Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-03-25
OUTWITTED

UU l. WILL lID
81 have had some Of my strangest
experiences" said detective, sin
hunting up missing people. 1 will
give you an instance:
"Mr Naylor was rich farmer near
Abingdon, England. lie had married
late in life, and had one child, Marga-
ret. She was a well-built, handsome
lass of eighteen, with light, curly
hair, very bright, and of resolute will.
Her father dotted upon her, and had
her educated at home by governesses.
He was a very curious man, and very
mean in money matters, except where
his daughter was concerned. His
brother George was the rector Of an
adjoining parish, and, though CON-
paratively poor man, as liberal as his
brother was stingy. He had married
a poor widow with one son, named
John Major. John and Margaret had
been playmates from infancy, and were
like brother and sister. John was
articled to a lawyer in York, but when
an aunt died and left him an income
Of some a400 year his studies ceased,
and he lived at home and amused him
self with his horses and dogs. Farmer
Naylor looked on this life with much
disfavor. and took every opportunity
to let John know what he thought Of
his idle course. John was a rollicking,
good-natured youth, and took this in
good part, admitting that he hated
work, and never intended to devote
himself to it if he could help
"By and by John began to be very
attentive to Margaret. This greatly
incensed her father, and in order to
stop the thing he sent Margaret to an
aunt's, near Dritlield, to spend month
or two. When she returned, John
began to visit the house again, but
Margaret, though she treated him
kindly, gave him no encouragement as
a lover, so far as the watchful eyes of
the father could discover. Finally the
old farmer told John his company was
not wanted, and that his daughter
should never marry him, forbidding
him ever to come near the farm again.
"Soon after this young man ap-
piled to Farmer Naylor for work. He
gave the name of Charles Simms, and
being strong, likely young fellow,
the farmer put him to work. When
the harvest was over Simms told the
farmer that his fathers health was fail
ing and he must 60 home, and the far
mer parted with him with reluctance.
"The next day, September 18th, Mar
garet disappeared. Not trace was
left, AMI was employed to discover
her whereabouts. Then the facts al
ready narrated came to my knowledge.
"The first thing found was that
the very day Margaret disappeared,
John Major disappeared also, simply
telling his people that he would be
away for few days. ascertained
that a youth of fifteen or sixteen had
been seen in the adjoining village, and
that John joined him there, the two
then taking train for Hull. 10 that
town l at once went, satisfied from
the description of the youth that it
could have been none other than
Margaret Naylor in male attire. On
reaching Hull, interested the police
authorities in the case, and in a few
hours ascertained that young man
answering Johns description was to
be seen daily in the Geological Gardens.
| just on the outskirts of the town,
accompanied by a youth of sixteen,
and an elderly, infirm man. l visited
the gardens, and was lucky enough to
find the persons for whom | was look
ing. l had a photograph of John and
one of Margaret, and was at once
satisfied that, though the younger man
was John Major without doubt, the
youth was not Margaret Naylor.
Still, here was 4 mystery, and l felt
must solve it. managed to scrapr
an acquaintance with the elderly
gentleman as he sat on bench, and
when he was joined by the other two
we sat for half an hour and had
pleasant chat together. Much to my
surprise the young man and the youth
called the old man father Imet them
two days in succession, and then sug.
gested that as the weather was beauti-
full we should take a trip next day up
the Humber to Goole, suggesting that
n lady's company would be agreeable.
They gladly assented to the trip, but
said they knew no lady. and we had a
very pleasant time. land the old man
were together much of the time. and
as we were returning home in the
| autumn evening h. related to me :;
| strange story,