Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-02-01
Certainly"
"Will you please allow me to look OF

with pleasure"
I glanced along the list of names, but
could not see the one for which was
searching. l handed the paper back and
was about turning away, when the
thought occurred to me that it would do
no harm to question the official little
further.
''Do you sell the London passage tick
cts 2"
eyes, somewhat sharply.
''Do you recollect selling a ticket
to a tall lady with blue eyes, blonde
hair, and attired in dark costume ~
every distinctly. was attracted by
her beauty She's lovely woman"
'And she purchased ticket I"
''Two tickets"
''Two tickets!" l CALCULATED with some
surprise, which drew the attention of the
clerk. For once l had been thrown off
my guard:
"And she had child with her-in her
arms ~
81 saw no child. l took her to be
young lady who might not object to
good husband"
"Strangel"
"No, don't think SO. She never was
q MOTHER
.''Perhaps not; but them
"Then what 2"
" She might have some one else's
child, you know" and hastened out of
the office and went to the railroad sta
ton, where had the good fortune to
catch the night express for Liverpool,
So sure was l that l had got upon the
trail of the child abductor, that l felt
annoyed at every little delay along the
route. My mind was in glow of ex-
citement The game was big, but shy
and cunning. Nothing less than the
bird in the hand would make me feel any
certainty of success. must reach Liver
pool before the City of Richmond took
her departure. If not, the pursuit would
be longer, and might end in failure even
then. When half the journey had been
made, and the train was whirling through
the darkness at a tremendous speed,
there was sudden stoppage that fore
BODIED no good. We came to dead
stop. One of the drivers of the engine
had broken down. The situation was
interesting and rather eXasperating to
me. Some of the passengers slept on,
oblivious to their surroundings. Not SO
with me. | fretted and chafed with dis
appointment.
Two hours wore on. When at length
the injury had been repaired, and the
train started on its course, had the sat
isfaction of knowing that l could not
reach Liverpool before the steamer sailed.
| resolved to take the chances, and so l
curled myselfup within my own thoughts.
Just as had feared, the steamer had
sailed upon my arrival in Liverpool.
My next thought was to cable to New
York, giving description of the woman
and child, and have the former arrested.
This would bring others into the case
wanted the honor and reward myself.
Beside, after careful reflection, | thought
! might be on the wrong scent. The
personal description seemed to tally.
The two tickets, no babe in the
womans charge, and other circumstan-
ces led me to think that, after all, /
might be mistaken.
The thought of defeat drove me to
devising every scheme for pursuit.
A new idea popped into my head.
rushed to the office of the Guion line.
"When does your first steamer sailT'
l inquired of the clerk
"To-morrow afternoon"
"What's her namea"
''The Alaska"
"The Alaska, eh2"
eyes"
"She's quick one2"
"Fastest vessel afoat."
''Do you think she can reach New
York before the Inman's City of Rich
mond, which sailed this morning2"
81 should think so-will probably dis
tance her by day."
"That would make q difference of owe
two days.
"What of that, barring accidents2"
Thrusting my hand into my pocket,
said:
81 want cabin passage to New York.
"Your name, sir2"
"James Burleigh, an American de
tective, anxious to cross the ditch an(
get back home"
With a somewhat contented spirit
went to hotel and waited for the hou
of the "Alaska's" departure. felt tina
| was still in the race, but my competito
having such start, while l was lef
practically at the post, was not go con
, fident of winning, after ALL
Anyway, was glad to sail for the lant
of my birth. The novelty of having beel
sent to England and the Continent il
quest of some noted criminals who wer
wanted in the States had worn away
{ and l longed to see my friends one
. more.
Nothing of special note occurred dur
5 ing the passage across. The noble vesse
seemed as fleet as the wind. Day by da
! l studied with eagerness the log of tn
vessel to learn our rate of speed. Goo,
fortune favored us with fair weather ant
: sea.
Upon our arrival at quarantine W
learned that the "City of Richmond
had not yet reached port-in fact, wa
f not expected till the next day. l cam
' up to the city, engaged my rooms at tn
t hotel, and made what preparations wer
needed for the execution of my plans.
Lest the steamer might arrive Q
G night, stayed that night at State
Island, to be near at hand The precar
4 tion was unnecessary, ,as she did not al
rive till the next day.
Accompanied by the health officers an
others, was soon on board, and wake
/ through the saloon cabin with the nor
chalent air of person who had 4
q other business than to hum tune {
1 twirl cane. There was the usual bust
o for disembarking. My eye could NJ
catch the object of my search Perhal
she was in her state-room. would wa