Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-02-11
am atraid he will .!l,troat her v!len he


| Count, having made up his mind to put
| his nieco's plan into operation. The
interview was brief The Count avowed
his devotion to Miss Dexter, and formal
ly asked for her hand. Dexter, whose
repugnance to the fascinating foreigner
rather increased than diminished, point
blank refused to entertain the proposal.
The Count waxed eloquent and expostu-
latory; enlarged upon the splendor of
his family and the extent of his posses
sions; went even SO far Us to produce a
number Of papers which established his
identity beyond all reasonable. doubt,
and invited Mr.. Dexter to come into his
private room and inspect a quantity of
foreign orders and patents of nobility.
But the American was obdurato; and,
seeing that all his pleading was in vain,
the Count went of in q terrible rage.
Tho next few days were somewhat
trying, both for unclo and niece. AS
soon as Miss Annie heard tho dreadful
news of her lovers rejection she at
tackled her guardian with every species
of argument and abuse she could in
vent, and was only pacified by tho
threat that he would disclose her identi-
ty. Failing to make an impression up
on him she resorted to Clara, whom she
pestered for her good Offices, and re-
preached bitterly for having marred her
prospects in life.
my dear Annie" protested Clara,
al assure you it had nothing to do with
me. / should be delighted to see you
the Countess of Spltzentoff. Uncle
takes such violent dislikes, you know.
If were you l should elope; he will be
sure to come round afterward.
'My dear Clara, what magnificent
idoa!' cried Annie. embracing her effus-
lively.
As the days passed the love-lorn
young lady's temper improved materi-
ally; the Count was as devoted as ever
in his attentions, though less obtrusiye,
and the. Dexters, uncle and niece, pro-
fessed TO take no notice of the affair.
The st. Leger week came on, and the
hotels wore crowded to suffocation. The
night before the great race there was
ball at the Regalia of unusual splendor.
81 suppose you are going tonight,
Annie?" inquired Clara.
"Yes, with Mrs. Mungo; and / have
q great favor to ask-perhaps it may
be the last" said tho young lady, dc
murely.
"What is ftp"
81 want you to lend me your dia-
monds. l am so anxious to look well
tonight
"Oh, yes, you may have them,"
answered Clara, smilingly. Don't
forget to leave them behind, though"
So Miss Annie went to the ball
arrayed in Miss Dexter jewels, and
naturally enjoyed herself immensely.
The next day nearly every ono in the
hotel went off to Doncaster. The Scar
borough air had done Clara so much
good that she determined to accompany
her uncle. Annie, however. pleaded
fatigue and a bad headache, and Dexter
did not press her to 60. just before
starting Clara entered her uncle's room.
LEND me two hundred pounds ster-
ling" she said, laughing.
"What forp" no asked, with a re-
sponsive grin.
Now you know you are not to ask
questions, but to do as you are told.
Arriving on tho course, Dexter dis
posed Of his niece and began strolling
about the ring. Presently he felt a
touch on his sleeve.
81 beg your pardon, sare," said some
one with strong foreign accent, "but
hat | re pleasure to address Mr.. Dex-
terp"
That's sor' said Dexter, turning
round. 800
Two mon stood before him, one tall
and somewhat distinguished looking,
the other shorter, with sharp, Ratchet
face and busincss-like appearance.
Dexter fancied that hs had seen the tall
man before. Oddly enough, he was
singularly like Count Splitzentoff, but
his whiskers wero nearly white, and his
face was wrinkled and worn, MS if from
a recent illness. Moreover: he might
have been at least thirty years older
than the Count, but still there was a
| likeness. .g
You are Mr.. Dexter" he continued,
with much volubility and many gesticu-
lations; then You know miserable
who. calls himself tho Count Splitzcn-
tof, and reside at tho Hotel Regaliap
Vero;is he-can you tell me?"
d" Hanged II l know" said Dexter,
feeling somewhat uneasy.
" is he not herep" cried the stranger,
excitedly.
p" No; 1 don't think he came. Ill,
or something" a... t., ..
=" Hang the fellow!" interposed, the
short man. 81" He's given us the Slip
This, sare, Is to you a mystery
said the other, trembling with rage. a.
ann 20 Count ..Splitzentoff; that sacre
brigand is my valet, Jules lie Guillon.
Look, you, sare, he is a yoleur-whal
you call pique-pocket. am at Naples;
/ catch 20 accursed cholera; LIE Gull.
lon, he pack me to hospital; / grow
worse; he leaves me to die; ne go to
my hotel; he steal my luggage, my
money, my papers everything; he &c
off know not where. But 1 recover
I'get on his traces, wis &c aid of my
good friend Monsieur Ferret, of Scot
land yard. At last have catch him
is not SOP"
Dexter was not easily surprised; bu
he started at the infuriated stranger
with amazement ...,
The dickens!' he calculated.
Perfectly correct, SIR" said Mr.
Ferret. " But we are wasting time
Where is the gentleman" .;...
At Scarborough, believe"
By Jove! trust he mayn't have
got clear off! If L had only wired t.
the police! But wanted to collar hin
myself"
Dexter promptlyifound his niece, ant
| the whole party returned to Scarbor
| ough as fast rs special train coul'
carry them. The journey was by NJ
means pleasant one. The real Coun
was frantic at the thought of losing hi
prey, Ferret was rsilent and sulky
while Dexter was seriously uneas,
about Annie. Is u.s., 49,. i- ,-s'
al never meant to let her in for any
thing like this" he whispered to Clara
who was crying quietly in corner.
Where il Count Splitzentoffp'
shouted the party in chorus, when the
arrived at the Rcgalia. s..sl
Il "Wcnt to London this morning o.
Important business" answered the man