The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-07-26

mailman or he was the agent of some
firm bound upon the same errand as
myself and determined to show me that
he guessed my little game.
was to be expected at the end of my
journey, so Mr., Dickson had Informed
me. L looked about among the motley
crowd, but saw not Mr.. Dlmidoff. Sud-
denly slovenly, unshaved man passed
me rapidly, and glanced first at me and
then at my trunk--that wretched trunk,
the cause of all my woes. He disap-
peared in the crowd; but in little time
came strolling past me again and con-
trived to whisper as he did so, " Follow
me but at some distance" Immediately
setting of out of the station and down
the street at a rapid pace. Here was
mystery with a vengeance. j trotted
along in his rear with my valse and on
turning the corner found rough
droschky waiting for me. My unshaven
friend opened the door and / stepped in.
"Is Mr.. Dim was beginning.
"Hush !" he cried " No names, no
names; the very walls have ears. You
will hear all tonight" :" and with that
assurance he closed the door and seizing
the reins we drove off at rapid pace
so rapid that 1 saw my black-eyed
acquaintance of the railway carriage
gazing after us until we were out of
sight.
thought over the whole matter as
we logged along in that abominable
springless conveyance.
We were there to all appearance; for
the droschky stopped, and my drivers
shaggy head appeared through the aper-
ture.
" 1t is here, most honored MASTER" he
said as he helped me to alight.
els Mr.. Dimri-" L commenced, but
he interrupted me again.
Anything but Names" he whisper
ed "anything but that. You are too
used to land that is free. Caution, o
sacred one !" and he ushered me down u
stone tagged passage and up stair at
the end of it, :" Sit for few minutes
"and a repast will be served for YOU"
and with that he left me to my own
reflections.
WE'LL" thought /, "whatever Mr..
Dlmidoff's house may be like, his SER
wants are undoubtedly we'll trained.
% sacred one = and reverend master =
wonder what he'd call old Dickson
himself, if he is so polite to the clerk.
l suppose it wouldn't be the thing to
smoke in this little crib, but could do
a pipe nicely. BY the way, how con-
foundedly like cell it looks"
had hardly concluded my survey
when L heard steps approaching down
the corridor, apd the door was opened
by my old friend of the droschky. He
announced that my dinner was ready,
and, with many bows and apologies for
leaving me in what he called the "dis-
missal room," he led me down the
passage and into large and beautifully
furnished apartment. A table was
spread for two in the centre of it, and
by the fire was standing man very
little older than myself He turned as
l came in and stepped forward to meet
me with every symptom of profound
respect.
Mr.. Dlmidoff, presume? ?" said /.
"No, sir" said he, turning his keen
gray eyes upon me. "My name is
Petrokine; you mistake me, perhaps.
for one of the others. But now, not
word of business until the council meets.
Try your chefs soup you will find it
excellent, think"
Who Mr.. Petrokine or the others
stewards of Dimidoff's perhaps, though
the name did not seem familiar to my
companion. However, as he appeared
to shun any business questions at pres
ent, gave in to his humor, and we
conversed on social life in England-a
subject in which he displayed consdera-
BILE knowledge and acuteness.
BY the way,n he remarked, as we
smoked cigar over our wine, tive
should never have known you but for
the English labels on your luggage; it
was the luckiest thing in the world that
Alexander noticed them. We had had
no personal description of you; indeed,
we were prepared to meet somewhat
older man. You are young, indeed, sir,
to be entrusted with such mission"
My employer trusts me-" j replied,
'and we have learned in our trade that
youth and shreWdness are not incom