The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-09-11

Ine whole Gay passed away, anu notn-
ing more could be done. Kate looked
despairingly at me when told her what
had passed- Captain White had gone
out of our ken, and out of English
jurisdiction altogether his correspond
entwas still a mysterious nothing. The
clue that had been so marvelously re-
vealed TO us, ell came to naught. 1t was
enough to make US despair.
"
There was dinner party at my uncle's
that night--a very grand one. L never
saw Uncle Henry more gay or, to all
appearance, in better spirlth, and yet
three days at the outside would see him
ruined man. Among The guests was
Maj Smith, the chief constable of the
town, bachelor and bon vivant, who
was still rather ladies' man, and not
averse to making himself agreeable to
Kate. He took her down to dinner, and
kept watchful eye upon. them. A
great epergneslof flowers was between
us, but in the lulls and pauses in the
general clatter l could hear what they
were saying. He was very fond of talk
ing about the great people he knew, and
had been indulging in long flourish
about his old friend and comrade, Lord
---, when Kate brought him down
to the common level by the question,
Pray Major Smith, do you know a
Captain Sam White ?"
Whitel" cried the major, rather
nettled at being cut short. Whitel of
what regiment?"
''Oh, 1 don't know that, but he lately
lived at Nowland's row.p
The majors eyes at once assumed the
keen twinkle of the chief of the po-
lice. iir
" Have you been plunging into the
betting ring, MISC Brown Sam White
is dangerous fellow. He has the char
acter, too. of being secret fence.'"
That was all that could hear, for the
tide OF conversation rose once more, and
drowned all individual voices
I did not enjoy my dinner that eve
ming felt that we were on the edge of
a precipice. 1t seemed, indeed, likely
enough that Major Smith might soon
have the task of hauling us off to pris-
on, on charge of fraudulent conceal
ment of property. What would become
of my aunt most good-natured and
helpless of women-and of Kate ? The
thought was unendurable.
ID H
After the guests were gone, Kate and
had a long and serious consultation to-
gether. If the next day passed over our
heads without bringing something to
light, farewell to hope altogether. 1t
was hardly likely, indeed, that the un-
known criminal would keep the APP
pointment he had made, as he had re-
ceived no reply to his letter. Still, there
was the chance that he would.
Would it be possible to get somebody
to represent Sam White, and keep the
appointment on his behalfY That was
out of the question. White was too
well-known. Then, although we assum-
ed that the Three Pigeons was the " old
place" mentioned in the dead letter, vet
we were just as likely to be wrong alto
gether.
Then Kate's face lighted up, and 1 saw
that she had an idea. 6 You say that
the bride of Captain White was a gobd
deal like me. Well, why should not
make believe to be Mrs, Sam White, and
go to keep the appointment on his be-
half?'' 1 had great many objections to
urge to such plan, but one by one Kate
overruled them. But persuaded her to
make this addition to her scheme, that L
should accompany her in the guise of her
husbands clerk, or secretary. Finally
we made an appointment to meet at 10
o'clock the following morning, and 60
to the Three Pigeons. '
AS we pushed open the swing doors of
the Three Pigeons, a strong watt of
mingled odors-beer and spirits, flavor
ed with tobacco, and slight suspicion
OF wet sawdust-droye against us; a
babel of voices, too, surged out, jocose,
maudlin, quarrelsome. Kate shrank
back and got behind me; for a moment
she was not prepared for such an odeal
as this. A crowd Of people, chiefly
women, whose characters it would be
compliment to call doubtful, were clus-
tered about sloppy, pewter-covered
counter wrangling, laughing, snarling,
swearing. The most alarming thing
was that,at the sight of us, the noise sud-
denly ceased, and all eyes were directed
toward US The landlord q h,,.ro. b., 4o1