Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-09-20

champagne had something to do with it.
But l must mention it" returned
my fellow passenger. "The fact is, that
1t is dangerous for you to remain here.
1t the carriage arrives with no one but
you III 1t, the officers will certainly mis-
take you for me. Two days, at least.
will be required to establish your iden-
tity, during which you will be kept
closely confined"
This was an alarming prospect indeed.
Two days confinement not to speak of
the annoyance and disgrace, would have
been ruin to me. I had business on the
following day of vital Importance, which
could not possibly be postponed, and my
companions anticipat1ons seemed only
too probable. {" [ hope," [ said hest
tatlngly, 81 hope you have not been en-
gagged IN any transaction of a question
able nature?"
sob, as to that" returned my COM
panion, 81 will tell you frankly the
whole truth about this painful case. You
are gentleman and man of honor, and
will not betray me. am an officer in
the army; cannot now enter into par
ticulars, but my Northumberland was
a scOundrel, q villain of the deepest dive,
Il ulDpou
the coward bore his disgrace. But his
time came. He brought most unbound
ed charges against me, which, were GER
tain officers in England, would easily
rebuff. In their absence / am ruined. [
sent OFT two expresses to Canada and
Bengal yesterday, but until they return
L must conceal myself. But I weary
you"
Ear from it, l exclaimed. PRAY
go on.
CT have little more to say, he resum-
ed. +" You know why [ fly. will tell
you who am. Ny name is Lionel Ger
aid de Mortimer-have you an army
list about you ?"
mechanically clapped my hands up
on my walstcoat pockets, as if to be
quite certain on the matter, and regret
fully said, emo, I have not"
It's of little consequence" resumed
the officer. 81 should merely have
shown you that the Honorable Lionel
Gerald de Mortimer's name is in no pie
bian corps. My fathers, the baron,
name is, of course, familiar to you"
murmured that it was, and Samuel,
the telegraph clerk, also murmured that
it was familiar to him.
May I confde in you?" said the
fugitive.
"You can," 1 exclaimed. "You
can, echoed Samuel, the telegraph clerk,
and then we all shook hands. The Off
Ger stopped to his valise again, and the
clerk hurriedly whispered
L say we're all right"
He winked, and struck the side of his
nose with his finger, and mechanically
initiated his gesture. The train was
sIackening speed, but the captain-for
such had decided was his rank-pro-
duced another bottle, this time of bran
dy, and we all three quaffed to his es-
cape-Samuel, the telegraph clerk,
drinking, it seemed to me, rather more
than his share. "Adieu ! my preserver,"
exclaimed the officer, as the clerk rose
and carefully unlocked the door.
Filing out your bag" said the youth.
This was accordingly done. "Now
jump the way the train is going"
We did so, and although good deal
shaken, no harm was done, and we saw
the angry lights at the rear of the car
riages disappear with quickening speed
around curve.
"Well, I'm off," exclaimed the clerk.
Good luck to you, captain" and he
vanished in the darkness.
CHOW, where on earth are we to go
to ?" said my friend. CT only thought
of coming to Downley, because it was, I
supposed, a quiet, retired place; but L
don't know the neighborhood."
81 do" said, "follow me-" He fol-
lowed me accordingly, and took him to
the little inn at which usually lodged,
and where could obtain a bed for him.
This latter offer he declined. He said he
would just wash and have some bread
and cheese, and then walk across the
country to town he named, some few
miles Oft. L, OF course, allowed him to
decide on his own movements without
comment, and In few minutes we ar
rived at my inn, which was luckily a
good way out of Downley in our direc-
ton. Tired and splashed as he was, for
the night was still wet and tempestuous,
the officer decided, having his crust"
as he called it, which turned out to be
very hearty meal of cold roast beef, be-
fore refreshing himself with wash. I
then took him up stairs to my room, and
as we crossed the landing he said,
pointing to a staircase:
w hCAO OOOo ULAtaO hA5AO ACdO w
Oh, only to the back yard of the
house" [ replied, and we entered.
[ had obtained two candles, and he
went, taking his vaIise with him, into
the dressing room, while sorted some
papers which had brought down with
me. I heard him washing, and in min
ute or two, hearing footstep coming
from the drawing-room, [ looked up. I
recoiled with an exclamation of alarm,
for there stood man in moleskin jacket
and trousers, cloth cap and shaven free,
and close-cut hair.
Who are you ?" exclaimed, grasp
ing my chair as possible weapon of de-
Tense.
so, it's all right should say, if you
don't know me, said the man, and I rec
ognized the voice of Captain de Morti-
mer.
"What!" I cried, more astonished
than before. "In the name of all that
is wonderful, what does this mean?"