The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-26

my business is tO-ahi-" here she
stopped, for David just then rang a
bell, which meant that the stage coach
with the passengers from the railroad
was coming. This coach stopped at
the house first, then continued on its
journey to a small tavern further up
the coast.
You We're saying, Mrs. Bland-pray
continue"
"All l can tell you is this, sir, that
in that coach you will find a man you
hardly expected to see. Go and look "
With that Mrs. Bland famed herself
quite composedly, and went to her
room.
| went to the coach, not understands
ing what the woman meant. Some
three women got out of the vehicle,
followed by an old gentleman, who had
to be helped out-evidently an invalid.
On the box by the driver was a man
who, as | approached, lit a fuze, and
with it his cigar. His face | did not
recognize. | then felt some little
curiosity to find out what Mrs. Bland
meant about the man 81 hardly eX-
pected to see" | did peer into the
coach. | was aided by David, who,
with lantern, was looking for para
sol one of the lady passengers had left.
There was man, apparently asleep.
Though it was summer handkerchief
was thrown partially over his face.
One glimpse was enough. Though his
whiskers had been cut, and his reddish
hair stained black, it was the face of
/ 10 40 c
our bank! He looked at me in an AGO
nized way, then put his fingers to his
| lips, and said in low, broken voice:
MY God! Henry, | am a thief, trying
to escape-to escape. | know they are
after me-" Then he shuddered. 81
am mad-crazed-have lost my head.
You here? Do not betray mer'
"To Dickerson's," cried the driver,
and off went the coach. From Dicker-
sons | knew that small tishing-boats
ran to Martha's Vineyard and the Mas
sachusetts coast. l stood appalled,,
dazed, and speeches..
Mrs. Bland met me on the veranda
with some flowers in her hand which
eXhaled a deep luscious perfume. The
OdOr quite sickened me. Ladies and
gents, cried the good-natured, famil-
lar landlord in his shirt sleeves. at
ISM down on the bill of fare, but we
have been quite short of fruit, peaches
and SIGH, for the last three days, and
nary boarder has grumbled. | came
across nice lot of fruit this AFTERNOON,
and they is sot in the dining-room, and
do you all jess 90 in and help your
self" Mrs. Bland was near me, and
clapped her hands with childish glee,
notwithstanding her pricked finger.
Twill you take me in?'' she asked
quite naturally
had no heart for peaches, sti1l l
offered the woman my arm. There
was a group of noisy boarders at q long
table, but, through David's care, Mrs.
Bland secured a small kitchen-table,
on which was placed dish of peaches,
thanked with huge half-moons of water
melon.
g You saw him?" asked Mrs. Agnes
Bland, pearing peach with a silver
pocket fruit knife, which she drew
from her pocket. Dear me! the Juice
of the peach gets into my cut finger,
and really stings.'
"Saw him, Mrs. Bland! For Gods
sake, what does this all mean?"
81 like cling-stones better than free
stones. | should be so much obliged
to you if YOU would pare peach for
me. My finger makes me so awk-
ward"
Are you Nemesis, Mrs. Bland?'
"a what? | don't know what that
means.n
"Explain!'
go! the man in the coach? Now,
sir, listen. The 'S2S.67. Korrect.'
you wrote on that bill of mine gave me
the clue to your handwriting. Mr..
Bland-there is a Mr. Bland-sent me
down here after you. Those figures
and K-o-r-r-e-c-t cleared you. There
were no figures like yours in the altered
accounts. George Harland was thief.
| was glad when | could congratulate
you on your luck
Luck, madam! what do you meanp'
"9ou were the only gentleman here
all the rest of them were cads and
muffs. Your society was not unpleas
ant to me, and should have so dis
liked to have been the means of bring
ing theft to your door. Mr.. Bland
was on that coach, with the driver.
You may have noticed first a blue
splitter and then a red splutter
from his match. That meant
All right, Mrs. Bland George Har-
land has Incorporated $4,000 be-
longing to your stupid old bank, and
did it, clever as you are in figures,
right under your nose, sir. The papers
for the last week have had an inkling
of it-not where you would look for the
news, but in personals and advertise
ments. That is why read the papers.
Please don't go; any sympathy might
have had-and | have not much to
waste-was really that of thankfulness
that quite a decent young man like you
was safe. Mind, never suspected you,
though Mr.. Bland might have done so.
George Harland ought to have $1,000,
in notes, with. him, on his person, this
very moment" There was base look
of greed in the womans face.
You are, then, Madam"
"The wife of Mr.. Bland. | am
afraid" and here Mrs. Bland smiled,
showing me set of white teeth, sim
gle black melon-seed increasing their
pearly luster by contrast, that you do
not like me as well-at least my society
as you did an hour ago." There was
littla Nit Of lyil1;,o.