The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1881-07-21
- q 1 e q t II ale
A DETECTIVES STRATEGY.

tolled the beauty OF woman bear.
ing the stage name Of Lola, who was
singer OF ballads at variety
theatre. Happening to pas, the
theatre one eveningI dropped 10
Just prior to the moment of her an
pearance. Truly her beauty had
not beeu spoken of in terms of ex
aggeratiou. She was, indeed, very
beautiful.
At the conclusion Of her song a
large bouquet was flung on the stage
II came from private box. in which
was seated an elderly man, whose
dress aud appearance betokened his
wealth. She was recalled an sang
again. aud | saw ber smile an ac-
acknowledgement toward the box.
A fancy struck me to SEQ what
Lola looked like when off the stage
and mado my way to the stage
entrance. noticed carriago
drawn up near by aud it struck mo
that it belonged to the gentleman
in tho box. l found the stage en-
trance guarded by doormau. I
was, however well acquainted with
bin, and be permmitted mo 10 on.
ter and posted myself in a position
where she must pass near mo in go~
ing out. | bad not boeu there lonr
when heard footsteps slowly draw.
ing near, aud voices iu low coayer-
satiOn.
"Well, what do you say, Harry i"
"iou say he has proposed"
"Yesr
"iio is rich' There isn't any doubt
about it T.
NO
"Then--,' he paused sulkily..--
"I bate to give you up, Lola. even
for week. But suppose you'd
best marry him, tbough. They say
he's got the heartsdisease and
you'll be rich young widow before
great while"
"And then it will bo plain sailing
Tor ms, said the woman. "il tell
him yes then
Aud with a parting k iss be hung
back allowing Lola to pass ont along
where she was met by James Bris.
tol, wealthy retired dry~sools
merchant
instantly l comprehonded the
situation. Bristol had become ena-
mored Of Lola aud wished to marry
her, having no supicion of her true
character, or that this man, Harry
Evans, was her lover.
! saw her enter his carriage to be
driven to her home.
Thinking it all over that evening
in the privry of my room, won-
dered whether I'd better attem5 to
enlighten Bristol.
"Pshaw Id be fool to try it,"
/ at last decided. "She'i swear il
wasn't 80, aud the old fool would
believe her in preference to me-
thought no more of the matter un
til one day several weeks later
when l saw their marriage announced
in the papers. They had been
married the day following tho con-
clusion Of her engagement.
These circumstances, with the
lapse of time, had nearly been obli-
from my memory, when they
were recalled one day, about year
later, by seeing notice of the death
of James Bristol"
He had died Of "heart. disease
the announcement stated.
1t would be impossible for me to
say why so far interested myself in
the matter as to take the trouble to
ascertain the precise circumstances of
his death.-I had vague desire to
know-that was all the incentive !
ever knew.
i learned that Bristol had bought |
IN elegant house aud grounds on
The boulo-vards, near Fort WASH
ington. lie had been found dead ia
4 small summer-house on the
grounds by the coachman-stricken
down with heart-disease.
Wandering about the grounds, 1
finally approached tho stables aud
struck upa conversation with the
~ fancy she didn't love him any
Too well" said the loquacious fellow.
'He worshipped her though. There's
younger and better-looking man
who comes sometimes that she likes
! heap better. " .p
Instantly nv thouohts reverted