The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-10-31

of letters from the box in the window
shook 'em out on the counter with the faces
downward-and there among 'em was the
identical letter with the kiss. 1t was direct
ed, "Mr. Thomas Pigeon, Post Office
B, to be left till called for" Down
I went to B-(a hundred and twenty
miles or SOY that night. Early next morn
ing went to the Post Office, saw the gen.
tleman in charge of that department, told
him who | was, and that my object was to
see and track the party that should come
for the letter for Mr.. Thomas Pigeon. He
was very polite and said, "You shall have
every assistance we can give you; you can
wait inside the Office, and We II take care to
let You know when anybody comes for the
letter." Well, waited there three days,
and began to think that nobody ever would
come. At last the clerk whispered to me,
"Here! Detective Somebody's come for
the letter!' "Keep him a minute" said
|, and ran round to the outside of the
office. There saw a young chap with the
appearance of an ostler, holding horse by
the understanding the bride across the
pavement, while he waited at the post Office
window for the letter. began to pat the
horse, and all that; and said to the boy,
"Why, this is Mr.. Jones' march, "No,
it amt" "No?' said 1. "She's very
like Mr.. Jones' mare?'
"She amt Mr.. Jones's mare, anyhow
says he. "It's Mr.. .and.So's, of the
Warwick Arms And up he jumped, and
off he went-letter and all. I got cab,
followed on the box, and was so quick af-
ter him that came into the stable. yard of
the Warwick Arms, by one gate, just as he
came in by another. went into the bar,
where there was ayoung women serving, and
called for glass of brandy and water. He
came in directly, and handed her the letter.
She causually looked at it without saying
anything and stuck it up behind the glass
over the chimney piece. What was to be
done next?
turned it over in my mind, while drank
m brandy andwater Cooking pretty sharp
at the letter the while) but I couldn't see
my way out of it all. 1 tried to get lodg-
ings in the house, but there had been horse
fair, or something of that sort, and it was
full. l was obliged to put up somewhere
else, but came backward and toward to
the bar for couple of days, and there was
the letter always behind the glass. At last
I thought I'd write letter to Mr.. Pigeon
myself, and see what that would do. So 1
wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely
addressed it to Mr.. John Pigeon, to see
what that would do. In the morning "a
very wet morning it was) I watched the
postman down the street, and cut into the
bar, just before he reached the Warwick
Arms. In he came presently with my let
Ter. "Is there Mr.. John Pigeon staying
here Pr "No stop bit though" says
the bar maid, and she took down the letter
behind the glass. "No" says she, it's
Thomas, and he is not staying here. Would
you do me a favor, and post this for me, as
it is so wet?' The postman said Yes;'
she folded it in another envelope directed it,
and gave it to him. He put it in his hat,
and away he went.
had no difficulty in finding out the d.
rection of that letter. 1t was addressed to
Mr.. Thomas Pigeon, Post Office, R,
North Hamptonshire, to be left till called
for. Off started directly for R.;
said the same at the post Office there as I
said at B-and again 1 waited three
days, before anybody came. At last another
chap on horseback came. "Any letters for
Mr.. Thomas Pigeon?" "Where do you
come from?' "New Inn, near R."
He got the letter, and away he went at a
canter.
made my inquiries about the New Inn
near R, and hearing it was solitary
sort of a house, little in the horse line,
about a couple of miles from the station,
I thought I'd go and have look at it. 1
found it what it had been described, and
sauntered in, to look about me. The land
lady was in the bar, and was trying to get
into conversation with her; asked her how
business was, and spoke about the wet wealth
err, and so on when saw through the open
door, three men sitting by the fire in sort
of parlor, or kitchen; and one of those men,
according to the description had of him,
was Tally no Thompson!
went and sat down among 'em, and tried
to make things agreeable but they were
very shy-wouldn't talk at all-looked at
me, and at one another, in a way quite the
reverse of sociable. ! reconed 'em up, and
finding that they were all three bigger men
than me, and considering that their looks
were ugly-that it was lonely place-rail
road station two miles off-and night com.
ing on-thought couldn't do better than
have drop of brandy and-water to keep
my courage up. So called for my brandy
and-water; and, as was sitting drinking it
by the fire, Thompson got up and went out.
Now the difficulty of it was, that wasn't
sure it aoas Thompson, because l had never
set eyes ON him before; and what I had
wanted was to be quite certain of him.
However, there was nothing for it now but
to follow, and put bold face upon it. l
found him talking, outside in the yard, with
the landlady. 1t turned out aferward that
he was wanted by Northampton officer for
something else, and that, knowing that Off
Ger to be peck marked (as l am myself he
mistook me for him. AS have observed,
found him talking to the landlady, outside.
put my hand upon his shoulder-this way
and said "Tally no Thompson, it's no
use. I know you. I'm an officer from
London, and take you into custody for
felony!' "That be DID," says Tally no
Thompson.
We went into the house, and the two friends
began to cut up rough, and their looks didn't
please me at all, I assure you. "Let the man
go What are you going to do with him ~
"rl tell you what 1 am going to do with him.
I'm going to take him to London tonight, as
sure as I'm alive. I'm not alone here, what
ever you may think You mind your own
business, and keep yourselves to yourselves
It'll be better for you, for l know you both
very we'll" I'd never seen or heard of 'em in
all my life, but my bouncing cowed 'em a bit,
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