The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-20

Ou . Iudt CXpialuS, Sa1u MT GOutQs ing. "And now. if if is convenient to dnve me into Chester, shall be ready immediately"
 Better stay all night, GouIding," said MT. Mossop.
 "We can easily have bed aired, sir," the butler added by way of hospitality.
 But MT. Goulding would rot be per- suaded. "No, thank you," he said. !" 1t is too late to reach London tonight. But shall sleep at Chester, and get of by the first train in the morning"
 So the rain having ceased, the dogcart was ordered round, in preference to the ponderous old bgougham, and the solici- tor took leave of his client, who seemed good deal weakened by the excitem mt of the interview.
 | It was seven o'clock when MT Gould ing drove away, and quite dark, except for the occasional patches of moonlight which struggled through the heavy the man but the man was anxious to talk to him-most likely with a view to gleaning some little information as to the business which brought him to "The Firs."
 The poor masters very bad, sir." was Johns opening remark.
 C He is, indeed, am sorry to say" Mir. Goulding replied.
 "A bad thing it would be for us, sir, if he was took"
 |" It would, no doubt"
 "Yes, sir. I've been with him for four years, and wouldn't ask for a better place; no. but what thought the mas ter little odd-like when first come."
 "O1d? What do you mean"
 "Well, sir, you see he had his notions of what was proper, and how everything ought to be done, and if things wasn't exactly as he liked, he wouldn't be pleased at all"
 "And quite right, too"
 "Yes, sir. And he lad his ideas about servants names, too. Nov, what do you think my name is sir9 My first name, l mean"
 ohn, believe"
 Alexander Postlethwaite. But when l first come was told neither of them i names would do; that coachman ought to be called John, and Tohn I was to be, or nothing"
 Really 1"
 "Yes, sir ; aud the other servants is all nick-named the same way-all except the cook. Cook wouldn't stand it, and the master had to give in, cause she had the name of being 6rst-rate hand, and he was set on having her"
 "Well, but you know you mustn't talk to people about your masters peculiar ties. It isn't respectful, and might get him the reputation of being eccentric"
 Mir. Goulding said this with a recollec- tion of the old gentlemsn's fears lest his cousin might dispute the will.
 "Oh no, sir" replied John, feeling rather hur; f'm not given to talking that way to any one else, and none of us would say anything that wasn't respect full of the master, sir"
 Mir. Goulding remained silent, but after brief interval the man continued his observations.
 "They do say, sir, that Sir Peter won't get any of the masters money after all.n
 "Do they ?"
 "Yes, sir, though he wants it bad enough by all accounts. He's been here three or four times since the master was took i'll to ask after his health but he never would see him." "When was he here last ?"
 "On Monday, sir. believe somebody told him you was coming down, and he wanted to know particular from the but Ter what day we expected you"
 "Oh, indeed 1"
 It was folly for the country coachman to fish for information from the London lawyer, so, sfter a few more attempts. he relaxed into silence; and the remainder of the drive was enlivened only by the jolting of the vehicle and occasional splashes of mud. Having at length ar rived in Chester, the solicitor put up at hotel adjacent to the railway station, and was not sorry to retire to rest early, in- tending to travel by train which left about o'clock in the morning. The next day was contrast to the ore. vious one, being remarkably clear and fine for the time ofyear; and Mir. Couldine. having purchased . novel, took his seat in a smoking compartment, with the an- | ticipation of pleasant journey. He had only one fellow-passenger, a middle-aged gentleman, who was also bound for Lon don, and who exchanged a few remarks with him on the weather and other inn Pohtaus aOphCSs Al AtcWS tnere was Q stoppage of five minutes, and the gentle man got out, leaving Mir. Goulding alone. The latter was sitting next the door on the platform side and his luggage, which consisted only of a valise and a small black bag, such as lawyers use, was placed on the opposite seat. The bag contained the will and couple of other papers, besides some loose cash to the value of sos, and was lying little nearer to the door than the vslise. While his companion was absent, a long goods train passed through the station, and Mir. Coulding rose and crossed to the op- posite window to look out at it. Having thrust his head out, he heard some enc open the door, which had been closed, but not latched, as if to enter the car nage; then a lady's voice said: "Oh, this is smoking" and the person went away. This little incident did not occupy more than a moment; but when MT. Couid;ng had shut the window and re- sumed his seat, he noticed with surorise