The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-11-01
A Provoking Mistake.
ny A DETECTIVE.

Il emu OF AuYust-One OF lnoSe uayb
when earth and sky alike are gray and
dreary, and the raindrops patter-
ing against the window sound like
human sohs Tho clock that hung
against the wall pointed to the hour of
three In the afternoon, aud was sitting
by myself In our little inner Office look
out at the expanse of dull, gray wall
that formed my only prospect from the
not clean window, aud thinking.
had read every square inch of type In
the newspapers had made out all the
necessary papers and documents, and
now with literally "nothing to do" /
was musing about Kitty Elton, and
wondering how long it would be before
should be able to marry her.
Dear little Kitty she was as sweet
and as patient as 1t was in the nature of
a woman to be, but l knew it was
hard life for her day after day and month
after month, and 1 longed to set her
free from the monotonous captivity
She was pretty blue-eyed gill of twen-
ty, with dimple In her chin, and the
sweetest roses on her check that ever
inspired the pen of poet. L was no
poet, yet think understood and ap-
preciated all her womanly grace and
delicate beauty rs fully as If my hearts
thoughts could shape themselves into
verse. And it was of them / was think
ing when the door opened and Mr.. Glen
ner came in.
Mr.. Clenner was our "chief''-a dark,
silent little man, with square stern
mouth, and clouded eyes, which appear
ed almost expressionless when they
were turned full upon you, and yet
which seemed to see everything at a
glance. He sat down beside me.
Meredith" /" he said in quite, sub
dued tone that was natural to him,
" didn't you say you were getting tired
doing nothingY ?"
= Yes, sir"
well, have something for you to
.do.''
What is it, sir ?H
Something that will bring you both
credit and friends, If you manage 1t
sSillfully. had intended to go myself,
but circumstances happened untoward.
ly, and 1 shall send you in stead"
Bending his head towards me and
speaking scarcely above whisper, he
told me the special business on which
/ was to be sent. There had been, it
eeems, series of very heavy forgeries
lately committed, with boldness and
.audacity that fairly seemed to set the
authorities at defiance. For some time
he had been in doubt as to the exact per-
petrator of the crime, but after much
quiet investigation and casting hither
and thither, he had detected the hidden
spring-one Perley Matterson-who had
-skillfully eluded all pursuitand was now
somewhere hiding in the northeastern
portion of the State. His whereabouts
had been ascertained as nearly as possi-
bile, and it was for me to go quietly up
and apprehend him, before he should
become ava re of our knowledge of all
his movements.
1 sat listening to all the various details
of our plan as they were sketched out
by Mr.. Clenner. The reward that had
been privately offered was high-my
heart leaped as l reflected how much
nearer 1t would bring me to Kitty Elton,
nor did the enterprise seem particularly
difficult to accomplish.
"Do you think you can do itY" Mr..
Clenner asked, after the whole thing
had been laid before me.
Eyes, sir. When shall / start ?"
"Now-within half an hour"
''What So soon ?"
Eyes; why not Y'
i could think of no sufficient reason
except one, which did not care to COM
municate to my superior-the longing
wish to see Kitty once more before
started.
Just as you decide, Mr.. Clenner, of
course,n l said, rising. "If 1 take the
four o'clock express, shall be there to-
morrow morning"
" Yes, and that is altogether the best
plan, He will not remain long in any
one place just at present, depend upon
it, and what you have to do must be
done at once"
All through that long night journey
unused upon the task that lay before
me. The house to which was directed
was in the midst of woods, about half a
mile beyond the village of Drownvill,
--the residence of Mrs. Matteson, the
mother Of the audacious forger. If helI