was probably
ledger Having locked the Office door. proceed
ed at a rapid pace tswards Mr. Breen's. conclu-
ded that Nj. Darke was Snowman, and that some
body was sending him dwarf--perhaps giant also
but certainly dwarf, to put in his csrayan.--
There was light i'll the second floor OF number
thirty nine. Was Mr. Darke waiting expectant Of
messagel 1t looked like it.
l gave a loud knock, and stepped back to note
the effect. The light in the second floor was not
moved, but the window was opened, head popped
out and gruff voice demanded:
"Who's therel''
"Does Mr. Darke live herel'
"Why do YOU want to know u
.sl've got telegraphic message for him.
ugh! All right. Wait moment"
A very gruff voice, certainly. Next moment the
door was opened as far as the cabin would admit,
and great muscular hand Was thrust out.
"Hand it here" said Mr.. Darke.
Accordingly placed the note in his hand
"wait sbit, till see whether any answers re-
quired."
In a minute or two the window was again open
ed "No answer" and the easement was slammed
down. With the exception of his voice, had no
more idea of Mr. Darke when left number thirty
nine than had when went had merely seen
the outline This head when he looked out of the
window. Whether he Young man or an old
mln, fair man or O dark man, | was equally at
loss 10 know.
Ironyille is thirty FIVE miles from -Newstone.--,
The mail train runs the distance in rather under an
hour and reaches the latter place at halfpast five.
AS the clock pointed to half-past five, set OF for
stroll up the platform, determined that II any
dwarf or giant or other strange monster arrived by
the train it should not depart unseen by me. /
half expected to find Mr.. Darke waiting for the
train; but he was not 70 be seem True to its time
the train erawled slowly into the station; and, in
another moment, the platform was flooded with
those strangely attired nviduals whose business or
pleasure induces them to fly after night. No dwarf.
no giant, no other strange monster Only one pas
senger for Newstone all the Others booked through,
as It was evident from their frantic struggles to find
their seats the moment the bell clashed out
its warning note. And this passenger? A
slim gentleman, stylishly dressed. Young, with
cut whiskcrs but with long fair moustache, which
he was fond of stroking with his exquistely gloved
thumb and finger. He alighted juantily from
first class carriage, smiled amiably on the porter
who touched his cap, took up his small black port
manteau, gave ono hurried anxious glance round,
broke into smile again, staggered slowly down
the platform, and pushing through the heavy fold
ing doors, emerged into the street. Some swell
from London come to spend Christmas with his
friends, said to myself But where can he be GO
ing at this time in the morningl None of the inns
will be open for above an hour.
Without waiting to consider whether il was any
business Of mine, pushed through the folding doors
after the traveller. He was walking 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 glided out from some
projection, and advanced towards him. / could
hear the murmur of a few words. Then, the stran-
ger took the portmantcau from the travellers hand,
and they went on at u rapid pace into the town.
All this saw by the light of the staton-Iamps.-
When the two figures got beyond their influence
and passed out of view in the denser darkness be-
yond, impelled by vague feeling of curiosity, /
drew my coat closer round me, and set of after
them stealthly pace, taking the darker side of
the square as went. had not far to follow. They
passed into High street, and stood opposite number
thirty nine. A moment more, and they were both
inside the house, and the door was shut; another
moment, and l saw the light shining from Mr..
Darkes room in the second floor front
Having no expectation of seeing anything more,
turned back to the office, and there, bending over
joyal fire, fell gradually into doze, in which
Mr.. Darke, the traveller, Carry, black dwarf. and
Kinks, the draper, were all mingled in a fantastic
drama, revolving endlessly in my weary Brain
What had the telegraphic message to do with the
handsome traveller sleepily kept asking myself,
at intervals of few minutes, but without troubling
myself 70 end an answer. Suddenly. new light
burst upon me- started up, thoroughly awake;
and, tearing open the dispatch book, read over
again the first part Of the message: "Lemonfngers
starts BY the mail tonight Well, what has that
I to do with the handsome traveller? Why, this:
don't the traveller pair Of tight fitting lemon
coIored gloves? and wasn't the outside seam of the