The Portland daily press., 1882-01-14


| tleman's name"
| Meanwhile he was delivering quite little
| lecture on art. "The wonderful permanency
| of works in marble renders them of value to
| the historian; they are, so to speak, petrlfed
history he said blankly.
Poppet came running back, and said, in
capital imitation of her elders, "We really
can't thay who everybody ith."
Mr.. Montgomery's attention seemed fixed
on a fine etching that hung near the open
door. and he went toward it. The stout per-
son performed a sort of quadrille figure in
front of him all the way, and stationed him.
self on the threshold. Montgomery attempt
ed to cross that threshold;a a fat hand met
his advancing shoulder, aud the words, "Oh
nor' very gently spoken, met his ear.
The words were evidently softer than the
grasp; for at the moment the three girls and
a train of callers were passing through to
the dining-room, where a collation. was
spread, and Mr.. Montgomery staggered back,
violently propelled by that plump hand.
The rude stout man seemed about to speak
with great vehemence, but he looked into the
faces of the three young girls in succession,
and down into Poppet's innocent, wide
opened eyes. then lsughed, and said, why,
ladies, here's fortunate meeting: this gen
tleman has forgotten me, but l know him.. y
Montgomery looked something like an up
right corpse. "Fve been looking for him a
long time. Why, Charles es"-and he put out
his hand-'don't you remember" Mont
gomery was still uncanny to see. Don't
you remember-your brother Jack?"
Then the stout man seized the younger
ones hand, wrung it, and laughed again
in the heartiest way imaginable. The new
ly found Charles stepped back, stepped for
ward, looked about wildly, then finally ejac-
ulated t'Jackl oh yes, Jackr'
'sYour brother jack"
eyes. How dye do?"
Mrs. Bell murmured in happy sympathy,
elbow fortunate! what delightful meet
ingl" and the girls chirruped like little birds
about the wonderful scene, while the broth
ers spoke quietly apart.
From that moment hearty Mr.. Jacks de-
votion to his newly found relative knew no
bounds. Arm in arm they went to the re-
freshment table. Charles had singularly
small appetite, but Jack ate enough for both,
and remarked with solicitude, "Charlie was
never very strong-always liable to turn pale
and break down-eh, old boy, weren't you?'
'sYes, oh ye-yes," answered Charles.
"Why,'' exclaimed Sissy, s.it's quite won-
derfull How did you know your brother
was hereP'
s'Why,' said Jack, still holding Charlie s
arm, 81 traced him to the Windsor, and see
ing your card in his room, followed here on
the chance of f1ading him, and also" this
with gallant bowl of paying my respects to
some American ladies'"
It was about six o'clock, and the calling
had fallen off as the wretched victims of the
days pleasure took the usual dinner-time
for breathing-space before the evenings
rush and hurry. In fact, not visitor re-
manned except the happy reunited brothers,
and Jack proposed, "Now, Charlie, let us
CO."
Charles refused fatty, and asked permis-
sion to see the conservatory fragrant little
bower at the extreme end of the long vista
of connecting rooms. The ladies assented,
and the cheerful brother Jack followed close.
''Charmingr' exclaimed the fascins ting
man. "Such roses Pve rarely seen. There's
fine variety; and stepping lightly on shelf
full of pots, he leaned toward the window to
catch a CRIMSON bud that was nodding its
fragrance from near the sash. A moment
more and he reached the flower; then there
was tremendous blow, a crash of glass, a
dreadful thunder of falling flower-pots,
screams, wild confusion, and Mr.. Charles
Montgomery had jumped through the wio-
dow as nimbly, if not as quietly, as cat
The frightened women hardly realized what
had happened before the devoted brother
Jack with more crash of flower-pots and
glass, had jumped after him through the
same opening. A balcony was outside the
window, and there was terrible trampling
and struggle there.
"Helpl help! come herep' Mrs. Bell Shrek
ed, for the three black men-servants who
were in the house. They came running,
and in great excitement. There were racing
and chasing in the yard, and a great scuffiing
at gate that led out into the street, the
house being on corner) then came several
pistol-shots in quick succession. At the
firing all the servants ran down the base
ment stairs one brave fellow exclaiming,
'Don't yer be scared, missus; rs gwine
ter fetch de kitchen poker"
Then in through the splintered sash came
Charles Montgomery, and after him, much
breathed, the loving brother Jack, smok-
ing pistol in his hand, and a dreadful oath
on his lips. Round and round the drawing
room rushed the pursued and the pursuer.
The brave darkey showed a woolly head and
two white eyes over the top step of the base
ment stairs, and shouted, II done got de
poker" then disappeared in safety.
Jack shrieked, "Give up! give up, I tell
your' Then, as the desperate man fed
toward the frightened women for refuge,
called out, "Lie down on the floor, ladies;
Pm going to fire.
Down ON the floor they dropped, toilettes
aud all; fire he did, and Mrs. Bell yelled
loud enough to bring in twenty gens-d dr7nes
if she had been in Paris. There were more
fierce oaths, there was more pursuit, then
thu widest, nladdest struggle of all near the
front door, followed by a dull blow, heavy
fall, and-silence.
At this moment latch-key turned, and
Mr.. Bell came cheerfully into his home.
On the marble floor of the hall lay a tall
man senseless and bleeding. Over him stood
a short, dorid man wiping the perspiration
from his forehead and putting up pistol.
An exclamation of alarm aud horror escaped
the master of the house.
Jack hurried to say, II suppose you are
Mr.. Bell?''
81 am-and--and-" he assumed threat
ening attitude.
''Fatherr' shrieked Mrs. Bell and the girls,
and bunch of white faces looked out from
the back parlor door. Mr.. Bell rushed to the
messenger alarm box, and gave the signal
for the police.
ssNow, now, keep cool, and pll explain,'
said Jack, pleasantly. ''This genteel person
who had an invitation to call on you is fu-
gitive from justice. He's nothing less than
a. Never mind I'm sorry to frighten these
ladies, and tried every device, even to call
ing myself his long-lost brother, to get my
man quietly out of your house, and arrest
him in the street. I've feeling for the do
mestic sanctities; I've daughters OF my own.
You see, he's been hiding for several years,
and now, thinking pursuit was over, came
out quite boldly under new name"
Two policemen appeared at the door.
'srell the chief of police-his house is
close by,' said the cool party ''that Jack
Trapper, of the London force, has taken the
man in the Carter case, and ask the chief to
step here if he will"
While Mr.. Bell was taking in the strange
proceedings, that high official arrived, greet
ed Jack familiarly as ''Mr. Trapper," and at
once had Montgomery, who had opened his
eyes with the hunted look of wild beast,
carried out by four officers.
Mr.. Jack Trapper followed, only turning
at the door to bow politely and remark:
"Pm very sorry, ladies--I have family my
self-out it all came from that card. My
prisoner is charged with--murder."
The scared women turned to the chief of
police, who confirmed the statement, added
that the man. beyond doubt, was guilty,
promised to keep the affair out of the papers,
and also politely withdrew.
"Great Heavenr' exclaimed Mr.. Bell to
his wife, show did you come to know the
wretch?n
'I-I didn't know him. she stammered.
"We-we met him for just few minutes
on the piazza at Saratoga" Josie explained,