Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-05-06

rible clamor from the interior of the
black case.
The man in charge of the box dropped
1t with positive shrek Of terror, the
spectators scattered in alarm. felt
determined grasp tighten upon my
shoulder, and resigned myself with the
calmness of despair to the next phase OF
the ridiculous drama.
One word. repeated several times,
came to me distinctly out of the con-
fused Babel of sounds. 1t bore sort
of German-cousinship to the English
word dynamite, and flashed sudden
illumination into my Dewildered and ex-
asperated brain. was supposed to be
a ''dynamItard, "and poor aunt Martha s
innocent relic q Nihilistic or Fenian en-
CINE of destruction, which had missed
fire for the moment. but might presently
fulfil its deadly mission.
A movement on the part of an indi-
vidual who carried long pole was 100
suggestive of an intention TO drop the
dangerous importation into the harbor
to be calmly borne. Reused TO the de-
fence of my charge, l sprang forward,
shaking off the OBTAINING grasp on my
arm, and seized aunt Martha's precious
treasure.
'Idiotsl Fools!" exclaimed hotly.
Cant you see-"
nay Indignant glance rested at this
juncture, not upon any blue coated gen
darme. but upon a brown-robed slim
girl who, fianked on either side by a
half-grown lad, stood on the edge of the
crowd of spectators. Her face was
sweet and fresh as an English rose, and
the lovely gray eyes which met mine as
stood, harasSei, hunted, desperate,
were so compassionate and sympathetic
that, moved by something's do not
know neutrality-suspicious. affinity"
suppose-I instinctively raised my hat.
Tue Young lady colored deeply, and,
pulling one of the lads forward with
her, took a step nearer TO me, and said,
in very trembling and timid voice
.'Can We explain anything for you?
You cannot speak French perhaps
Charlie WILL"
But Charlie, whom she had evidently
been holding by main force, would not.
He BACKED" contumaciously, and left
her alone, covered with confusion.
"You are very good" L exclaimed
eagerly. 81 shall be immensely obliged
if you will tell these fellows that this
box of mine, which seems to alarm
them so much, contains nothing more
formidable than an old clock"
With brave effort she rallied her
courage and spoke some sentences in
French TO nay perSecator. The man
seemed to know her; he bowed politely,
and listened attentiyely. The hand
which held her sunShade trembled per-
ceptibly, and the color came and went
III her cheeks-such an exquisite color
tOo!-yet she held on bravely.
The official eyed me keenly.
"OtWrez" he exclaimed, Indicating
with dramatic gesture the unlucky
cause of all my troubles.
Would you mind-that is" STAIN
mered my interpreter, ''he asks you To
open the box. 1t is necessary, you
know. Everything is opened now a.
the Custom House here
Il have not the fainteSt objection"
ans wered, producing the key at once.
If we had only arrived at this under
standing sooner, il would have saved
great deal of trouble. | am more
Obliged TO you than L can say. and L
must apologize very sincerely for the
trouble | have given YOU"
She murnured some inarticulate words
as she retreated hurriedly, and disap-
peared-after the recreant Charlie, no
doubt, in the crowd.
The band of officials still held aloof
suspiciously as | advanced to the pros
tTate object of their horror and pro-
duced the contents for their inspection;
then peal of irrepressible laughter-in
which joined heartily. in spite of my
self-echoed along the pier. The indi-
vidual in command raised his hat with
what understood 10 be "a polite apol-
ogy, a dozen Officious hands were ex-
tended to relieve me of my burden. and
| proceeded, III what WAS now changed
to a sort of triumphal progress, towards
the nearest cab stand.
was speedily set on my way to the
English Consul, from whom l soon
learned the address of Mrs. John Nor
timer, the aunt with whom Miss Morti-
mer resided. was determined to rid
myself at once of my compromising
charge, and so drove straightway to the
abode of the Mortimers.
A trim white capped maid, who re-
stored my self-esteem by responding i'm
mediately to my necessarily brief in
quiry-in French-for madame, an
swered the little bell which found at
door on the first floor, and ushered me
into salon bright with gliding and
sweet with flower scents. A ladylike,
graceful woman came forward to receive
me, and, after my few words Of explain
alton, called softly through door-One
of several which l had thought led into
cupboards-
Phyllis, come here, dearP'
There was a little rustic Of feminine
garments, quiet fOOtstep, and my in
terpreter of the pier stood before me.
Then there was, after all, something
in mysterious affinity"
London, March oath, lS-.
MY dear Nephew,-It Is now fort
night since you left here, and have had
nothing more from you than the very
short note in which you announced your
arrival at CALAIS with the clock and told
me that you had succeeded in finding
Phyllis Mortimer. have been looking
for the longer letter which you promised
me, and am beginning to fear that you
have been taken i'll, and are laid up in a
foreign country, with only a French doc
tor, and the cause. Do, my dear boy,
write, if only a line, to relieve my anx-
ietyl Accept my best love, and believe
mo nv daar Herherf