Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-12-11

ing what the woman meant. Some
three women got out of the vehicle.
followed by an old gentleman who had
to be helped out-evidentiy an invalid.
On the box with the driver was man
who, as l approached. lit fuse, and
with it a cigar. His face did not re-
cognize. then felt some little curiosity
to find out what Mrs. Bland meanta about
the "man hardly expected to sec." l
did peer into the coach. was aided
by David, who, with lantern, was
looking for a parasol one of the lady
passengers had left. There was a man,
apparently asleep. Though it was sum-
mer, handkerchief was partially
thrown over his face. One glimpse was
enough. Though his whiskers had been
cut, and his reddish hair stained black,
it was the face of George Harand, the
assistant teller of our bank! He looked
at me in an agonized way, then put his
fingers to his lips and said in low
broken voice:
"My God! Henry, I am thief, trying
to escape-to escape. know they are
after me-" Then he shuddered, az am
mad-crazed--have lost my head. You
here? Do not betray mel"
"To Dickerson's!" cried the driver,
and off went the coach. From Dicker-
sons l knew that small fishing boats
ran to Martha's Vineyard and the Mas
sachusetts coast. | stood appalled,,
dazed and speeches..
Mrs. Bland met me on the piazza with
some flowers in her hand which eXhaled
a deep, luscious perfume. The odor
quite sickened me.
Ladies and gents" cried the good
natured landlord, in his shirt sleeves,
/" it is not down on the bill of fare, but
we have been quite short of fruit for
the last three days, and nary boarder
has grumbled. l came across fine lot
of fruit this afternoon, and they is sot
in the dining-room, and do you all go
in and jess help yourself"
Mrs. Bland clapped her hand in child
ish glee, Notwithstanding her cut finger.
Twill you take me in9" she asked
quite naturally.
had no heart for peaches, still l Of
fered the woman my arm. There was
group of noisy boarders at the long
table, but, through David's care, Mrs
Bland secured small kitchen table, on
which was placed dish of peaches,
thanked with huge halfmoons of water
melon.
You saw him?" asked Mrs. Agnes
Bland, pairing peach with 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?'
Il like, clingstones better than free
stones. l should be so much obliged to
you if you would pare peach for me.
My finger makes me so awkward"
Are you Nemesis, Mrs. Bland?"
"A what? l don't know what that
MEANS"
Explain p
ooh the man in the coach Now,
sir, listen. The $2S 67. Korrect,' you
wrote on that bill of mine gave me clue
to your handwriting. Mr.. Bland-there
is 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 the thief. l was
glad when | could congratulate you on
your luck"
'Luck, madam what do you
mean?"
"You were the only gentleman here
all the rest of them were cads and
lnuffs. Your society was not unpleas-
ant to me, and should have so dlsliked
to have been the means of bringing
theft to your door. Mr.. Bland was on
that coach with the driver. You may
have noticed first red splutter and
then blue splitter from his match.
That meant, All right, Mrs. Bland.
George Harland has misapproprated
$4,000 from your stupid old bank, and
done 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 the personals and adver-
tisements. That is why l read the pa
pers. Any sympathy l might have
had-and l have not much to spare
was really that of thanKfullness that
quite decent Young man like yourself
was safe. Mind, never suspected you,
though Mr.. Bland might have done SO.
George Harland ought to have $50, 900
in notes with him about his person this
very moment" There was a base look
Of greed in the woman's face.
"You are, then, madam
"The wife of Mr.. Bland, 1 am afraid"
and here Mrs. Bland smiled, showing a
set of white teeth, a single black melon
seed increasing their pearly lustre by
contrast, "that you do not like me as
well-at least my society-as you did
an hour ago."