The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-11-17

start in an hour.
"Now confess-you are sending on pur-
pose | shall be truly lgrieved to deraDge
you. Your soldier would hate me- What
say you, shall we walk to the post-office our
selves ? | 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 Silverburn
excused myself. The fact was wished
to stay at the fort to attend to household
affairs. did not often entertain Prince,
and was somewhat anxious about the din
ner which was being prepared by my mex
perienced soldier cook.
"YOu will not? You are wrong, You
should walk more. 1t is excellent exercise.
| find the benefit, and need it much always,
as now But see you will not be persuaded.
Au revoir then-till-?"
"Dinner at halfpast 5. That will give us
nice long evening"
Eyes ; a nice long evening"" he repeated
after me in strange, hooking tone If he
had not been Prince might have consid-
cred his conduct rude.
We parted. lie walked on at very brisk
pace returned slowly to the fort.
For the next few hours / was busy super
] intending the operations in the kitchen, as
sisting to lay the table, drawing wine, and
making ready for the feast. About 6. p. m.
| 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 hours to do the Journey
there and back, but half-past 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, and rather cold
At halfpast | sent of two non commission
ed officers in search Of him; at l went my
self, and growing more and more concerned,
walked on to Silverburn.
| Yes person answering to the description
of the Prince had been been there He had
| taken the train to Manchester. An eYtraor-
dinary proceeding, still it accounted for his
absence so somewhat relieved / went home,
dined by myself, and went to bed.
l slept late next morning. 1t was close on
| 10 when | was reused by familiar voice in
the outer room.
"What, Randall Still in bedp
1t was Bob Finch, brother Lieutenant
from headquarters.
'"You are to return at once to the regi-
ment," he said. II have come to relieve
you"
"Hurrah!
"Steady, boy, steady. Read this. Don't
sing out too soon."
1t was an official letter from the Adjutant,
desiring me to hand over my detachment,and
report myself forthwith at headquarters
under arrest.
BLESS me. What's up?"
"The Coonel's furious He declares he'll
prefer charges, and have you tried by court
martial"
"But why, man? why~
"What on earth induced you to give that
sharper letters of introduction to the regi-
mentY Where, in heavens name, did you
pick him up?"
"The Prince?
"Of Darkness. He made nice fools of us
ALL"
told Bob Finch the story of the raft at
which he laughed little, adding soon:
''But it's no joke, Randall He was asked
to mess on the strength of your letter to
Greycliffs."
81 gave him none"
"He produced one-on paper with your
monogram, and in your writing"
"a forgery"
"But how could he have Done it Y
81 left him alone here for an hour or
more to write letters. There was one for
Messrs. Coutts, and another for somebody
'offski,' and one"--for Seven Dials, of
course, but would not confess to this.
"Well, he dined at mess, en- bourgeois.
He was travelling, and had left his mails at
another stage after dinner he got us up to
baccarat, which he played 10 nicety. We
were cleaned out every one of us. The
| Prince, however promised us our revenge,
Only the same nght-it could have been no
one else-he broke into the mess-house, stole
three dozen silver forks, a heap of teaspoons
several snuil.boxes, one or two racing cups
in fact, all the light portable articles on
which he could lay his hands"
| was utterly ashamed of myself for being
80 easily imposed upon, and was preparing,
in pail and humiliation, to proceed to head
quarters, when my Sergeant came in and
said twoWarierS had arrived from Talkham
Convict Prison would see them?
One came in.
assistance We have been in pursuit of
convict who escaped from our establishment
the day before yesterday"
He produced Il large pacari headed with
the Royal arms. Under them, in flaming
capitals, were the words
Convict just Escapedl Five Pounds Re,
ward %
Then followed the description
'ThomaS Twoshoes. alias Polish Ned alias
the Staggering Sumph, alias Harry High
flyer complexion sallow, dark-eyes, high
cheek-bones black hair, Speaks with a
foreign accent. Was dressed in trousers of
atched bauketing and an old check shirt"
"Well, what can do ?" ! asked little
nervously. Was suspected of completely I?
Doubtless | had lain myself open to the
charge of aiding and abetting in the con.
vict's escape. "lf | can assist you in your
search"
''That isn't necessary sir, for we've caught
him"
Caught him /" cried both Finch and my
self in breath.
"He is outside in the custody of Assistant
Warder Tightlock. We captured him seven
miles this side of Yarchester. A boy saw
him about daylight hiding behind a hedge
changing his shirt-that he had on was
marked with the Broad Arrow. We were
| informed ,.gaye chase, and. after a sharp tus-