The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-12-26

panel with shiyery music, at any rate" re.
torted Warne. "How I should frighter
you Goodbye"
"No doubt. Ta-ta," replied the other,
shaking Warne's hand warmly. Good luck
to you"
Mr.. Warne nodded, and passed into the
partners room for final instructions, and to
give receipt for the case OF diamonds He
took cordial farewell OF Mr.. Docket ana
his partner. At eleven o'clock he entered
the down express from the c. station.
He was tho only occupant Of the compart.
ment, and congratulated himself upon the
fact. The express was due at W al
$3.50 p. m.
1t arrived at its first stopping place with
out accident. At $40 il reached W,
having been delayed by sudden disclosure
of red light by a workman in the long b
tunnel A portmanteau, labeled for W
was thrown from the van, aud the train
sped on its way.
~ say, Bill, whose is this? +" said the
porter to the ticket-taker.
"I don't know; it amt mine. Some
ones lost the train, suppose. Here's Mr..
Spencer, perhaps he's got Telegram about
it,"
The station-master approached and said,
"Where's Jeffrey?"
/ Jeffrey was the ganger for the tunnel
which was situated on that portion of the
line of which Mr.. Spencer was "local in
spector.
The porters had seen him just before, and
in a short time Jeffrey came up.
"Why didn't you manage things better
than to delay the down express ?" asked
Spencer.
81 didn't delay her." replied the man,
quickly.
"Well, your men did, in the tunnel she
was ten minutes behind. You ought to
know better by this time. I've great
mind to report it,"
"Report it, if you like, SIR" replied
the ganger. "None of my gang have
been in B tunnel since noon to-day,
I'll swear. They're all on the up section,
yonder, this afternoon Ye can see for
yourself"
The station-master was puzzled. He
said he would see the engine-driver on
his return that evening. As he turned
away, the neglected portmanteau caught his
eye.
~ o1o ha D,,t -,
| the cloak-room till called for by the owner,
! Mac; he'll follow it soon."
Macdougal did SO, and then went to his
"tea."
But the owner of the portmanteau never
came.
The same afternoon telegram was
received by Messrs. Docket, Poole &
Co., from the Countess of j, dated .
p. M:
"Am surprised your messenger has not
arrived. Did he leave town as arranged I?
Reply at once"
Mr.. Docket turned pale as he read the
telegram, and walked hastily to Mr.. Poole's
room. His partner was astonished at his
appearance.
Good heavens, Docket! what's the
matter?" he cried.
Read that" said the other, hoarsely.
| Warne has been robbed, or murdered,
| Or" he checked himself at once his part-
ner finished the sentence.
':Or levanted with the diamonds /?
Yes"
"This will ruin the frm," continued Mr.
| Docket, with forced calm. "Poor Warne!
Pm afraid he's waylaid. We must reply to
this at once. I'll go down myself, and tele-
graph to say so."
| Mr.. Docket wrote out o reply, saying
merely that" Our senior partner will wait
upon the Countest of J. this evening""
and then he sent clerk home for his bag,
| with note for his wife, and waited.
| A tap at the door aroused him. "Cone
in ?" he cried.
| "Beg pardon, SIR" said Warnes friend,
Jamison; "beg pardon, sir, but there's q
man here about that consignment to the
| Cape"
| What does he say about it?"
"He says he can do it for e2O, complete,
| springs and screws"
| every well. When will it be re ,dy?"
| "ln about u month, Air, lie says"
snake memorandum of it, then; ant
| if Mr.. Warne---"
"Yes, SIR" said tho clerk, as the chic
hesitated.
"Never mind" said Mr.. Docket, check
ing himself, that will do"
| The clerk retired drew up the memoran
dunn, and gave it to the person in th
Office.
"Nice job this, ehH Don't often hav
such articles to export, l suppose" sal,
Jamison.
| "Not often. We've had only one be
fore; but some likes one thing, anC
keys frequent, but them others ain't 81
pleasant"
Some morbid fancy, | suppose,
continued the mau, rs lie folded up hi
| PoNhot-boohi III "'tlSh hS Ahi pi'SSu va
memorandum.
Wants it for his stroug-roOm, | hear
and when anyone as don't know, or has N
right there, then he'll be kind o. scared,
expect. It's II curious Christmas-box
send out, isn't it?
The man laughed at the eccentric idea
and departed.
| The next morning but one, people VIII
read the "agony" columns OF the papor
were startled by the announcement Of
ZONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD,
for any information that would lead to tn
discovery OF William Wlrne (described)
who had travelled from London to W
by the Great Direct Railway, and had lai
been "seen in the train at Amering Jun
tion, at 2;20 p. NJ" aud SO on, "No on
noticed a fcllow-pasSenger in the compar
ment"
Fat the advertisement called forth no rt
spouse, beyond the little information th'
could be Cleaned from the officials. III
stoppage in the tunue was commente
upon, and this was regarded as u really su
picious circumstance, as the railway peop
positively declared that no work had bee