Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-02-26


iauptiy from first class carriage, smiled
amiably ON the porter, who touched his cap,
took up his small black portmanteau. gave
one hurried, anxious glance round, broke in
to a smile again, staggered slowly down the
platform, and pushing through the 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 this time Of the morning >
None of the inns will he open for above an
hour.
Without waiting to consider whether it
was any business ut mine, | pushed through
the folding doors after the traveller. lie 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 dark figure glidcd out from be-
hind some projection, and advanced towards
him. ] could hear the murmur of a few
words, Then the stranger took the portman-
tcau from the travellers hand, and they
Went on together at a 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 ont of view
in the donscr darkness beyond, impcllcd 10y a
vague feeling of curiosity, drew my coat
closer around me, and set off after them at
stcalthy 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-ninc. \ moment
more, and they were both inside the house,
and the door was shut another moment. and
| saw the light shining from Mr.. Darkc's
room in the second floor front.
Having no expectation of seeing any thing
more, turned back to the office. and there,
bending over Il iovial fire, fell gradually into
dozc, in which Mr.. Darkc, the traveller,
Cary, black dwarf, and Binks the draper,
were all mingled ina fantastic drama, rcyoly-
ing endless y in my weary brain What had
the telegraphic message to do with the hand
some traveller? Slrcpily kept asking my
self at intcrva of Il few minutes but with
out troubling myself to find an answer. Sud
denly IA new light burst upon me. started
up thoroughly awake; and tearing open the
dcsratch-book, read over again the first part
of the message, - Lemon fingers 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-iit-
ting lcmon-colorcd gloves? and WASH the
outside seam of the first finger of the right
hand glove burst open? This had noticcdas
he stroked his moustache. But. even suppos-
ing the traveller to be the IcmonfngcrS of the
message, what about the black dwarf. He
was alone. Alone? Yes; but had he not
with him a small black portmanteau, of which
he seemed to take particular care. refusing to
| let the porter SO much AS take it out of the
carriage for him? \ theory ingenious. but
improbablc, | 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 to the platform on my way home Pass
ing group of people standing near car
riagc-door, was suddenly started by deep
gruif voice cXclaiming to some one: " We
shall be off in half a minute more. -
would pick that voice from a thousand as
Mr. Darle's i' exclaimed under my
breath, as glanced quickly round. The
group had dispersed, except two persons,
man and a woman, who were preparing to
take their places in the train. Tho person
whom took for Mr. Darkc was n bulky
middle aged man, dressed in u good suit of
black clothes lie had black hair, and thick
black eyebrows, his whiskcrs were black,
meeting full and busy under the chin his
face was pale and marked with the small
po1, and his eyes were black bold and cum
ming: altogether n fierce fellow, whom it
would be unwisc to enrage. His compan-
ions face | could not see, it being concealed
by thick veil but Judging from her figure,
she could not b. much above twenty years
old. She was WE'LL but rather conspicuous
ly, attired having over her silk drcsss a
volumnous scarlet shawl, comfortablc-look-
ing enough certainly, on n cold Christmas
morning But see As live, she has got
on the very pair Of lemon-colorcd gloves that
were worn by the young d indy who arrived
by the night-lnail the same pair Of gloves
without doubt, having the outside scam Of
the finger of the right hand little torn
There, too, is the identical little black port
manteau. carefully carried, this time, by Mr.
Darke himself What can it all mean?
Under ordinary circumstances | shoulC
have at once gone to bed and slept till two or
three O'Clock in the afternoon; but, or
Christmas-day, such proceeding was not t'
: be thought Of, So, having brcakiastcd,
put on my Sunday suit, and left home witt
the intention of taking long stroll into tho
country. Before setting out, ] went TO the
station to see i'll could not induce a certain
friend to accompany me; when whom shoul'
meet on the platform but Mr.. Choop, tn
chief constable of Newstone.
Mr. Choop is small, wiry, actve-lookin.
man, with sauntering and negligent air, a
| if he were in want of something to do Mr.
Choop has smiling open countenance h
| wears his hat very much at the back OF hi
t head, and generally displays an ampl
: amount of shirt bosom seeming, in hi
e quiet way, to invite the confidence of ever
t one But, tell him something that interest
- him excite him bring him out of the pa'
sive into the active mood, and you will st
6 his eyes become keen and piercing, his fei
: lures sharpen, and his teeth glisten. II
- looks at that moment as dangerous and fu
:, of mischief a tiger-cat crouching for
= spring. Mr.. Choop is a distant relative
a mine by marriage, and was aware of ii
i state of my affections lie was in the pa,
It sivc mood when encountered him ON ii
IS platform, and looked the most amiahlc an
It artless of men.
e GLOW are you this morning ~ he said {
Is he shook his head. And how is Cary? HaN
? the old man and You made matters u
yct?'
o | shook my head disconsolately,
d "Wcll, faint heart, You know, he addc
is with a smile, What brings me down her
e Business, to be sure The fact is, myst
rously taking me by the button, "there VI
daring burglary committed last night
lronville, and property to large amou
was stolen. From information | receive
half an hour ago by telegraph, have reas'
to believe that one of the acrompliccs, ha
o. ing in his possession considerable lart
ne the stolen property, arrived here early Il
~ | uoIHlllp ny lIlc Hlhll lltIl' y Slciu'l 'Nl
man fashionably dressed light tlaxcn mo,
tachc wearing Il pair of lemon coorcd k
d. gloves, and carrying small black portma
n teau, -
"NIr Darkes friend, by Jupiter ''
in "Eh, what do you mean - asked Cho
mt sharply, with his eager ferrct-look III
of changed him at once into another ma
Ike Three minutes suiiced TO put him in posse
ld on of all | knew. Mr.. Choop gave an
ne most imperceptible iirk with his thumb a
m a tall ung gaintly y-looking man. having the a
an pcarance of farm-laborer in his best cloth
hs lounged up and recognized Timothy, y
Choop's confidential subordinate.
Re. Mr.. Choop sent Timothy of to Numl
lpr Thirty ninp ms kp pprtain inouirips l.