The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-22
CHAPTER XII.

The Thursday night passed and nothing hap
peued. With the Friday morning came two
pieces OF news. .....r. ..-
Item the irst The bakers man declared he
had met Rosanna Spearman, on the previous
afternoon, with thick veil on, walking toward
Frisinghall by the foot-path way over the moor.
II seemed strange that any body should be mis-
taken about Rosanna, whose shoulder marked
her out pretty plainly, poor thing-but mistaken
the man must have been for Rosanna, as you
know, had been all the Tuesday afternoon i'll
up stairs in her room.
Item the second came through the postman.
Worthy Mr.. Candy has said one more Of his
many unlucky things. when he drove of in the
rain on the birthday night, and told me that q
Doctors skin was waterproof. In spite Of his
skin the wet had got through him. lie had
caught a'chill that night and was now down
with fever. The last accounts, brought by the
postman, represented him to be light-headed- -
talking nonsense as glbly. poor man. in his de-
lrium as he often talked II in his sober sense.
We were all sorry for the little doctor but MIR.
Franklin appeared to regret his illness chiefly on
Miss Rachel's account. From what he said to
my lady while was In the room at breakfast
time he appeared to think that Miss Rachel-if
the suspense about the Moonstone was not soon
set at rcst-might stand In urgent need Of the
best medical advice at our disposal.
breakfast had not been over long when tele-
gram from Mr.. Blake, the elder, arrived in an
swer TO his son. II informed US that he had
laid hands (by help Of his friend the Commis-
sioner) on the right man to help u.s. The name
Of him was Sergeant CuG. and the arrival Of him
from London might be expected by the morning
train.
At reading the name Of the new police officer
Mr.. Franklin gave start. II seems that he
had heard some curious anecdotes about Ser
geant Cuff from his fathers lawyer during his
stay In London. eff half the stories I have
heard ar true, when 1t comes 10 unrayeling o
mystery there isn't the equal in England Of
Sergeant Cuffv'
We all got excited and impatient rs the time
drew near for the appearance Of this renowned
and capable character. Superintendent Sce-
grave returning to us Mt his appointed time, and
hearing that the Sergeant was expected, Instant
ly shut himselfup in q room, with pen, ink and
paper, to make notes of the Report which would
be certainly expected from him. should have
liked to have gone to the station myself to fetch
the Sergeant. But my lady's carriage and
horses were not To be thought Of, even for tho
celebrated Cuff and the pony. shaisc was re-
quircd later for Mr.. Godfrey. lie deeply re-
grctted being obliged to leave his aunt nj such
an anxious time and he kindly put OF the
hour Of his departure till as late rs the last
train. for the purpose Of hearing what the elcv-
er London police-ofhcer thought Of the ease.
But on Friday night he must BE- in town, having
Ladies' Charity, in difficulties, waiting to con-
suit him on Saturday morning.
When the time came for the Sergeant's arri-
val went down to the gate to look out for him.
Afy from the railway drove up as rcachel
the lodge and out got gririled, elderly man, 80
miserably lean that he looked as II he had not
got an ounce Of flesh on his bones In any part Of
him. He was dressed all In decent black, with
white crsvat round his neck. His face was as
sharp a. hstchet, aud the skin Of Il was rs
yellow and dry and withered as an autumn
leaf His eyes, Of stecly light gray, had .
very disconccrting trick, when they encounter
cd your eyes, Of looking rs II they expected some
thing more from you than you are aware Of
yourself His walk was soft his voice was
melancholy his long lanky fingers were hook
Cd like claws. He might have been . psrson.
or an undertaken. or anything else you like eI-
cept what be really was. A moro complete op-
positc to Superintendent Scegnvc than Scrgcsnt
Cuff. and les comforting officer 10 look at for