The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-29
CHAPTER II.-THE oFFIcER.


"This wsy, sir. The young person is in
my house; she gave her word not to at
tempt to leave; the old gentleman is with
herr
This we heard through the door as the
station thaster came along the passage.
Our friend Mr.. Blake had arrived some
time before.
The station master entered, and behind
him q tall, broad. shouldered man, with
bushy beard and moustsches concealing all
the lower part Of his face
"Will you have a light sir n said the
ststion-master to the officer.
"Thank you, no"
Clara. started at the sound Of the voice,
and laid her hand on mine.
aNoW, my good man." began Mr.. Blake,
'perhsps you'll explain this mstser you
autographed down from London to stop
this lady, and here she is. Now, if you
please, explain" ..4
"ThisI gentleman" I said to the officer,
lis my niece's legal adviser. l assume that
it is 3 mistake; still, we shall be glad of
your explanation. You are q detective, l
presume I" .faFl-H ry
mo, sir, 1 am not, my name is -F
'Herbert HERBERT my dear Herbert it
is youP
CLARA had gone to him, and he was clasp
ing her in his strong arms, while her face
was hidden IN his great beard.
"My own, my darling, my own true dar-
liDgl-she loves me still"
But why describe their meeting2 Mr..
Blake said TO me once.
"My dear sir, 1 am not wanted here, and
Idoubt if you are" and we left them.
Ia half an hour we thought it possible
We might be less in the way, and we went
in. They sat on the same sofa ct q most
suspiciously crest distance apart from
each other, and looked as happy and
foolish as possible.
"And now, my dear Herbert, please ex-
plain to US what has taken you at least
half an hour to make clear to my niece"
"Weu, my dear uncle-msy l call you
nncle2p
'Ob, yes month sooner is not much
consequence"
aDon't uncle" said Clara.
HYou know how l went away with Just
enough to pay for my tools and outfit and
passage. 1 went to Californis, TO the dig
gings, snd was lucky; got. q good claim,
workedvib got a little money, took shares
In q machine, worked the claim, improved
the machinery, became mAnsger, director,
and got rich started six months ago to
comehome for Clara, took the fever at Pan
ans, was down for two months there, not
able TO raise hand or foot, and arrived only
last night in Liverpool. There I met an
old friend, and heard all the >news-poor
Webster's death, the promise, and the rest,
and above all that tomorrow was the day.
/ started BY the Asst train to get TO Lon
don, thinking that the marriage would take
place there, and that I should be in time.
Looking out of the window of the carriage
as the trains we're passing each other at
Peterborough I saw CLARA with her mother
1 did not see you. l was mad; the trains
had both started, e / could not get out.
There was Clara going from me, and l go
ing from her, as fast IS express trains could
take US. What could Ido2 l knew no.
thing of where she wss going, and yet my
information was positive that she was 60.
ing to be married tomorrow, solely because
she would keep hsr promise. 4
HCan Won wonder st my doing as I did 2
The train did not stop till it reached Lon
don, and 1 found thst by the time 1 had
hunted upthe address to which you had
gone from the servants st home ! should
have lost the last train, and not been able
to get here till long past midnight. What
to do 7 could not think.
ain the earrisgein which / sat somebody
had been talking about the murderer Ia
well, and the telegraph, the police on the
door step, and so on. 1t all flashed on my
mind in an instant
81 went to the telegraph office, snd look
ing in, there was only 8 young lad there. !
HI went In, and called him.
"Csn you telegraph to York for me7'
a'Oertainly, sir