The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-02-16


 can't he look round! Boat ahoyt
 But though Mir. Bittleston had good lungs, and though broad sheet of water is an excellent conductor of sound, his voice failed to arrest the attention of the occupants of the boat, who were strain ing every nerve to reach the nex, lock. While NIT. Bittleston was still shouting, they began to disappear around the top reach, without once turning heads.
 Silly fellow " exclaimed Mir. Bittle- ston in state of excitement, as he has tily descended from the garden seat on which he had been standing: he must be deaf, and blind, too. Here. Ada :. quick. Tell Robert to run to my room and bring Mir. AveY's pormanteau. Lend me hand, inspector. If we look sharp, we shall be able to catch him at the lock-
 He led the way 10 the boa, house as he spoke, followed by the inspector. Bu, by the time the boat was ready, and the footman had appeared with the por,man- teau, several minutes had elapsed. Here, Robert. put the poitmanteau in the bow and jump in,' said MT. Bittlc- s,on Impatienty. want you to TOW me to the lock as quick as you can
 Let me lend hand, said Inspector Hardiss, dives,ing himself of his coat in very business-lke manner
 The party started downstream in pur- suit, NIT. Bittlesion s'eering, and frequent ly bobblng up and down in his excite ment, to try and catch sight of the boat ahead. In spite of their efforts, however. they found the lock-gates closed agains, them, and the parsons boat out of sight, What was more tantalizng. the lock had been emptied by the time they got there and was waiting boat which was com ing up stream. An abrupt turn in the river at short distance already hid from view the boat just relieved from the lock
 What nuisance exclaimed Mir Bittlesion, mopping his forehead as he stood on the banks of of the lock, having 's. kriI iii at -gia.i,y tsfs3 s0slsiua uf esss fairs. Boat with three gentlemen us, gone through. Smithers:r he added to the look-keeper.
 = Yes, sir, but they are coming back They pulled their boat round by the back water and weRt ashore. after asking me to keep an eye on it till they returned" said the man.
 Oh, that IS all right" said Bit,leston in tone of satisfaction; we will get back, inspector. to attend to business. Hi. Bring up that portmanteau. Robert Snithers, will you take charge of il and give il to the Rev. Mir. Avery, who IS one ct those three gentlemen. with my com pliments!"
 " think you mentioned my name. sir, said voice from the lock. proceed ing from one of the occupants of boat winch had Just entered.
 " Not that am aware oi said Mir Bi;tleston politely :. the gentleman re- ferred to was the Rev. Mark Avery"
 ' am the Rev. Mark Avery said the stranger promptly.
 The gentleman tha, mean is the curae of St. Blaises' church in 5, George s-in-the East" said Mr.. Bli,tles- ton, feeling confused
 l" Then there Is no doubt whatever that you mean me returned the stranger. with laugh in which his companion joined
 Mir Bit,eston started. and stared at the young man. who bore his gaze untlinch- ingly. This Mark Avery was tall, pow erful. black whiskered young fellow, to- tally different in appearance from the slim, modest, retiring youth who claimed the same appella,on. It crossed Mir. Bittlestons mind that the party in the lock were having q oke al his expense. and he was about to resent the imperti- hence Tn very forc,ble language, when the inspector, who had been standing by. touched him on the arm.
 That IS NIT. Avery. sure enough. said the otflcer: I've seen him before. That beiEg so. l think we had better see what IS inside the portnanteau. It's precious heavy, he added, seizing hold of II with sudden interest.
 MT Bittieston was too much nonplused to interfere, besides which he began to entertain disquieting suspicious. The in- speetor proceeded with great dexterity to unfasten the straps of the portmanteau. and in the ,winkling of an eye had mas tered the lock with large stone. Upon hls opening the lid. an excited exclama- ,lon burst from the bys,anders. for the contents of the portmanteau proved to be the whole of the articles of silver and lewelry which had been stolen from Mir. Bittleston's safe
 Hanged If l didn't think this was il. calculated the inspector: you pu, me of the scent, by leading me 10 be- lieve tat the parson who dined with you was an old friend. You never told me you had entertained stranger who had left his baggage. or should not have wasted the las, day or two"
 ]" had no idea that-ihai the young man was a swndler," murmured Mir Bittleston, apologe,ioally.
 '' can see the game as clear as day light, said the inspector having re- oonnoitred the premises, he and his pals do the lob neatly in the night, He knows the difficulty of getting away with the swag, and thinks he may be stopped and searched by the police. in consequence of having been to the house the day be fore the robbery. So he left the things with you. and meanwhile he has made every arrangement to dispose of 'em.'
 How fortunate How miraculous exclaimed the old gentleman. beginning fN ,nls l.