Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-07-18

1T was too late, however; many of
those around had heard the name, and
among the rest the two men, who were
smoking close by.
"Come aft, ThaddeusI" whispered the
tall man. "Did you hear that namei"
al did. 1t must be that numbering
villain himself"
'And you, you fool, to get quarreling
with him in the trainn
'Do you think he has his eye on us2"
"You may take your oath of that"
"What in the name of conscience shall
we doYn
leave it to me; have dodge, if /
can only work it."
The steamer being very crowded, Lady
Jones and her party had been unable to
secure private cabin. They had to stay
on deck, and in by no means good
place. But, thanks to the attention of
her friends Lady Jones was made com
Portable with rugs and wraps near one Of
/ the paddle boxes, while Millicent and
] the maid sat olero -bosido her. The
voyage across the channel was not good,
and the ladies reached Folkestone in a
more or less battered condition. Now
the strangers, like chivalrous gentlemen,
came out in their true colors. Nothing
could exceed their kindness. They took
infinite trouble to prepare the party for
going on shore; they helped the maid to
fold and strap up the rugs, and made
themselves generally useful. Lady Jones
was so grateful and so charmed that she
begged them to call on her in London,
and gave them her address
When the porters rushed on board,
Lady Jones desired one of them to go at
once and secure her carriage.
Cant be done, num-" he replied
"All the things have to be examined
before they let us through to the train. "
"Absurdw said her ladyship; "thcy
won't examine mine. | am Lady jones'
Bnt her ladyship was no better than
an ordinary person before the law. The
custom house officers were inexorable; /;
and, in spite of her protests, all her
small parcels and those of her party,
were taken into the search-room, and laid
out on the counter. With an imperious
wave of the hand, an official ordered her
to follow them. To make matters worse,
the quiet Englishman, to whom she mad
been so rude in the train, was standing in
the doorway, talking to two other men,
and laughing, as she thought, at her dis.
tress.
For a moment her two friends were
nowhere to be seen.
81 never heard of such thinql" ehn
said Indignantly 60 8IilliUenr, as the OIL
cious searchers turned everything out Of
her gold-mounted dressing case, and
then proceeded to unroll the rugs.
"What do they take us for?"
Everybody is treated alike, dear Lady
Jones. [ suppose they are afraid Of Fe-
mans, or dynamite, Or something"
cit is preposterous, disgraceful! Sir
John shall write to the papers-I beg
your pardon"
This was to an official who had said to
her twice, "What is this?"
A small parcel done up in strong
brown paper securely tied and
sealed
81 haven't the least idea. Something
of my maids OF Millicent's-this young
lady here. really cannot say"
But while she chartered on with ac-
customed garrulity, the custom house
officer had already cut the strings, un-
done the parcel, and laid bare small
plain tin case.
1t had lid, which was easily opened.
Inside were q number of slabs of a
Whity- brown, sugary looking substance,
which might have been tenth-rate choco-
late or indilTerently made "toifee."
"Some sort of sugar, v said Lady Jones.
GLOW odd l cannot imagine"
ITS just what 1 expected" said a
quiet voice behind. Hand it over, Mr..
Saunders. This is my affair"
"What, Mr.. Hopkinson, are you
hcrew
Every much on the spot this time, l
think, Mr.. Saunders. Now, maam''-
to Lady Jones -''where are your other
fricndsW
GLOW dare you speak to mel" she re-
piled, hotly, recognizing her old enemy
of the train. II am Lady Jones"
"Of course, all right, replied the man
called Mr.. HopkInson. "But there" he
went on, half to himself, "we don't want
any scandal or noise. We might lose the
Others" and with that he whispered a
few words to an attendant, and drew
back into the crowd.
The examination of Lady Jones' bag
gage was completed, everything was re-
packed, and the party proceeded toward
the train. Just as they passed the refresh
ment-room, a railway guard came up, and,
touching his cap, said: THE station
master has reserved you a compartment.
Please come this Way.n
GLOW uncommonly civil Of him, to be
sure !" cried her ladyship. 81 suppose it
is to make up for this annoyance. 1 am
really much obliged"
Within five minutes the two ladies were
slowed away in carriage by themselves,
and the door securely locked. Presently
the train ran out OF the station up the hill
to Folkestone town, and Lady Jones, who
was rapidly recovering her equanimity,
after few CALCULATIONS of delight at be
ing home again, composed herself to
sleep in TIE corner of the carriage.
But fresh annoyance was in store fol
) her. At Folkestone Town station the
carriage was unlocked, and three mer
got in; one of them, to Lady Jones' in
: dignation and dismay, was Mr.. Hopkin
r son, with his black bag, which he kept
on his knee.
+ "You mustn't come in here" sht
said loftily "this carriage is reserved
| specially for me. am Lady Jones'"
, "Oh, are you!" replied the other. 'I
t is time you should know who | am. NJ,
| name"
81 am sure l don't care to know"
'My name is Hopkinson. am chic
: inspector of police from Scotland Yard.
Q "Well,n said Lady Jones' still bold
but with much inward misgivings, g
2 really do not understand! !"