The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-06-14

to inquire how 1 got on, and shook his
head on hearing my want of success.
81 fear if the dies are really here" he
said, "the fellow you call Bradley is too
deep for you"
"Not if know it" said. 81 have ap-
piled at headquarters for permission to
make better search, and I'll take up
the flooring"
81 fancy that's the most likely place.
What is that4" he asked.
"Only the undertaker's men," l said,
putting the door open. "It's the poor
fellows funeral to-day"
"Indeed All, they hasten these matters
with the poor"
Just at that moment the wretched
coffin and its bearers passed along the
passage, followed by the weeping widow
leaning on the old Irish woman. They
were the sole mOurners.
The doctor respectfully removed his hat
and we stood in silence until it had gone
by.
"Poor-poor thing" my companion
remarked with a sigh, then, giving me
his card and asking me to call If proved
successful, he went away.
Well, the hours crept by and the silence
of the house began to surprise me. Brad
ley had gone out early and hadn't been
home since. My assistant came home
about eight o'clock, but neither the wild
ow nor the landlady returned.
l waited and waited. Eleven o'clock
struck.
began to get suspicious.
Had | been dOne2
l turned hot and cold; then selling the
candle, darted up stairs. Bradley's room
was as usual, but the attic-the sight of
it made me feel ready to drop.
"Done-cleverly doner' l cried, wav-
ing my candle around.
Yes, the bitter humiliation-I had been
duped. had been the victim of sensi-
bility and clever trick.
There was the mattress ripped up, and
here, where the coffin had stood, was a
hole in the floor where the plank had
been removed. That had been the place
of concealment.
But where were the dies9 Where-why,
in the coffin of which, no doubt, the dead
man had been one of the bearers.
"Nonsense!" l calculated. "The man
must have been dead. 1t isn't likely he
could deceive the doctor-a kind-hearted
fellow and keen one; I'll 60 to himH'
Leaving my assistant in charge, has
tened to Jude street with his card in my
hand.
The red danger signal" indicated the
house, and knocking, asked to see the
doctor.
The servant, showing me into the sur
gerry, went to summon him.
In few minutes he appeared-that is,
a gentleman appeared; gentleman of
about sixty, with silver gray hair.
81 beg your pardon" said, sit is DIR.
Alexander | wish to see."
alexander! My name, sir, is Lindsay,
and am the only professional man in
this house-nay, in the. street. There
must be a mistake"
"Impossibler' cried. "See, sir, here
is his card ~
"Humph! l have never heard the name
in the neighborhood, he remarked,
perusing it. "Wait a moment-if you
will allow me, l will see."
Taking one or two thick volumes from
the book shelves he ran over lists under
the initial A.
"No," he said, "as thought-his name
is not here. l fear the title of doctor
must be assumed, and he is not certit-
Gated medical man."
then told my story.
"Sir," remarked DR.. Lindsay, unable t"
suppress smile, 81 fancy you have not
only been duped by dying man, but
also by his medical attendant"
And so it proved.
The whole had been clever trick
from the widow to the doctor and SPAR
ish" funeral.
Nevertheless, 1 might have remained in
doubt to the last had not my pride of
place" been so wounded that l did not
rest until l had tracked Jim Bradley
again, and, this time, succeeded in cap
turing him and his gang; among which
l not only discovered the young, discon-
solate widow of the dead husband, but the
doctor, the greatest rogue of the lot, as it
was he who, under his gentlemanly APP
pearance circulated the spurious coin.
To my satisfaction, saw them all sent
off for considerable term to Portland,
with small chance of ticket Of leave.
SOCIAL LIoNs.-Major Cameron, in his
recently-published volume of travels,
UAcroso fr;co - tolls a story IF social