Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-22

4
what does he do for towel?" Th'
splashipg ceased, and then the red leg
disappeared altogether; limp mas
dropped with a flop on the floor, ant
down came two brown tweed legs il
| their place, and then | heard q rustl,
as Of clean linen. Good gracious
he's dressing!" was my next startled
thought; but almost before had tim'
10 think ii, down dropped the rug, ant
there stood my descrtcr, spruce, clean.
,weed-suited, pulling down q pair O.
unimpeachable wristbands, and settling
his shoulders into his coat.
"There !" he said, pointing to a
dingy heap on the floor. There lie
the last relics Of Joseph Allen, private
in Ii. MS Royal Manx fusiliers, and
here they go.' lie lowered the win
dow. and one by one the garments flew
out into the night. His boots are
all tha, remain of him." he said re-
erctfully "but you'll overlook those,
won't you, and not give them over to
offended justice?"
"why not ?" asked coolly. every
one of your proceedings is more sus-
| picious than the last. How do know
| that those clothes are honestly come
by?"
"But they were" he protested,
"sold to me by friend Of mine, one
James McToldridge, servant to Captain
Darlington, Of ours, whose discarded
rig-out this is; and a pretty penny |
paid for it. The beggar knew my ex-
tremity. Oh, ] forgot! l meant to
give you this" This was copy Of
the Times, which he presented, as he
had done the revolver, on the end Of
his stick.
"Oblige me by reading the second
advertisement in the agony column"
/ did so.
"Jos, dear Jos, il ever you loved
your father, return at once. All must
be forgotten and forgiven now. Delay
Of an hour may be fatal. Eveline
Fairmeade."
"I'm Jos--never dear Jos that
know Of, though. Fairmeade is my
home, and my dear old governor the
best, kindest old father that ever a
scapegrace had, and don't you see that
internal thing is three days old, and
she says delay may be fatal?" lie
turned sharply away for moment.
Eveline is my step-mother," he went
on hurriedly, miserable little cat,
the cause Of all trouble. 1 cont think
the dear old governor and | had
words difference in our lives till she
came between us three years ago. 1t was
always settled that | was to 60 into the
army, and she bewitched my father into
thinking it mighty thing for the family
when her brother in the city offered to
take me into his counting house. |
suppose there are an expensive lot Of
us, and the pater isn't rich--for dean.
Anyhow, it got intolerable at home, so
one day Just walked off and enlisted,
and not a word of any Of them have |
heard since, bad or good, till came
across that this morning"
"And couldn't you get away pro-
perly without deserting?" felt
obliged to inquire severely.
"Our pay sergeant would have seen
me hanged before be would have for
warded a pass for me, and there wasn't
time to try him either. knew Unjust
make bolt for it if | was to catch this
train, and know must get into
multi somehow before we got to New
stead junction, where there are
always non-commissioned officers hang
ing about ESPECIALLY as / have to get
through without ticket somehow,
so let the aforesaid McToldridge Jew
me out of my last coin, and then
hooked it with my bundle across coun-
try to Purbrook station, lost my way,
got begged in wet clay fields, impaled
on hedge-stake, scrambled up the
embankment just as the train stopped,
and in through the first open window
saw on the down side half minute
before you entered by the door on the
up"
off | had only known" l ex'
claimed.
Pm awfully glad you didn't. Oh
confound it !" he interjected suddenly
whats this?" He was examining
with face Of dire CONSERVATION a fine
cambria handkerchief that he ha(
drawn from his coat pocket. Diving
again into it he produced a gold fuset
box, and lastly thin leather card
case filled with cards, Captain Rode
rick Darlington, Royal Manx Fusiliers.
1.-The scoundrel He's stolen them
L am in hole now. Why
it's enough to set half the de
tectives in the place on the look
out for me. I'd go back and give my
self up by the next train if it WASH
for the Governor" lie was rummaginl
wildly in his pockets as he spoke, hi
fair face flushed to the roots of his hal
with shame and annoyance. All othe
pockets had. however, been thorough.
cleaned out, and he sank back with
look of blank dismay as the train be
gan to slacken speed before enterin
the Newstead Junction. " Well, her
| COZ" he said, suddenly jumping t
his feet, land uncommonly glad yo
must be to see the last Of me. Good
by"
HAD you not better put on you
ha,-that is, if you don't wish to loo
suspicious y" ! suggested.
"My hat9 BY Jove | haven't one.
And totally overcome by this une'
pected calamity, be dropped back o
the seat, staring helplessly at me an
fairly grooming in despair. Was thel
ever q woman who could resist a chanC
Of rising superior to circumstance
especially if she beholds a poo
helpless masculine body crushe
. and overcome by themY can
Q And then the dear delight of pla.
? ing with high ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS wa
J il? Resistance TO constituted auth
Q rity in some form anyhow. The sig'
l Of a sergesnt's back as we neared Il
n platform decided me. In my peck
lay folded soft green cloth cap, mate
= ing nay Newmarket. On my head w
IS a hard felt hat, worn to save the troub
n of packing it. To whisk it off and Il
. ..os..l ,ot nail an.