The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-03-05


Without wishing to force the matter,
and making an apology for haste / took
my departure, and was soon back in
London. went at once TO my room,
and picking up good-sized gripsack,
threw in some Of my clothing, with the
expectation that might be required to
mako long journey. Going out into
the street. l ordered cab and was driven
to the Inman line Of steamers, where
ascertained tho City of Richmond was
expected to leave Liverpool early the
next morning.
You have your passenger list, pre-
sume2" inquired Of the clerk.
Certainly"
+" VIII you please allow me to look at
it2n
"With pleasure"
glanced along the list of names, but
could not see the one for which was
searching. handed the paper back and
was about turning away, when the
thought occurred to me that Il would do
no harm to question the. official little
further
"Do you sell the London passage tick
cts 2"
'sYes, sir"--somewhat sharply.
'fDo you recollect selling ticket
to tall lady with blue eyes, blonde
hair, and attired in dark costume ~
Every distinctly. / was attracted by
her beauty. She's lovely woman"
'tAnd she purchased ticket I"
1.-TWO tickets"
s'Two ticketsl" / calculated with some
surprise, which drew the attention of the
clerk. For once had been thrown off
my guard.
''And she had child with her-in her
arms 2"
81 saw no child. took her to be
young lady who might not object to q
good husband"
''Strangep
''No, l don't think so. She never was
q mother"
tPerhaps not; but them
''Then what 7"
She might have some one else's
child, you know" and hastened out Of
the office and went to the railroad sta
ton, where l had the good fortune to
catch the night express for Liverpool.
So sure was that | had got upon the
trail of the child abductor, that / felt
annoyed at every little delay along the
route. My mind was in a 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 tremendous speed,
there was a sudden stoppage that fore
BODIED no good. We came to a 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,
obliviousto 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 could not
reach Liverpool before the steamer sailed.
l resolved to take the chances, and so /
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.
l 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
woman's 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 sailG'l
l inquired of the clerk.
Tomorrow afternoon"
'What's her name9'
'eThe Alaskan
''rhe Alaska, ehf"
''Yes.n
;. ''She's quick one9"
''Fastest vessel ahoat."
''Do you think she can reach New
York before the Inman's City of Rich
mond, which sailed this mornlng"
~ should think so--will probably dis
tance her by day"
THAT would make difference of owe
two days.
''What of that, barring accidents9"
Thrusting my hand into my pocket,
said:
~ 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
J went to hotel and waited for the hou
of the "Alaska's" departure. felt tina
was still in the race, but my competito
J having such start, while was lef
practically at the post, was not so con
/ L Ill