The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-11-02
The -Anti-AGonopo1is

= = = ----;
curious eyes had read thus far, the prince
/ took mp all his correspondence, put the let
tiers in his pocket, and rose to greet me with
pleasant smile.
s'There! So much for business. This
contretemps will alter all my plans. But
what matter! l am still alive. Shall we
take breath of air?''
Outside, after o few turns upon the shore,
he said:
sis your postofice far! We might drop
these in as we passed."
said l sent an orderly with the letter
bag as far as Silverburn, the nearest village
On railway station-three miles or so.
He would start in an hour.
'sNow confess-you are sending on pur-
p ose? 1 should be truly grieved to derangs
you. Your soldier would hate me. What
say you; shall we walk to the post ourselves?
should like it, and it would do you good
too; you are lazy, mon lieutenant, you will
grow fat. Say, then shall we walk to Sill
verburn!
excused myself The fact was that
wished to stay at the fort to attend to house,
hold affairs. l did not often entertain .
prince, and was somewhat anxious about
the dinner which was being prepared by nay
mex perienced soldier cook.
"You will not? You are wrong. You
should walk more 1t is excellent exercise.
l find the benefit, and need it much always,
as now. But see you will not be persuad>
ed. Au revour then till
"Dinner at half-past six. That will give
US nice long evening"
Eyes, nice long evening"" he repeated
in strange, mocking tone. If he had not
been a prince might have considered his
conduct rude
We parted. He walked on at very
brisk pace; returned to the fort.
For the next few hours was busy super
intending the operations in the kitchen,
assisting to lay the table, drawing wine and
making ready for the feast. About P. NJ.
dressed in mess uniform to do honor to
my foreign guest, and walked down the road
to meet him on his return.
He had had three h urs to do the Journey
there and back, but half>past six came, and
with it no prince. Seven still he did not
appear.
What had happened? He must have lost
his way. 1t was quite dark, but rather
cold. At half-past seven l sent two nom
commissioned officers in search of him; at
eight went myself, and growing more and
more concerned walked on to Silver
burn.
Eyes; a person answering the description
| of the prince had been seen there. He had
taken the train TO Manchester. An extraor-
binary proceeding; still, it accounted for his
absence; so, somewhat relieved, went home
dined by myself and went to bed.
| slept late next morning. 1t was close
on ten when was aroused by q familiar
voice in an outer room.
"What, Randall! Still in bed ,"
It was Bob Finch, q brother lieutenant
from headquarters.
"You are to return at once to the reigi-
ment," he said. 81 have come to relieve
you"
"Hurrah!'
STEADY, boy, steady. Read this. Don't
sing out too soon."
1t was an official letter from the adjuant,
desiring me to hand over my detachment,
and report myself forthwith ut headquar>
tiers, under arrest.
BLESS me! What's up"
1.-THE ColonePs furious. He declares he
will prefer charges, and have you tried by
court NATAL
"But why, man-why!"
"What induced you to give that sharper
letters of introduction to the regiment!
Where, in heavens name, did you pick him
up"
1.-The Prince"
"Of Darkness He made nice fools of US
ALL" as6iEs----
81 told Bob Finch the story of the raft, at
which he laughed little, adding:
but it's no joke, Randall. He was
asked to mess on the strength Of your let
ter to Graycliffe.''
Il gave him none"
ale produced one-on payer with your
monogram, and in your writing"
"A frogery.'
..But how could he have done its''
II left him alone here, for an hour or
more to writo letters. There was one for
Nessrs Coutts and another for somebody
SEINE body .offsKi,' and one''-for Seven
Dials, OF course. but would not confess to
this.
aWell he dined At mess in bourgeois.
He was travelling, and had left his mails 1t
another stage; after dinner he got up to
| baccarai, which he play ed to nicely. We
were csAned out. every one Of u.s. The
prince. however, promised US our revenge.
Only the same night-it could have been no
one else-he broke into the mess house.
stole three dozen silver forks, heap Of
teaspoons, several snuff boxes, one or two
racing-in fact, all the light portable arti-
cles on which he could lay his hands"
| was utterly ashamed Of myself for be-
ing so easily imposed upon, and was
preparing. in pain and humiliation, to pro-
coed to headquarters, when my sergeant
came in and said two warders had arrived
from TalKhan Convict Prison; would I see
them.
One came in.
"Ali9h, make 90 bold IS to claim your
assistance. sir We have been in pursuit,
Of convict who escaped from our establish>
ment the day before yesterday"
He produced . large plaeard headed with
the royal arms. Under them, in flaming
capitalists. were the words:
.-COnvics just escaped. Five Pounds
Reward
Then followed the description.
Thomas Tvoshoes. alias Polish Ned.
alias the Staggering Sumph, alias Harry
Hixhfyer: complexion saiiow, DARK eyes