Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-11-26
lators must have been skilled.


without success. There was not aingl
Photographic establishment in that larg'
city that escaped our visits in disguise
and in my zeal TO succeed in the under
taking. studied the process OF the ar
from beginning TO end Nearly three
months had been fruitlessly spent in thi'
way, when one evening messenger Wa:
sent us from the cashier of the bank
equestiu- US 10 hurry 10 his room. Id
informed Us that two passenger ticket:
had been pcrcbtsed that day at the Cali
iornis steamship flee, every dollar for
which had been psidi in the spurious bills
He had made somo inquiries himself in
the matter, and informed us that the
tickeI-agent had no recollections OF the
persons from whom he had received the
money, and that the steamer would sal
at nine O'Clock the following morning.
Slouch and l took the matter into con-
sideration, and urged by the advice and
counsel OF the bank officers, We deter
mined to take passage on the same boat.
A trunk was hastily packed with our
motley wardrobe, and after agreeing up
on our disguises, we ssIlod out the next
morning. taxing different routes. and
proceeded without any show OF haste 10
the vessel | hesitate to say that was
much disguised on this trip. because my
appearance, as near as | could make il
up. was that OF wel-dressed gentleman
OF fortune travelling Tor pleasure. and OF
course, the first cabin was chosen for my
qusrters. SlOuch bad selected a worry re-
pulsiye disguise, and might have been
seen as the vessel left the pier, awkwardly
sIriding among the sleerage passengers.
The most perfect semblsnce OF sneak
tibet ever saw. As precaution We
bore letter OF Introduction TO the mas
I ter o. the vessel, indorsed by the chiei OF
the New York police. SLOUGH and l
were. OF course, apparent strangers. and
were as widely as possible separated Oh
sbipoosrd.
O1ly lew days Of our voyage had
passed before had succeeded IN winning
the good opinion OF my companions in
the caoin, while my partner, in the same
time. 10y his manners and appearance,
had made himself an object of suspicion
and disirusI TO the whole steerage. There
was an unusually small number of US in
the cA5in, aud among them not single
person whose demeanor could create q
suspicion OF crime. The women, with
out exception, were extremely ladylike
and entertaining, and | was inclined in
their society to forget the grand purpose
OF my voyage; but Souch gol me occs-
sionaily aside. aud talked business 80 in
teusely that became iiuie more vigil
ant and attentive.
Among the male passengers Was one
who especially engaged ms observation.
He was person Of conspicuous appear
ance, not unhandsome in face, tauitiess
in figure. and rather fOppishly attiIed.
He wore dark imperial and mous1ache,
large brilliant upon his scarf, two or
three diamond rings upon his fingers.
and carried delicate rattan cane with
deal OF grace. There was an assumed
air OF dignity, and u paironizing air
about him that disguised me, tbe more ss
/ could detect in his expression oi tea
lures weak and shallow mind. This
person rave bis undivided attention 10
the lady passengers, was Prodigal ia las
compliments TO thom, and was fast be-
coming a favorite. He appeared l. r
feet stranger 10 me until about the siN h
day out. when seeing him early one morn
ing before his toilet was made, bis face
became invested With an old familiarity.
l became suspicious I'll once that he vas
playing ialse part, and began watch
my him more closely. % the first occa-
sion iha. offered engaged him in con-
ycEsalion. and it lrequiTed but !iulo skill
20 bring out his assertion that he too vas
travelling for pleasure.
noticed also lnzt he had . lively eJ Q
upon certain quiet and very handsome
lady. who was apparently without pro-
teclor, aud whose costly silks and abun-
dant Jewels indicated no lack of funds.
lie was Tree 10 tell me that his name was
Ross, and particular to hint on every oc-
casiun how fortune mad favored him with
wealth. The lady spoken OF had at
tracted my attention, and | confess to
feeling at the time little tender partial
ity toward her. The reader, therefore
will not be surprised that | was cOnver.
SAINT OF Ross galianITies 10 her, and thai
was somewhat annoyed when | saw
tha. she seemed to regard him with lavor
, Perhaps il was the stimulus OF arrival
perhaps tho woman's charms alone, thai
aroused me to regard her; but at any
rate fell TO gazing upon and thinking o.
{ her, and that, too, after only two or three
short aud rather cool interviews. wherein
utterly failed to exchange a single ten
der look. Meantime. Ross, to my uttel
, discontinue, Was admitted by her TO tht
9 most confidential tete-a tetes
; 1t was about this time that began Il