The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-03-26
OUTWITTED

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. He had married
late in life, and had one child, Marga-
ret. She was 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 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 a 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 lawyer in Y York, but when
an aunt died and left him an income
of some 9400 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 roliicking,
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 it.
''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 Drifield. 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
! 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 a 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 go home, and the far.
mer parted with him with reluctance
"The next day, September 18th, Mar
garet disappeared.s Not trace was
left, and was employed to discover
her whereabouts. Then the facts al.
ready narrated came to my knowledge
"The first thing l found was thai
the very day Margaret disappeared
John Major disappeared also, simpl.
telling his people that he would b,
away for few days. l ascertaine(
that youth of fifteen or sixteen ha,
been seen in the adjoining village, anC
that John joined him there, the TIVE
then taking train for Hull. TO tha
town l at once went, satisfied from
the description of the youth that i
could have been none other thar
Margaret Naylor IN male attire. o.
reaching Hull, l interested the polio
authorities in the case, and in fev
hours ascertained that a young MAJ
answering Johns description was t
be seen daily in the Geological Gardens
just on the outskirts of the town
accompanied by youth of sixteen
and an elderly, infrm man. / visite
the gardens, and was lucky enough t
find the persons for whom was look
ing. l had photograph of John an
one of Margaret, and was at one
satisfied that, though the younger ma
was John Major without doubt, tn
youth was not Margaret Naylol
Still, here was mystery, and l felt
must solve it. l managed to scrap
an acquaintance with the elderl
gentleman as he sat on bench, an
when he was joined by the other tw
we sat for half an hour and had
pleasant chat together. Much to m
surprise the Young man and the yout
called the old man father. met ther
two days in succession, and then SUI
gested that as the weather was beaut
full we should take trip next day u
the Humber to Goole. suggesting thu
lady's company would be agreeable
They gladly assented to the trip, by
said they knew no lady, and we had
very pleasant time. and the old ma
were together much of the time. an
as we were returning home in Ii
autumn evening hn related to me
strange story.