Daily Kennebec journal., 1880-06-17
Gales ano Skettbes.
raE QUEER SERVANT.

MT roster, travelling collector OF
large mercantile house, had suddenly and
mysteriously disappeared.
was delegated to investigate the mat
ter. and proceeded to the town Of O.,
where he had been stopping for few days
and beyond which no clue to him had
been obtained. As probable aid in fall
ing in with his late companions in that
place without raising suspicion. l too as
sumed To be commercial traveller. I
had no difficulty at Q-in becoming ac-
quainted with persons who had seen Cos-
ter. but there was nothing to justify any
suspicious against any of them.
Nearly week had passed and almost
despaired. Almost every evening met
in the little parlor of the inn a person
who had been introduced there by the
name Of Captain Williams.
He was a man of middle age, gentle
manly in his manners, and by his ready
wit and fund of anecdotes became a very
universal favorite; he appeared always to
have plenty Of money and was liberal in
his manner OF disposing of it.
lie was. We were told, the owner of a
country seat some ten miles off; but gem
orally at this time of year. when the COM
mercials came their rounds. he would
take up his quarters at the inn for the
purpose OF enjoying their society.
So far so good; but il was very singu-
lar. for go wherever would / would
meet Captain Williams.
At breakfast he was first down. and
after that, no matter what part of the
town went in, was sure to meet the
captain.
In the course of my rounds went into
many houses of business, but when I
came out. there, and at some distance,
sauntered Williams.
He never stopped to speak, but always
courteously lifted his hat
The circumstances appeared singular,
and having one day. the last that intend
ed stopping in town, met him at the bank,
l could not help for a moment starting
back at the recontre.
Having settled my business hurried
from the bank, leaving him there.
That evening, at the tea-table. Williams
and were the only two persons to sit
down to the table.
81 hope. Mr.. Bagshaw." he said. after
the cloth had been cleared, "you will do
me the honor of taking wine with me; I
am about starting to my solitary home.'
with all The pleasure of life, captain"
replied.
The wine was brought. and, having
lighted our segars, we sat for some mo-
ments in silence.
81 was just thinking" at length. he
said. "what curious things happen some
times, and how strange 1t is that we should
have SO often met in this town."
well, that is singular, captain; was
thinking Of the very same thing. and"
Now. for instance, to-day at the bank,
where | went to change note. the stupid
fellow kept me an unconscionable time"
Indeed" said, ''they have generally
been very quick with me. and my sums
heavy" l replied. keepingup my assumed
character of travelling collector
''1ndeed did not notice. ! suppose,
generally speaking. the transactions Of
you commercial gentlemen are pretty
heavy?"
Very, and we want to be quick about
them"
"And you carry at times large sums Of
money about with you?"
Thousands. Now I at this present
time have"
"WhatP" he said. taking up his glass in
a careless manner.
"But little
"Ah! well, that is fortunate In one re.
spect, and unfortunate in another"
"Why so?'
because if you were robbed the loss
would not be great; bu. this is not likely
now. In the olden time II was very
common thing to read IL. but with you
gentlemen, there is no chance Of being
Lost stolen or strayedh -
Not much; yet at present there Is one
of our fraternity missing"
"Aye. indeed" and, raising himself
from lolling position he had assumed,
the words had just uttered seemed to ex-
cite his attention.
"You interest me. Pray tell me-"
"Oh with all my heart. Il was about
Christmas last year, and old Foster was
about his rounds, when he was suddenly
missed. and, what is stranger still, has
never been heard of since"
"Bless me. how stranger'
"Pray in what part was he travellingP"
well, we have never heard it was in
dated from this very town, from here, he
gave his principals to understand that he
should go northward from that time to
this he has never been heard off,
THAT is strange too; he was a man
very well known, 1 should imagiDe.''
Very. He always kept up his Christmas
in the good old-fashioned style among his
children and grandchildren. and was
never known to be absent from the family
dinner: and so exact was he to the minute
that he was generally known by the name
Of .Old Punctuality,' but for once he did
not keep his word.''
'.Had he much money with him?" said
the captain, carelessly.
ask or eight thousand" / said.
II suppose a reward was ofFered?''
>.Oh, yes. and search made down in
these very parts. Why, You must have
heard it,
mo, on my honor; live more than
ten miles from here, and my house Is at
least a mile from the road. live there
almost the life Of hermit, my only COM
panion housekeeper, a rough. surly gar
deper and half-grown idiot fellow, half
gardener, half-ostler; besides, am often,
except in the hunting season, away for
weeks together"
'.Ah! we'll. / suppose you were away
at that time.''
Decidedly. yes. Ispent my Christmas
at New York, and have not been long