The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-11-22

had no heart for peaches, still offered
the woman my arm. There was group of
noisy boarders at long table, but through |
David's care, Mrs. Bland secured a kitchen |
table, on which was placed dish Of peaches |
hanked with huge half-moons of water
melon
You saw him ? asked Mrs Agnes Bland,
pairing peach with a silver pocket fruit
knife, which she.drew'from her pocket. Dear
mel the juice of the peach gets into my fin
ger, aud really stings.
Saw him, Mrs. Bland For Gods sske
what does this all mean t.?
like cling-stcnes better than free-stones.
| 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 4?
| A what? | don't know what that means
Explain !
Oh the man in the coach Now, sir,
listen The s2S67. Korect, you wrote on
that bill of mine gave me the 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 ac.
counts. George Harland was a thief.
was glad when l congratulated you on your
luck.
Luck, Madam what do you mean2
You were the only gentleman here, al
: the rest of them were cads and muiis. You
society was not unpleasant to me, and
, chould have disliked the means of bringin
T a theft to your door. Mr.. Bland was on tina
coach, with the driver. You may have nc
o ticed first a blue splutter and then re
splutter from his match. That meant, q
d right, Mrs. Bland. George Harland has al
o propriated $4,000 belonging to your stupi
T. old bank, and did it clever as you are in fl
'r ures, right under yonr nose, sir. The pape
le for the past week have had.an inkling of
N not where you would look for the new
but in personals and advert sements. I'll
ot is why l read the papers. Please don't g
n any sympathy | might have had-and
have not much tn waste was really tn
IL of thankfuIness that quite a decent you
m man like you was safe Mind, I never 81
1e pected you, though Mr. Bland might ha
On done so. George Harland ought to hs
$4,000 in notes with him, on his pers
RS. this very moment. There was base lc
re- ofgreed in the womans face.
re You are, then, Madam?
nc The wife of Mr.. Bland. / am afraid
nd here Mrs Bland smiled, showing me a Sc,
ite white teeth, a single..black melon-seed
my creasing their pearly lustre by contrast, [
he you do not like me as well--at least my
The ciety---as you did an hour ago. There W.
ger little bit of killing disdain about
so woman. l suppose the scorn on my
er- was manifest, for l made no effort to C
ceal it.
NIL Great Lord save us said David, CON
dis in and addressing us, something drefful
zen pen-dat man in stage coach -
Not run away-escaped said Mrs. BIZ
7 springing to her feet with the latent en-,
reat of Jonathan Wild. Her eyes had lost t
pale blue simmer and glinted like cold 5
nd Vpe burrows between her eyes 'ook str'
falt arabesque, sinister traceries. 1t was DIR
,ful full face to see.
- No, ma a'am-woss nor that. He blow
n, brains out right in de coach.
~s David, said Mrs. Bland, now as quiet
unrippled as a dish of milk in dairy
vid bring me napkin, and l will take
~. other bit of melon-if you will help
- sir.
Ease But did not help Mrs. Bland.