Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-11-28

| from his lips, and on looking toward him saw
| that one of the fagots had struck him over the
left eye, making quite mark upon the pale
skin. This incident turned the conversation
from the subject of the robberies, and it was
not again alluded to during the day.
| We reached Lowstone shortly after dark,
and went at once to the residence of Mr..
Stickney, whom found at home. He had
| been ont all day and had made all sorts Of ef-
| ntts to obtain some clue to the perpetrators of
ogs4EaAberies that were being committed, but
without effect.
He said he could learn nothing on which to
hang suspicion. Two shops had been robbed
IN his town, but he could gain no clue to the
perpetrators. We consulted together, and f.
nally proposed TO go in the morning and see
another detective officer named Gamblit, who
resided about twelve miles distant in the town
Of Orion.
This met the views of my host and so we
LETT the matter for the evening. On the follow
ing morning we were up early, and the
coach would take us directly to Gamblit's
house, we chose that mode of conveyance,
and repaired at seasonable hour to the tav-
ern for that purpose. When we reached the
inn, we found the old farmer, who had been
one of my fellow passengers the night be-
fore, stepping about the door in high state
of excitement. He had been robbed of three
hundred pounds, and he was sure it must have
been done in the stage, for he had slept with
his pocketbook under his pillow. He had
not thought tc look into it when he retired,
but he had found it empty that morning when
he got up. He said that wallet had been taken
from his pocket and put back again-he knew
1T. As soon as he saw me he was anxious |
should be searched. OF course I allowed the
operation to be performed willingly. After
the excitement was allayed, | asked where the
pale young man was, that came in the coach,
and was told by the landlord that he went a
way soon after the coach arrived.
My first aim was to satisfy my self that the
old man had been robbed in the stage coach,
and of this he succeeded in convincing me-
After this my suspicious rested upon the con-
sumptive man, and | believed, if / could find
him, should find the rogue. SO bade the
landlord to keep sharp lookout; and also
spoke to the driver who had brought me from
Sidney, and who was now on the point of re-
turning requesting him, if he saw anything
OF the pale man, to see that he secured.
The suspicious individual had only remained
at the inn few minutes on the previous eve
ming, and had then gone away in gig, which
had come for him but one could tell what
direction he had taken.
The coach for Orton soon came to the door
and Stickney and myself took our seats inside,
the farmer having determined to remain where
he was until he heard something about the
money. There were two other passengers in
side, and two or three outside, but they were
strangers to me. We had gone two or three
miles, when the driver pulled up before a
small farm house, where woman and trunk |
were waiting by the garden gate. The lady |
was handed into the coach, and took seat |
facing me, and as she turned to give the dri- |
yer some direction concerning the baggage, |
she threw her veil over her bonnet. She was
pretty-with rosy cheeks and
spark ling eyes. Her hair hung in glossy brown |
ringlets over her neck and shoulders, and was |
a type of beauty in itself. I looked at the |
rosy checks again, and into her dark lustrous |
eyes. My gaze was fixed upon this latter point |
when she caught my glance and quickly drop |
ped her VEIL At first felt little ashamed |
at having been caught staring at her so bold |
ly; but as the face was hidden from sight |
and had opportunity for reflection it struck |
me that had seen those features before.
Here was study for me, and l was buried |
in it at once. Where had seen that face !? |
to Stckney, and asked him if he |
had ever seen her before. He said he had not,
and joked me for being SO curious about |
pretty face.
We stopped at a place called s:Turner's |
Mills," in the edge of Orton, to exchange |
mails, and here jumped out to see the post |
master who was an old friend of mine-ai'd as
was returning to the coach the thought struck
me to look at the trunk which had been last |
put on, and see if any name was on it. 1t was
marked with the simple initas-s'A. NJ" So
"A i
came to the coach door | approached it from
behind, and as l cast my eyes up found that
the beauty bad her veil raised, and was look
ing in at the post office as though anxious for
the mail to come, that we might be off. The
of anxiety detracted somewhat
from her beauty ,and as looked upon her now,
seeing her face in a different light, was struck
with sort of snake-like cast which was per-
ceptible in the whole character of her features.
was on the point of Withdrawing my gaze,
lest she should catch me second time, when
a light motion of her head rolled her curls
over her temple, and saw faint line, some
thing like vein over her left eye. 1t was a
mark-a livid scratch-where something had
struck. 1t might have been the stroke of a
whip. But-no; quickly glided back be-
hind the coach, and there reflected. Such
a mark as that could be made by fagat.
When returned to my seat in the COACH
the falr strangers veil was down again. Could
It be possible thatmy suspicious were correct
and that chance had thrown in my way solu-
lion of the problem which had vexed my dep
lties so much Yes, 1 was sure of it; the
n ore / compared the two faces in my mind,
he more l saw resemblance. Either these
cheeks had been painted red to-day or white
The eyes were the same, the con-
our the same, and that brow, with its tell-tale
mark, not to be mistaken.
We soon stopped at the door of the inn at
JrtOn. ne driver aIuouncea tiiai lucy Wouiu
top there fifteen or twenty minutes, to change
orses and wait for the mail, and also inform
d the passengers that they would find plenty
f accommodation in the house if they chose
O 60 in.
The lady at first did not get out, but at length
he did SO and went into the hotel. deter
lined now to find out who she was. left my
equity at the door of the room she entered,
aving ordered him to rush in, in case he
hould hear anything that warranted his in
cusior. On going into the APARTMENT found