The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-05-09

five before he came back, and was closeted
with my uncle and Parker, with whom he
had fallen in great disfavor
"Wants to make a job" said the latter
is regular humbug."
"Sir George" said the regular humbug,
"has Beaumont a locked desk in his room?,,
Yes, sir" said Parker, she has"
"Have you key which will open it?"
az have-and what of that?"
81 wish to have that desk opened with
out his knowledge, and the contents
brought to me-" .|
"And on what pretense," said my uncle"
do you propose to put this insult on a man
against whom there is no reasonable ground
of suspicion, and who has not been allow
ed to speak for himself?'
"There need be no insult for he will
know nothing of it; neither will any one
else"
"I will not permit it, sir"
"Hum Then | can do no more in the
business
"But," said Parker, whose official notion
made him unwilling to break off the nego-
tiations in this manner, "what pretence
have you for doing this to Beaumont md
not to the other clerks p
"Shall tell you? There is no such per-
sons as Elinor Beaumont, and the address
in Fleet street is notorious haunt of sts-
pectcd foreigners"
"Good graciousn said my uncle, chang
ing color, "you don't say that ?"
"It is the fact but you will see the ne
cessity Of being cautious and silent in the
matter. Detection hangs ON a thread, as
it stands, and a whisper Mill break it.
"What do you mean," said Parker,
"about Elinor Beaumont? have seen
her." .l....
"There is no Elinor Beaumont in Jersey.
sent and have ascertained the fact"
81 am sure there is some mistake about
all this, which Beaumont can clear up. Let
us send for him."
" If you do the game is up. trust, in
fact, he does not know of my visits. We
"Pedantic ass, muttered my uncle
"but suppose we had better give him his
own way. If you meet Parker and me
here at seven tonight, we shall have this
wonderful desk opened, and your great dis
coveries shall be made"
They met again that evening. The
desk was opened by Parker, and a bundle
of letters, carefully packed up, all from
Elinor Beaumont, and quantity of circu-
lars, playbills, and shop receipts were hand
ed to the expert. '.t
Thatgentleman read through the letters,
and seemed much struck by the last.
"Read that" said he, handing it to my
uncle. AS the letter is important, give it
entire
1870 FLEET STREET, Sept. "a, 1903.
My DEAR CHARLEs-Although we had
an adverse wind all the way, we made
without difficulty the port we were
bound for. My aunt, in spite of the weight
of her fifty years, enjoyed the trip much
and is ready to sail again. hope you will
think of sending the line you promised on
the 25th, and come yourself, as our party
is now much smaller, and we should enjoy
the visit. When was in London last
week saw your cousin Harry, fresh from
Windsor. There is but little change to be
observed in him, not as much as you would
expect. Come to us on Friday.
Yours very affectionately,
ELINoR B. A,
My uncle read this out loud, from begin
ming to end, and then he said: "Do you
see anything suspicious in that 1t seems
to be very innocent" t 'l
"Humph 1t may be Was there any.
thing else in the desk P'' said he, address
ing Parker. ,, -, .,..
potentate; and he led the way, the expert
following. m7f
The desk was quite empty, with the ex.
ception of two or three scraps of paper.
On one of these the expert pounced, and
returned with an air of elation to the other
room. He then unfolded this scrap Of pa.
per, disclosed a half sheet exactly the size
of the paper on which Elinor Beaumont's
letters were written, in which oblong holes
at intervals had been cut.
He then placed this half-sheet over the
letter. and handed both, thus placed, to my
uncle, whose astonished eyes read the fol
lowing words, which the holes left visible.
"Fleet wind-bound. Fifty sail of the line.
Twenty-Five smaller. Should the wind
change, expect us on Friday"
"The devil y said my uncle; "and Mel.
son ordered off to the West Indies.'
Then was there, as you may suppose,
hurrying and scurrying, and running and