Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-01
"Twenty pounds from Lord Foptoddle."

'Twenty pounds from Lord Foptoddle."
(Cheers.)
''Ten pounds from the Marquis of Chesh-
ire" (Renewed cheers.)
Again, too, for the twentieth time, | heard
the treasurer thank the secretary, and the
secretary thank the treasurer; and then, at
last, not little fiurried, rose myself to pro-
pose ''The Ladies" who smiled upon us in the
gallery all the time thinking only of pref
ty little Nelly Pledgett, my doctors daughter,
whom [ saw beaming and radiant in front
seat. got quite eloquent on the subject of
female beauty, and sat down amid tremendous
applause. was replied to by the good doc
tor, who, thanking the meeting on behalf of
the ladies, begged to propose the health of
one of the best friends of the society-need
he say he alluded to-"Osbert Wilkinson.
Esq? ' (Cheers.)
But suddenly, through all these motley re-
collections, there flashed a painful thought
a suspicious apprehension-of | scarcely
knew what coming evil. 1t seemed, when /
think OF 1t now, almost like presentiment of
what shortly after happened. l remember
that, as sat down, somewhat heated by my
speech, and was pouring myself out a glass
OF that excellent sherry to wind up with, nv
old friend, the doctor-who, by-the-by. sat
opposite me at dinner-leant across the table
and gave me peculiarly keen and searching
look from under those thick, gray eyebrows
of his.
''What does that detectives look of yours
mean, doctor?" said l, pleasantly enough.
sit means that you must take care of YOUR
self" said he, in grave voice; and no more
passed between us, for at that moment rose
to leave, having some business that would call
me up early in the morning. He followed me
tbOnub oOA xuba
the doorway, | am not sure that he did not
hold his stop-watch in one hand and feel nv
pulse with the other; but was so busy help
ing Nelly on with her scarlet opera cloak,
that did not pay much attention to the ner.
vous old fellow, who, between ourselves I
think is rather getting past work, he worries
one so with warnings and mysterious threats.
as If wasn't in the finest health, and my life
insurance just advantageously settled.
Dear Nelly, what an anxious look she gave
me as stepped into my cab! l was sure
that girl loved me.
All this evening l had been haunted with
anXletles about that troublesome chancery
case OF mine, "Wordwood Uersus Widgett,"
the vexations and delays of which had nearly
driven me mad. had really felt quite giddy
over it that very morning, and began to get
alarmed about overworking my brain. as nv
doctor taxed me with doing. l could not get
the thought Of it, even now, out of my mind,
till certain growing apprehension overpow-
cred it.
We were still driving on at a strange. nm
equal rate-nOw at a furious gallon, now at a
fierce trot, but where we were / could not
very well determne-I looked out for we had
just got into dark by-street, and there was
no lamp visible, up or down, as far at least as
l could see without putting my head out, for
the windows were jammed so close that it was
impossible to open them.
1t was here that, for the first time, began
somehow or other to have some vague appre-
hension of the sanity of honesty OF my driver
Then came thronging into my brain stories |
had heard years ago Ill Paris of celebrated
and dangerous gang of thieves, who had for
their accomplces many of the drivers of the
night facreS. These fellows drove whatever
passengers they could procure into obscure
streets, and there robbed and sometimes muir
dered them. Was | to be the victim of such
scheme? and if was, what hope had l, all
alone and unarmed, to escape, at such an hour,
too, and on such a night?
CONCLUDED TO MoRRow.l