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


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 a person who had no
other business than to hum tune or
twirl cane. There was the usual hustle
for disembarlxing. My eye could not
catch the object of my search. Perhaps
she was in her state-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 a charming
fgurel
Stepping nearer, / ventured, in the
most polite manner, to speak:
"Glad to get back from your foreign
tour, | presume, Miss"
"Benson is my name"
''Miss Benson, took you to be an
American lady. am an American, re-
turning, after long absence, to my ma
tive land"
81 am so tired of this ship. How
glad will be when I step on shore
againl 1t won't be long now-will it,
sir9"
"But few minutes"
"Pshawl I've made mistake, "
thought l. 'tThis lady hasn't blonde
hair. Her eyes are more steel gray
than blue. Her costume is a steel-gray
travelling suit. Then she is alone"
But thought detected decidedly
English accent in her conversation.
If she were Miss Jane Percy, where
could the child be2 If she had COM
panion, male or female, where was that
mysterious personvgei l 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,
l must act quickly.
Confronting the fair woman, / said, in
q 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. 1 am detective. You
are my prisoner"
J The woman stood transfxed. He
} form trembled-her cheeks blanched a
this sudden encounter. Although capa
} BILE of calm self-possession, she wa
thrown off her guard. Woman-like, hel
emotions overcome her, and she fell a
my feet.
} :" Where is the child 20
She hesitated, and falteringly moaned
t " In the steerage."
She conducted me there, when my eye
| fell upon the heir of Beenham Lodge
growing in the arms of a fat Irish nurse.
| / saw that my beautiful prisoner wa
comfortably provided for till the sailing
' of the next steamer, and had the pleasur
A of placing the young heir in the arms o
old Sir Edward. The spinister sister
stung at the action of her brother il
making the line of the Burtons, insteat
t of the Applebees, the successors of hi
e large estates, had concocted this plot
abduct the child.
Q True to his promise, Sir Edward be
: slowed upon me such handsome rewar
1 that, with ordinary caution, the VOL
need never howl at my door.