Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-02-11


II pewdcr, on which saw the name Isab
P shining with metallic ,ustre. Then
= went TO the bedroom, and searched tina
c Here, too, were evident preparations fc
flight: coats and other garments throw
G hastily into cupboards, boxes turned ou,
: an odd glove or two lying upon the dress
ing-table. | carefully searched all tn
pockets for letters or other documents
j bu, found nothing. The keys were LEI
: in all the receptacles; an instance Q
Charles thoughtfulness for others, in tn,
midst of his rascality.
Lying upon the wash-stand was card
which was blank upon one side, but OF
: the other had the name Of Photographic
printed upon it. The card was wet as
} it had been soaked in water; and nea
the upper end Of it was round irregua
cat, which did not quite penetrate tht
card. 1t had evidently once had a Pho
: tograph fastened on it; accordingly, thu
card had been wetted, to facilitate the re-
moval of the photograph, whilst the face
of the portrait had evidently been cut out
in order to place it in locket or some
thing similar.
1t struck me at once that the photo
graph, about which man on the eve oi
flight would take so much trouble, mus,
be of person very dear to him; proba.
bly, his sweetheart, Although | had been
intimate with Thrapstow, he had always
been very reserved as TO his own friends
and associates and had no clue to guide
me to any of them but the photographers
card.
Re-entcriug my cab, dove off to the
photographers. There was no number or
distinguishing mark upon the card, and
the chances seemed faint that he would be
able to tell ME anything aboatit Indeed,
at first, when the man found that wasn't
"a customer, he seemed little inclined to
trouble himself about the matter. The
promise Of a fee, however, made him
more reasonable, and he offered to let me
see his books, that | might search for the
name | wanted to find, But then didn't
know the name | wanted to find. 1t was
unlikely that the photograph had been
done Tor Thrapstow; if 1t had, there
would probably appear in the books only
the useless record of his address, already
known to me, Then the man shook his
head. If | didn't know the name it was
no use looking the card was nothing. he
said he sent hundreds ou. every month.
what information could he possibly give
me? Then | tried to describe the person.
al appearance of Thrapstow. But again
he shook his head. If he hadn't taken
his likeness, he wouldn't be likely to re.
member HIM; hardly even then, so many
people pas through his hands.
An this time he had been carclessy
holding the card in his fingers, glancing
at it now and then, and suddenly an idea
seemed to strike him. stop hit" he
said. and went into his dark chamber,
aud presently emerged, smelling strongly
OF chemicals. "Look here" be said tri.
| looked, and saw very
faint ghostly impression Of a photograph.
"lt's printed itself through" said the
man--"they will sometlmes--aud I've
brought it to light. Yes, know the or.
lginal Of that" Again he dived into a
closet and brought out negative with a
number and label to it, Then he turned to
mis- book and wrote down an address for me
Mrs. Maidmont. Larkspur Road, Not.
ting Hill. .a. -ui Haa~ .-aa
Away l went to larkspur Road. Mrs.
Maidmont's house was u small comfortable
,ouse, with bright windows, verauda, gor-
geous window-boxes, and stripid -blluds
Mrs, Maidmont was a. home, said neat,
'retty-looking maid aud l sent in my
ny card, with message "On most I'M
'ortant business" The maid cane back
o say that her mistress did not recognize :
he name, but would | walk In? | was !
hown into pretty drawing.room on the .
lrst floor. An elderly lady rose to greet
ne with old.fashioned courtesy, ut the !
anne time with good deal of uneasy
uriosity visible in her face. This was >
ot the original OF the photograph, who !
las young and charming girl.
"Madam," 1 said rapidly, IL believe
nat my friend, Charles Thrapstow. is .
'ell known to you; now, it is of the ut. =
lost Importance that L should ascertain :
here he is at this moment" 81
"Stay!' said the old lady. "You arc y y
boring under complete mistake; | 0
now nothing whatever of the gentleman ~
hose name you mention name | new.
: heard before 81
Was she dcceiving me ? | did not think W
Perhaps Miss Maidmount might know" m
said eagerly. th