Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-11

hospital for physical injury had only
just presented itself
"Knocked down and robbed in thu
Park last night, lady," responded thu
porter in his loudest and most emphatic
tones ellis head was one mash OF cut
when they brought him into us, and as
for talking-Lordb bless you he couldn't
as much as move his tongue from ono
side of his mouth to tother."
Lucia turned deadly pale, and caught
at the arms of her chair to support her
self.
The porter thought she was going tc
faint.
"Stop, lady compose yourself-don't
| give way" he urged, excitedly, getting
louder than ever in his dismay. Tho gen
| tleman's hurt bad, but not hopeless; he'll
pull round in few weeks Keep your
spirits up, and ="
"I-am-all right, thank you," gasped
Lucia, terrified lest some passing SER
want should overhear these adjurations.
"Tell me what am wanted to do ?"
eff you'd be so good, my lady, as to
mention his name aud address, respond
ed the porter, much relieved to find that
the threatened collapse had been warded
off. "The 'orsepital, you see, is anxious
to communicate with his friends imme-
diately, but it don't know where to find
EN-. "
1t suddenly occurred to Countess Sill
vestrelli that she had received no positive
proof that her fea,s had fastened on the
right person.
You have not told me what the gen.
tleman you mean is like, she said, guard
cd ,nt of a
Ito be sure, no more l haven't, re-
sponded the porter, whose establishment
referred to his own omission. beg par
don, my lady, l should have said as he
was a tallish, finnish gentleman, nigh of
thirty, with hair the color of Barcelona
nuts when they fust comes in, and going
in kind of wave like over his forehead.
1 can't say the color of his eyes, for he
but he's got two C's wrote in print on his
undertakings.
After her long shuddering suspense,
Lucia could accept the certainty of mis-
fortune with at least outward calmness.
Her voice scarcely shook as she said,
81 have only one acquaintance who in
any way answers your description. His
name is Mr.. Cecil Chesterton, and he
lives NJ d, L Ouuldlu COurt, ltulple. L
know few of his friends but believe
one of them is a gentleman called Fol
iambe, who resides at Bayswater.
The man jotted down these particulars
ia notebook, and having got all the in
formation he required, backed gradually
on the door, with his figure describing
the letter G. He would have backed right
out of it had not Lucia, whom contrary
promptings had hitherto kept silent, said
suddenly, in an uncertain tone, "Did you
say he had been robbed?'
Eyes, my lady, of everything. They
turned out all his pockets, and did not
leave him SO much as llankercher.
Then how did you obtain my address? ?"
beg pardon, my lady" responded the
man, i'll a rather injured tone, 81 thought
| told you it was in little screw Of paper
under his clothes, against his skin.
Lucia had not understood this before.
Her lips fell apart, she stared with start
led eyes into vacancy.
"Who were the thieves q she exclaim-
ed, suddenly, at last, not perceiving that
the porter had made his bow and with
drawn.
"What thieves, my angel q
This question issued through the door
way through which Rosette had departed
quarter of hour earlier.
The Countess turned round. and saw
her husband standing there looking at her
with his deadly smile.