Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-01-25

If I behave myself. So you see. sir. II /
was as I said. all through a bit Of a let-
ter as got to be q mail.Quard.''
II am very much obliged to YOU"
said I. ''for your narrative; It has
amused me very much indeed.
Il am very glad to hear it, SIR" re.
piled the ex.detec:ive, ''and you'll OK.
cuse me, sir-but I think as I've seen
you afore.''
"Very likely" said I, laughing:
"your experience has doubtless led
you across my path"
SAY, thought as much, SIR" said
the guard; II see you when Mr...-offer-
ed me the post I have. I remember
you comm in as left the bank
I dare say I did, for my father sees
great many people at the bank" said
SIS your father Mr.. George Somer-
Vile, as lives near H....when he's at
home, sir?'
EYES," said I; 81 have just been at |
my uncle's house now, and am on my
way to London, where my father is at |
present. |
"Well, that is curious. sir" said the |
guard touching his cap, "as I should
see you here this evening. and I'm
proud to have met you, SIR
Ireplied, and the guard running to
the door, exclaimed, 'Here's the mail,
sir, if you'll show me your things I'll
see that they are all right" And once
more touching his cap, he withdrew.
The mail soon drew up and having
been comfortably bestowed by the
guard. as We ''span" over the distance
that lay between Stand the metrop.
olis,I pondered over the singular story
I had heard until fell into a doze
from which I was not thoroughly
awakened until the train stopped "to
take tickets
We were soon afterwards run into
the station; and as stepped out of the
carriage, found the guard ready to
assist me. He soon extricated my
portmanteau from the heap at the end
of the platform, and insisted upon car
rying it to the entrance of the station
for, strange as it may appear there
were no cabs in attendance that MORN
ing. AS we emerged into the street
Hanson drew up close to the departure
entrance, and the guard hailinS Jehu,
we waited until the fare had alighted.
What was my establishment to find that
the gentleman who was about to take
his departure thus early from London
was no other than my fathers conf.
Dental clerk, respecting whom my ia.
ther had already communicated his
suspicious in the letter had received
the morning before. I started invol.
UNFAIRLY at the sudden appearance of
the very person whose affairs had
come to London to investigate, and fol.
lowed his retreating figure with so
earnest a gaze that the guard, who
had been observing me closely, said:
"Beg pardon, sir; do you know that
gentleman!''
"Certainly d." replied; ''1've
come up on his account; Mr.. Barton is
my fathers confidential clerk; but l m
afraid all is not quite right" added
thOughtfully, and in an undertone.
II suspect there's a little game,' u
said the guard; "the man as is gone in
there was called Byles three years
ago."
was struck with establishment al
this remark, and asked my companion
II he were certain that the sol distant
Barton was in reality Byles, alias
Chatham.
Gas certain as I stand here,'' re-
piled the guard ''and take my word fol
it, sir, he's after no good. If yor
don't think me presumin', I should
like to hear what's up
"Well, said 1.-the mattar is a con
tidential one; but may tell you that
We have reason to suspect that Mr.
Byles' accounts are in a most unsatis
factory state. Can we not intercept
him. for think he intends to bolt?''
ave shall soon see that, SIR" re-
piled the guard, his detective nature
showing for moment; che will be
easily caught, reckon" and as hi
spoke the ex-policenan led the way t.
the departure platform.
Here,amid the crowd of people who
had taken their tickets and were
struggling to enter the different car
riages. it was no easy matter to recog
nize Mr.. Barton, who had, doubtless
his own reasons for eluding observa
ton; and it was not until five minutel
prior to the departure of the train thai
l observed him ensconced in corner
OF third.class carriage.
Good morning, Mr.. Barton" I sale
"you are off early today"
The person addressed CHANGED colol
az he recognized me; but Immediately
recovering his elf-posseseion, replied
"Yes, sir, Mr.. Somerville wished M,
to see C--& Co. respecting those bill,
we hold, as soon as possible, and an
on my way down.
} .But they are all right" said, m!
father told me so last week.
eyes, SIR" said the clerk; 'sbut m,
mothers very ill-dying, l fear, and
} as Mr.. Somerville kindly told me to 2,
down to F.. l said Id do the bill
} too. And having given vent to thi
contradictory speech, the clerk blew
; his hose violently.
The cool way in which this was sale
and the curious looks of the other &C
cupants of the compartment at an.
other time would have quieted my
suspicious; but a gentle touch on tn
arm reminded me of the presence O.
the guard, and I therefore said loudly
"Oh. you are going to F-.''
} As spoke, the guard said suddenly
and touching his cap respectfully
"Beg your pardon, sir; did you say 70,
was going to F-!"
NO." replied; ''but this gentlema,
u.s." indicating Mr.. Barton as spoke
Every sorry" continued the guard
; ''but he can't 60 by this train; he mus
wait for the Parliamentary at sos
Tickets. please" he added suddenl,
} opening the door. All tho tickets witt
the exception of the clerks, were Inn
mediately produced. "Now, sir, you
ticket, please" said the guard. Thu
J brought to bay, Byles alias Barton ha,