The Portland daily press., 1877-02-03
covers. Her trouble is enough without any


addition"
DUTY was duty: yet 1 felt like hard
hearted mean-spirited cur as performed
mine. and protested to have lacked my usual
acuteness, for more than once the disciple of
Galen aided me in my suggestions.
Nothing, however came OF it. l could not
find trace.
''Yet," said, cpd take my oath the dies
are in this house, and it's one hundred
pounds in my pocket if find them"
'"Tnen l most decidedly should try" said
the doctor. 'That sum is not to be got
every day."
"No; and I'll keep watch in this house
till Pve found them"
"In this room?"
'No. 1 amt quite made of stone," 1 re-
ioined, q bit hurt. ''But l shall inspect all
who 90 out or come in."
"Quite right; and 1 wish you success, for
there's no telling the sufferings these coiners
OCCASION"
We then descended, and the doctor left,
after telling the old Irish woman he would
call as he went home, on the parish under
taker and give the necessary orders for the
funeral.
Well, needn't lengthen out my story.
rented the parlor (by compulsory of the
landlady, and established watch night and
day upon who and what went out of and en-
tered the house.
Jim Bradley came and went of course un-
molested, and chafied me considerably when
we met, while without the slightest demur he
let me visit his room whenever pleased.
What did it mean?"
1 also made call now and then on the
widow.
Poor thing she was always crying and so
| meek and full of grief as she moved about the
room where her cofined husband was, for
she wouldn't leave it, that the sight was
pitiable.
The medical attendant dropped in once to
inquire how 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 isl too deep for
you"
''Not it I know it," I said. 81 have ap-
piled at headquarters for permission to make
better search, and Pll take up the floor
Ing"
81 fancy that's the most likely place.
What is that?" he asked.
"Only the undertakers men," said, put
ting the door open. 'It's the poor fellows
'Indeed! Ah, they hasten these matters
with the poor"
Just at the moment the wretched coffin
and its bearers passed along the passage, fol-
lowed 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 thingp' my companion re.
| card, and asking me to call if I proved sue
cessful, he went away.
Well, the hours crept by and the silence of
the house began to surprise me. Bradley
had gone out early and hadn't been home
since. My assistant came in about eight;
but neither the widow nor the landlady re-
turned.
I waited and waited, Eleven O'Clock
struck.
began to get suspicious.
Had I been done?
1 turned hot and cold; then, seizing the
candle. darted up stairs. Bradleys room was
as usual; but the attc-the sight of it made
me feel ready to drop,
''Done-cleverly doneP' I cried, waving
mp candle around.
Yes; bitter the humiliation-I had been
duped! had been the victim of sensibility
| and clever trick.
There was the mattress, ripped up; and
| there, where the coffin had stood, was hole
| in the floor where the plank had been re-
moved. That had been the place Of conceal
ment.
But where were the dies? Where-why
| in the coffin, of which, no doubt, the dead
i
"NOnsenseP' I CALCULATED. 1.-The man
must have been dead. 1t isn't likely he
could deceive the doctor-a kind-hearted
| fellow, but keen one; Pll go to him.
Leaving my assistant in charge I hastened
| to Judge street, with his card in my hand.
| The red "danger signaP' indicated the
| house, and knocking, I asked to see the
| doctor.
The servant showing me into the surgery,
went in to summon him.
In few moments he appeared-that is, a
gentleman appeared; a gentleman of about
sixty with silver-gray hair.
81 beg your PARDON" I said; sit is DR..
Alexander l wish to seev'
"Alexander! My name, sir, is Lindsay,
and am the only professional man in this
house-nay. in the street. There must be
mistake"
'Impossiblev' I cried. "See sir, here is
| his card"
'Humph! have never heard the name
| in the neighborhood," he remarked, perus-
ing it. s'Wait a moment-if you will allow
me, will see.''
Taking down one or two thick volumes
| from the book shelves, he ran over lists under
the initial A.
'No," he said. Gas thought-his name
is not here. 1 fear the title of doctor must
be assumed, and he is not certifcated med
ical man.
then told my story.
''Sir," remarked DR.. Lindsay, unable to
| 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 'parish"
| funeral
Nevertheless, might have remained in
doubt to the last. had not nv ''pride of
place" been so wounded that did not rest
| until had tracked Jim Bradley again, and,
this time, succeeded in capturing him and his
gang; and among which not only discovered
| the young, dsconsolate widow of her dead
husband, but the doctor, the greatest rogue
of the lot, as it was he who, under his gen
tlemanly appearance, circulated the spurious
coin.
To my satisfaction, I saw them all sent off
for considerable term to Portland, with
small chance of ticket-of-leave. 1 was not,
after all, to be done.
HOTELS.