The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-11-14

tCltS Iapu etdtIOu Oh the rOdQ Is fourteen
miles from here, but you can get messag-
es sent by the coach----tho' Mrs. Bland S
messages comes on horseback, with man
a-kiting."
1t was none Of my business how Mrs
Bands messages came, though now l
remembered that on her hotel bill there
WAS quite a number of charges for tele-
graphic messages. In moment more
Mrs Bland was down stairs. holding in
her hand quite number Of large hooks.
It was not my fault, but the lady had
taken up with the package q small fly
hook. which as she opened the parcel,
puZcrured rosy first finger, SO that a
drop of blood started. 81 am so sorrv,''
SAID, ''may I not tie this handkerchief
| around it?"
''What, with the hook in nv finger2
Pull it out. Please, no fuss" Here Mrs
BANDS face looked rigid, and the
| wrinkles between her eyes made a series
CT archines
"But, but," exclaimed really dis
turbed, i can't pull it out. Can you
| bear the merest cut with my pen kniie?'
Can I? Nonsense; of course / cam
and she held oat taper white finger, and |
felt my heart sink within me as mada
careful probe, aud, fortunately extricatir q
the barb, drew out the hook, which
deliberately put in my pscket book.
Would Mrs. Bland faint now?" I asked
myself.
"a glass of water" I SAID anxio~ sly
"Wh for! To dip my finger in?
Ridiculous! will Pit it in my mouth
Please do not destroy your pocket
handkerchief Yon will excuse ny suck
ing my thumb ike a baby while I talk
There, it is all over now, young gentle
man. | never scream at mouse, go in.
to Mysteries over caterpillar. and do not
blink a. lightning"
You are a very brave little woman
then. Here, take this Geographic mes
sage which you have dropped" and l
handed the message to her.
Il heard the waiter tell you received
10 messages day. Now, can you pu'
that together with dozen newspapcrs?"
81 cannot-do not care to. 1t is not
any of my business, Mrs. Bland. l am
not curious" replied.
"Well, / am-very much sO-and my
business is to-ah =" here sheistopped. tor
David just then rang bell, which meant
that the stagecoach with the passengers
from the railroad was coming. Tbs
coach stopped at the house first. and con-
continued on its journey to small tav-
ern further ~ the coast.
You were saying, Mrs. Bland-pray
continue
"All can tell you is this, sir, tba5 in
that coaca you Will find man you hard
With that Mrs. Bland famed herself
quite composedlv, and went to her room
| went 10 the coach, not understanding
what the woman ment. Some three
women got out of the vehicle, followed
by an Old gentleman, who had to be
helped OFT evidently an invalid. On
the box by the driver was man who, as
| approached, lit fuze, ana with it his
! cigar. His face did not recognize. ]
then felt some little curiosity TO find out
what Mrs. Bland meant ABOUT the man
IL hardly expected 10 Sec" I did peer
into the coach. was aided by David,
who, with lantern, was looking for a
parcel OF one the lady passengers had left
There was man apparently asleep.
Though II was summer, a handke5ch Ell
was thrown partially over his face One
glimpse was enough. though his w0isk
ers had been cut, and his reddish hair
stained black, II was the face of Georga
Harland. 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.
am thief, trying to escape-to Is ape.
| know they are after me-" Then he
shuddered. II am mad-crazed-hav
lost my head. You hcref Do not be,ray
me-"
of went the coach. From Dickerson's !
knew that small fshing-boa ran to
| Mar,hs's Vineyard and the Massachusetts
coast. stood appalled,, dazed, and
| speechless.
Mrs Bland met me on. the veranda
| with some flowers in her asad which ex-
halted a deep, luscious perfume. The
dor quite sickened me. Ladies and
gents" cried the good natured, familiar
| landlord in his shirt sleeves at ism,
down on the bill of fare, but we have
b en- quite short of fruit, peaches and
SIGH, Tor the last t rec DAYS, and nary 8
boarder has grumbled. leone across a
ine 10: of fruit this AFTERNOON and they i
sot in the dining room, and do you a.;
Jess 60 in and help yourself" Mrs. Bland
~ss near me, ana ciapped her hands with
| childish giee, notwithstanding her pick
ed finger. "WiIl you take me inl" she
asked quite naturally.
| had no heart for peaches. still offer
! ed the woman my arm. There was .
| group Of noisy boarders ut Ion. tab.e
but, through Davids care, Mrs Band Sc
cured 6 small ki;chen-ts5Ie. on which was
placed dish of peaches, fsnked with
huge half-moons OF watermelon.
"1ou saw himl' asked Mrs. Agnes
Blsnd, pairing peach with silver peck
| ct fruit knife, which she drew from her
pocket. ~Desr me. the juice of the
peach gets into ny Gu, finger. and resly
sings
saw him, Mrs. Bland, For Gods
sake, what does this al meam!r
Il ike cling stones better than free
| stone. | should be so much obliged 10
sou II you would pare peach for me.
Ny finger makes me so awkward
Are you Nemesis, Mrs. Blazdl-
"a WHAT 3erse Irr-r vine. xhas