The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-09-18
me to the station at York, and

mere IuOIleDb
"Oh, say we are your friends!' plead.
ed the old lady. 81 will give you
full explanation afterward.
"Well p said l, as joined the two
men.
81 am really ashamed to trouble you,
sir" answered the guard, "but this man
will not take my word for it that those
ladies are your friends"
"Perhaps he will take NINE" said
"Then they really are friends of
yours?" interrogated the detective.
Certainly They are going with me
to Newcastle" l answered.
left the fellow in the midst of his
apologies to follow the advice given
him by the guard
"Get back to York as fast as you
can, and know what you are about
another time before you begin insult
ing respectable ladies and gentlemen"
When l had ushered the ladies into
the little sitting room that had been
reserved for us, l looked from one to
the other for an explanation. They did
not keep me waiting
"We are in your hands, sir, the eld-
lady said, rising, and taking the hat
and veil from off the head of the young
er one, displayed to my sight not the
blond beauty l had been dreaming
about, but a pale, dellcate-looking
youth. l stood dumbfounded, What
a descent from the sublime TO the ridi.
culous
81 don't understand" said l slowly,
trying to take in all the facts of the
case. "Then are you really the peo-
ple?" | went on, and then paused.
"Yes," answered the old lady, finish
ing the sentence for me, "we really are
the people the detective is looking for,
but, oh, sir, have pity on us !'-and
here she broke down, sobbing as though
her heart would break.
The young fellow hid his face in his
hands and wept like child. After
little while the old lady told me her
story. She had had misfortune and
trouble, had experienced loss after loss
indeed everything seemed to have
gone against her. At last her only
daughter fell i'll. Weeks passed
on, but there was no improvement.
The doctor told her plainly that the
only hope of her recovery lay in her
being provided with better nourish-
ment, and ordered expensive wines and
various delicacies. But the question
was how, with her limited means to
procure these. Affairs were in this
condition when her son Paul, who was
in bank, embezzled some money, in
tending to refund it, but the defalca-
tion was at once found out, and, as
there had been other petty frauds on
the bank of late, the managers and di-
rectors were determined to make an
example of the defaulter.
"And now sir" concluded the old
lady, "we are in your hands. You
must do with us as you please. Had
it not been for you we should now have
been in custody"
1t was no question of righ. or wrong;
felt could not give these people up
to justice, and at once assured them of
my protection, although in so doing |
felt rather guilty, for on that very
morning my father had been discuss.
ing this case at breakfast, and hoping
the delinquent would be caught.
We were detained several hours,a and
it was not until the evening of the
next day that we arrived in Newcastle
AS we alighted whom should / see first
but my friend the detective Luckily
neither of the others observed him.
After seeing to the luggage we entered
a cab and drove away. l felt terribly
nervous, but thought it was better for
the present not to acquaint my COM
panions with our real position. That
we should have visit from the fellow
l felt certain, but could devise no plan
to elude him.
! The ladies on arriving at the hotel,
pleaded fatigue, and were served with
a cup of tea in their bedroom while l
had dinner, and afterward went into
the billiard room to smoke cigar and
think over way of escape for my new
formed friends.
"What, Bob! is that you7" shouted
familiar voice. II should as soon
have thought of meeting my great.
grandfather here tonight as you.
Where in the world have you sprung
from, man 7"
| And there, to be sure, was wild
laughing Ted Vercoe, or mad Ted, as
he was more frequently called among
his friends.
"What if ! ask you that question, old
fellow?' said l.
"Oh, it is easily answered in my
case" he laughed. 81 have my yacht
| Just down the water little way, all
manned ready for starting on another
long cruise, and had it not been for my
rascally confidential man just at the
last moment taking it into his head tc
get married and settle down on land ]
should have been no one knows where
now. shall be off directly l NEE
with one to suit me. You know, Bob
l am rather hard to please. / want ;
fellow that l can make a com
panion of at times"
"Get married" suggested l.
"That would never do. / couldn'
,, get rid of wife just when l wanted
No, Bob, l don't want wife, | wan
man to see to my clothes, arrage m,
books, keep diary of our travels, an,
: dine with me, or take hand at card
with me when think good to ask him
l give liberal salary"
Il believe I can fit you with ju.
,, the article you require" said l.
"From your description of him,
will take him." said Ted few minute
later, especially as you think you ca
! persuade HIM to come at once. Y0
- see l have long way to 60 and nc
much time for it. l have very heav
wager on this voyage
"Fortune favors the brave mute
A ed / to myself, as I went to inforl
r Paul of his danger and opportunity {
It escape.
Is 81 have told Mr., Vercoe nothing
your previous history but that you al
o a gentleman who has been unfortunat
and is in trouble" said |. "Tell hi
l. Just what you like yourself, and whe