The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-08-08

this query vas presumably addressed
was taken nearly % much aback q his
chiSf. He had no explanation to offer.
Careless Of. the CONSERVATION which
his abrupt proceeding had occasioned,
Bernatds steps were toward the railway
station. This was clearly the aim Of tho
pursued.
To be thirty seconds too late is, under
all circumstances, sbundantly annoying.
This was Bernard Hooker's lot on the
present occasion. He reached the plat
form os the Fembury station Just in
time to sec the up tfaia steam into tho
yawning gulf Of the north tunnel, and
to know that in one Of that trains COM
partments sat, in regained security, his
fathers foe and his own. There was
nothing to do but to confess failure,
and return, after dining, to the druid
gerry Of the bank desk. He did not
even know the alias Of the rogue, and
after all, his evidence Of identity, il
sufficient for himself, might fail to CON
vince another. Il would be useless to
appeal to the local police force, for these
reasons.
"An impudent and madcap freak,
MIR. Hooker, what may be your excuse, {"
growled Mr.. Hollis. "If you want TO
leave the Office in hurry again TO over
take nybody.,anybody. sir!-be good
en- ough to ask leave"
Bernard was compelled to promise
that he would. For the rest of the after
noon he went on his way with the tedious
columns of figures in state Of mental
agitation and chagrin unparalleled since
the days on which he had first learned
that his parents bankruptcy was un-
avoidablc.
"Those scraps of paper, Mr.. Styles,
than the floor"
The hangers accents were harsh and
querulous; his temper seemed to have
been soured for the day by Bernard
Hooker's escapade.
"Ihave dropped them, SIR" replied
the inculpated junior, resentipe as
much as he dared the implied charges
of untidiness. Zone fell from your
own desk, and the other was left behind
by the gentleman whom Mr.. Hooker
tried to CATCH"
Bernard's ears tingled anew. What
II the last-mentioned fragment should
bear upon its surface some clew to the
villains assumed name or whereabouts.
by easy stategy he gained possession
OF the slip, and found il to be half an
envelope, with the letters "Joyn-"
on one side, aud the postmark "Ickford"
on the other. This might or might nor
lead to q discovery.
|. In the solitude Of his own apartments
that evening Bernard Hooker searched
out the name Of Ickford on a Brad
shaws map. He found it to be that of q
small town in the north of England.
Whatever the consequence, I'll run
down there and make inquiries. III
win, the game will he worth the can
dle," he soliloquized.
And the next day note in the bank
letter box accounted-though hardly
satisfactorily to the critical Judgment Of
Mr.. Hollis-for the second clerks abb
sence.
At Ickford the trail unmistakably
struck. skilful investigation showed
that q Mr.. Joynson-whose outward
man appeared to tally precisely with
Bernard's sketch-description-had been
staying at the chief hotel for several
weeks, and had posed as an individual
OF position and wealth. Alas! it showed
also that he had decamped with both
bag and baggage a few hours before
Bernard's arrival.
Fooled q second time!" moaned that
young man, in bitterness of spirit.
nsI,ha snopn,, 1,eu o,,,olk xlon.... ...1 ..1
ably will make for South America or
some other safe hiding place in earnest
now."
With hopes sinking rapidly below ze-
ro again, Bernard took ticket for LON
don. He would put a professional de-
tective on the track and then return to
Fembury. If Mr.. Hollis dismissed him
for his pains, he must just recommence
his weary fight with fortune in some
other arena.
Why, Bernard! This is an agreeable
surprise indeed! I was wondering not
above day or two ago what had be-
come Of my ancient ally. So many
pranks as we've been guilty Of together!
Hs, hal"
The speaker was Frank Allerton, Ber.
nsrds dearest college chum, and young
Northern squire, whose sister Amy -
but this was . romantic dream which
had faded into an absurdity in the thick
gloom Of environing disaster. Why re-
call it?
The new conner had Joined tho train
ut Cotchly Junction, and, like Bernard,
was bound for the metropolis. As the
friends were alone in the compartment,
Bernard's story was soon told.
"And are you hunting the rascal
DOWN."
= have attempted it. and he has
beaten me-"
"Whst sort of q fellow is he-in per.
sonsl appearance, I mean?"
For the fourth or fifth time Bernard
ran glibly over the salient characteristics
of that figure which fate, rather than
any conscious mental effort, had photo
graphed 20 minutely upon his memory.
1T is he exactly" !" cried Frank Aller-
ton, with an almost ludicrous combina-
tion Of amszement, disgust and wrath
mirrowed upon his countenance. "Why,
the fellow has been living at Beckham,
within Q stones throw of our own manor
house. for eight or nine months. Mr..
Joynson-"
Eyes, that is the name he is using"
us reputed in the village to be worth
half million Of money, more or less.
He is the resource of all the amateur
mendicants in the district, figuring as
. well-to-do bachelor, he has even dared
to make certain proposals for my sisters
hand. Amy refused his hand sorely on
the ground Of disparity of years.
Not sorely on that ground, Bernard
took leave to hope, in despite of his
friends dogmatism. But he had no
word to answer at the moment. And
there was excuse for his tempory be.
wilderment in the presence of so strange
and unlooked-for revelation. In the
hour Of his darkest despair the fair
promise of contingent victory had come.
"What restless and daring hypocrite
the man must bel" Frank continued.
"I'u admit l never liked him from the
first, but I had no idea Of such sword
of Damocles being suspended over his
head. Amy has had lucky escape,
and she will think So"
At last Bernard regained his power
ofutterance.
"Tn 60 to London now," he said,
"apply for q warrant, and acquaint my
father with the facts; and then, in com.
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