The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-01-14

ness so intensely that | became little
more vigilant and attentive.
Among the male passengers was one who
especially engaged my observation. He
was person of conspicuous appearance,
not unhandsome in face faultess in figure,
and rather foppishly attired. He wore
dark imperial and mustache, a brilliant
upon his scarf, two or three diamond rings
upon his fingers, and carried a delicate
rattan cane with a deal of grace. There
was an assumed air of dignity, and a pat
ronizing manner about him that disgusted
me, the more as / could detect in his ex-
preston Of features weak and shallow
mind. This person gave his undivided at
tention to the lady passengers, was prodigal
in compliments to them, and was fast be-
coming fayorite. He appeared a perfect
stranger to me until about the sixth Gay
out, when seeing him early one morning
before his toilet was made, his face became
invested with an old familiarity. l became
suspicious at once that he was playing
false part, and l began watching him more
closely. On the first occasion that offered
| engaged him in conversation, and it re-
quired no little skill to bring out the asser-
tion that he, too, was travelling for pleas
ure.
noticed also that he had lively eye
upon certain quiet and very handsome
lady, who was apparently without pro
tector, and whose costly silks and abundant
jewels indicated no lack of funds He was
free to tell me his name was Ross and was
particular to hint on every occasion how
fortune had favored him with wealth. The
lady spoken of had attracted my attention
and confess to feeling at the time little
tender paruality toward her. The reader
will therefore not be surprised that was
observant of Ross gallantries to her, and
that / was somewhat annoyed when l saw
that she seemed to regard him with favor.
Perhaps it was the stimulus of a rival, per-
haps the woman's charms alone that arous-
ed me to regard her; but at any rate fell
to gazing upon and thinking of her, and
that, too, after only two or three short and
rather cool interviews, wherein / utterly
failed to exchange a single tender look
Meantime, Ross, to my utter discontinue.
was admitted by her to the most confiden-
tial interviews.
1t was about this time that began to
scrutinize Ross more closely with the view
of detecting his completely in the crime
was employed to disc over. The more
reflected, the more l became convinced of
the reasonableness Of my suspicious. His
business, whatever it might have been, was
never once alluded to by him, and any
method by which / could obtain a clue to it
the art of photographing If he did, one
good point was made. / had failed in
every attempt to find out his occupation,
until the following opportunity occurred,
in availing myself of which claim some
credit for sagacity.
Ross came limping tome one evening
bearing an expression of pain. l inquired
what the matter was, at which he dropped
into seat beside me, and in coarse man.
ner began cursing his corns, which appear
ed to be the cause of his lameness While
he was lamenting his misfortune an idea
occurred to me. had been troubled with
corns myself and had eradicated them with
nitrate of silver, a chemical much used in
photographing. "Mr Ross, said you
can be eflectually relieved by an article
that you have probably used, and quite
! likely to have with you."
What is t?" inquired he, anxiously.
1T is chemical that stains the skin
and hair black" said l.
"Indeed," said Ross with forced sur
prise, and apparently very uneasy.
" 1t is an article indispensable to the art
of taking pictures by the solar light, said
/, gazing directly into his eyes.
Yes, " replied Ross, without inquiry.
&C Nitrate of silver. Did you ever use
itP" inquired
No, " said he curtly, and dropping his
eyes before my gaze, he arose and left me
unmistakably embarrassed and annoyed.
This interview nearly settled the question
in my mind IN regard to his criminality,
and the prospect Of bringing him to justice
pleased me. observed him closer than
ever. He appeared less lame the morning
after had suggested the remedy, and on
the second day his lameness had entirely
disappeared. ventured to ask, after CON
graduating him upon his improvement,
whether he had obtained the chemical
aboard although he denied it, / had but
! little doubt he had aYailed himself of nv