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

hdu uOt ydt ICdChCu pOA0-lh AoSDt WhA
not expected till the next day. came
up to the city, engaged my rooms at the
hotel, and made what preparations were
needed for the execution Of my plans.
Lest the steamer might arrive at
night, stayed that night at Staten
Island, to be near at hand. The precau-
ton was unnecessary, as she did not ar
rive till the next day.
Accompanied by the health officers and
others, / was soon on board, and walked
through the saloon cabin with the nom
chalent air of q person who had no
other business than to hum a tune or
twirl cane. There was the usual hustle
for disembarking. My eye could not
catch the object Of my search. Perhaps
she was in her ssate-room. would wait
and see.
The vessel was rounding into her pier,
but still no person who could by any
stretch Of the Imagination be said TO re-
semble the one wanted.
rambled backward and forward, and
then ascended to the aft of the steamer.
There stood tall, shapely woman, with
her back turned toward me. She was
twirling her sunshade and seemed alb
sorbed in gazing at the many sights that
commanded her view.
ventured to approach the rail. My
presence attracted her attention; she
turned her face toward me, there were
momentary mutual glances. What a
handsome facel What charming
fgurel
Stepping nearer, / ventured, in the
most MALTA M rrar IN nrnaol
"Glad to get back from your foreign
tour, presume, Miss"
Benson is my name.n
'.Miss Benson, l took you to be an
American lady. l am an American, re-
turning, after a long absence, to my ma
tive land"
"I am SO tired of this ship. How
glad will be when l step on shore
againl It won't be long now-will it,
sir7"
Z" But few minutes.n -
"Pshawl I've made a mistake, I"
thought /. ''This lady hasn't blonde
hair. Her eyes are more steel gray
than blue. Her costume is steel gray
travelling suit. Then she is alone"
But / thought detected decidedly
English accent in her conversation.
II she were Miss Jane Percy, where
could the child be2 If she had COM
panion, male or female, where was that
mysterious personvgei must not be
foiled at this stage of the game. Once
on land and swallowed up in the mael-
strcm of the masses, the child -stealer and
the child might soon lose their identity,
must act quickly.
Confronting the fair woman, said, in
a stern voice:
"Your name is not Benson. You are
Miss Jane Percy, the abductor of the
nephew of Sir Edward Pordage, of Been
ham, England. / am detective. You
are my prisoner"
The woman stood transfxed. Her
form trembled--her cheeks blanched at
this sudden encounter. Although capa-
BILE of calm self-possession, she was
thrown off her guard. Woman-like, her
emotions overcome her, and she fell at
my feet.
" Where is the child 2"
She hesitated, and falteringly moaned
In the steerage.n
She conducted me there, when my eyes
fell upon the heir of Beenham Lodge,
growing in the arms of fat Irish nurse.
saw that my beautiful prisoner was
comfortably provided for till the sailing
of the next steamer, and had the pleasure
of placing the young heir in the arms of
old Sir Edward. The srinister sister,
stung at the action of her brother in
making the line of the Burtons, instead
of the Applebees, the successors of his
large estates, had concocted this plot to
abduct the child.
True to his promise, Sir Edward be-
slowed upon me such a handsome reward
that, with ordinary caution, the vol
need never howl at my door.