Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-24

ing the darker side of the square as | went
l had not far to follow. They passed into
High street, and stopped opposite number
thirty-nine. moment more and they were
both inside the house and the door was shut
another moment, and / saw the light shining
from Mr.. Darke's room in the second floor
front.
Having no expectation of seeing anything
more, turned back to the office, and there,
bending over jovial fire, fell gradually into
a doze, in which Mr.. Darke, the traveller,
Cary n black dwarf, and Binks, the draper,
were all mingled in a fantastic drama, revolv.
ing endlessy in my weary brain. What had
the telegraphic message to do with the hand
some stranger sleepiy kept asking my
self at intervals of few minutes, but with
out troubling myself to find nm answer Sud
denly n new light burst upon me. / started
up, thoroughly awake, and tearing open the
dispatch book read over again the first part
of the message "Lemonfngers starts by the
mail" Well, what has that to do with the
handsome traveller? Why, this don't the
traveller wear pair Of tightly fitting, lemon.
colored gloves And wasn't the outside seam
of the first finger of the right hand glove
burst open? This had noticed as he stroked
his moustache. But, even supposing the
traveller to be the lemon fingers Of the mes
sage, what about the black dwarf? He was
alone. Alone? Yes; but had he not with
him small black portmanteau of which he
seemed to take particular care refusing to let
the porter so much as take it out Of the car
riage for him? A theory, ingenious, but i'm
probable, l remarked to myself as put out
the gas aud drew up the blind to admit the
struggling day.
My duty was over at s o'clock The Lon
don train was about to start as | went up the
platform ON my way home. Passing group
of people standing near carriage door, was
suddenly startled by deep, gruii voice ex-
claiming to some one, I'VE shall be of in
half n minute more" Il would pick that
voice from a thousand as Mr.. Darke's 80 | ex.
claimed under my breath, as glanced quick
ly round The group had dispersed, except
two persons. a man and woman, who were
preparing to take their places in the train.
The person whom | took for Mr.. Drake was
a bulky, midde-aged man, dressed in a good
suit OF black clothes lie had black hair and
thick, black eyebrows his whiskcrs were
black, meeting full and bushy under the chin ;
his face was pale, and marked by the small
pox, and his eyes were black. bold and cum
ming altogether fierce fellow, whom it
would be unwise to enrage. His companions
face / could not see. it being concealed by q
thick veil but judging from her figure she
could not be much above twenty years old.
She was well, but rather cuuspicuously at
tired, having over her silk dress Il volumin-
Gus scarlet shawl, comfortably looking
enough, certainly, on a cold Christmas morn
ing But zee! As live she has got on the
very pair of lemon. .colored gloves that We're
worn by the young dandy who arrived by the
night mail the same pair Of gloves without
doubt, having the outside seam Of the first
finger little torn. There. too is the den-
,,l .f,,Il,
ried this time by Mr.. Darke himself What
can it all mean
Under ordinary circumstances l should
have gone to bed and slept till two or three
o'clock in the afternoon, but on Christmas
day such proceeding was not to be thought
Of SO, having breakfasted, | put on my
Sunday suit and left for home with the inten-
ton Of taking long stroll in the country.
Before setting out went to the station to see
if | could not induce certain friend to ac-
company me, when whom should meet on
the platform but Mr.. Choop, the chief con-
stable OF Newstone.
Mr.. Choop is a small, wiry, active-looking
man. with a sauutoring and negligent air, as
if he were in want of something to do. Mr..
Choop has a smiling, open countenance, he
wears his hat very much at the back of his
head, and generally displays an ample amount
OF shirt bosom, seeming in his quiet way to
invite the confidence Of every one. But tell
hm something that interests him, excite him,
bring him out of the passive into the active
mood, and you will see his eyes become keen
and piercing, his features sharpen and his
teeth glisten. He looks at such moment as
dangerous and full Of mischief As tiger-cat
crouched for a spring Mr. Choop is dis
tant relative Of mine by marriage, and was
aware of my affections. lie was in the pas
eiyA mood when | AnpnuntaraH him the
platform, and looked the most amiable and
artless of men.
How are you this moruing?" he said, as
we shook hands And how is Cary? Have
the old man and you made matters up yeti"
shook my head disconsoately.
We'll faint heart, you know" he added
with n smile. What brings me down here
Business, to be sure. The fact is, mysteri-
ously taking me 10y the button there was a
daring burglary committed last night at Iron
vile, and property to n large amount was
stolen. From information | received half an
hour ago by telegraph, | have reason to be-
lieve that one of the acconplces, having in
his possession considc Nhle part of the
stolen property, arrived here this morning by
the early mail train A slender young man,
fashionably dressed, light moustache wear
ing pair of lemon-colored kid gloves, and
carTyingH small black portmauteau."
Mr.. Darke's friend, 10y Jupiter !"
"Eh what do you mean ?" asked Choop
sharply, with his eager, ferret look, that
changed him at once into another man. Three
minutes suiiiced to put him in possession of
all knew. Mr., Choop gave an almost i'm
purcrptible jerk with his thumb and tall,
ungainly looking man, having the appearance
of farm lrborer in his best clothes, lounged
up, and l recognized Timothy, Mr.. Choop's
confidential subordinate.
Mr. ChoOp sent Timothy OF to No. 80 to
make certain inquiries then went himself to
the booking office to ask the clerk whether he
remembered to what station Mr.. Darke and
his companion were booked. The clerk
booked so many passengers by that train that
he could not positively remember; but he
thinks through to London. Mr.. Choop then
desired me to accompany him to the telegraph
Office The . o'clock train had hardly got
half way to London yet. By consulting a
timetable Mr.. ChoOp found out on what part
Of the line the train oughtto be; so at his re-
quest telegraphed to the station at which 1t
would next stop, giving brief description OF
Mr. Darke and his companion, desiring the
train to be searched on its arrival, and the in
dividuals in question to be detained. In q
quarter of an hour We received Il reply
The train has been searched, but no indi-
yiduals answering the description given by
you were in it,"
Telegraph to each station where the train
has stopped" said Mr.. Choop, till you dis
cover at which of them the man and woman
got out"
So I telegraphed four stations without sue
cess, but the fifth answered
eyes, the individuals you mention reached
here by the o'clock a. IN. train"
'Tll have you yet, Jimmy Riley" exclaim-
ed Mr.. Choop with grim smile. Fred, il
you would like to see a bit of fun and would
like to go with Timothy and l, you are wei
come"
As the clock struck ~ we found ourselves
at Fulwood station-Mr. Choop, Timothy and
myself. After making few inquiries of the
station master, Mr.. Choop sent Timothy in
one direction, while he and l took another
Mr. Choop put cautious questions to severa
individuals, but without gaining any positive
information. Neither was Timothy-wher
we met him-able to furnish any satisfactory
mi