The Penn's Grove record., 1885-07-25

81 am afraid not, madam, ?" SAID /;
"but, if your business is very urgent l
will try to get a telegram sent for you
from the next station-that Is, if the
wires are all right"
''There is no need, thank you" re.
piled the young lady quickly.
mo, thank YOU" echoed the elder
one. 81 was but rejecting on the un-
pleasant position we should be placed
In as two unprotected ladies. My
daughter too has not been well for,
some time"
OF course l offered my protection
and secretly felt glad at the probability
of spending several hours in the COM
pany of my daughter"
"There is a long cutting not far OFF, y
| remarked presently. IF we get
through that. we shall reach Newcastle
two or three hours late; but, If not, we
are doOmed.''
As finished speaking we came to a
dead stand IN a few seconds the guard
opened the carriage door.
"We shall be obliged to stay here for
the night, Mr.. Lawson, " he said; there
is a regular block. Lucky job there
are some cottages just neari"
''Send to engage at least one room
for me and my frieds," requested |.
This young lady is not well, and would
be glad to get to BED, | dare say, If
such luxury az a bed can be procur-
ed.n
"All right sir" SAID he, touching
his cap, and giving me a knowing wink
as l tipped him.
81 was positively informed, :" said
some one in a loud voice, that the
party / want to find took this tram at
York; and | have a warrant for his ap-
p%rehension."
Both ladies' trembled violently as We
passed the man.
swell, you see he is not here, "answer-
ed the guard. "You have G all the
passengers"
"All but those,n said the stranger
pointing toward us,
81 tell you again." cried the guard,
this is young Mr.. LawsoDl"
Eyes, yes" allowed the detective
for it was no other-"I know him
bat those ladies?"
"They are his friends. Came with
him to the station at York, and"
But | must and will know more
about theml' broke in the detective.
"Mr. Lawson" shouted the guard
impatiently, you will please come
here a moment2"
sob, say we are your friendsl"
pleaded the old lady. II will give you
a full explanation afterwards"
"WellP' said l, as | joined the two
men.
"I am really ashamed to trouble you
Sir" answered the guar', ''but this
man won't take my word for 1t that
those ladies are youT friends"
"Perhaps be will take mine, , SAID L.
"Then they really are friends of
yours?" Intercepted the Deceive.
"Certainlyl They are going with me
to Newcastle" I answered.
1 left the fellow in the midst of his
apologies to follow the advice given him
by the guard
sect back to York as fast as you
can, and know what you are about an
other time before you begin insulting
respectable ladies and gentlemenl"
When / had ushered the ladies into
the little sitting room which had been
reserved for us, / looked from one to
the other for IN explanation. They did
not keep me waiting.
1--WE are in your hands, sir, the
elder lady said, rising, and. taking the
hat and veil from off the head of the
younger one, displayed to my sight not
the blond beauty | had been dreaming
about. but a pale delicate looking youth
[ stood dumfounded. What a descent
from the sublime to the rldiculousl
81 don't understand" said l slowly
trying to take in all the facts of the
case. ''Then are you really the people,"
| went on, and then paused.
Eyes" answered the old lady finish
ing the sentence for me, ~"wereally are
the people tile detective is looking for;
but, oh, sir, have pity, and spare usl''
and here she broke down, S0bbing as
though her heart would break.
The young fellow hid his face in his
hands and wept like a child. After a
little while, the old lady told me her
story. She had had misfortune and
trouble, had experienced loss after loss
indeed everything had seemed to have
gone against her. At last her only
daughter fell Ill. Weeks passed on;
but there was no Improvement. The
doctor told her plainly that the only
hope of her recovery lay in her being
provided with better nourishment, and
ordered expensive wines and various
delicacies. But the question was how,
with her limited means, to procure
these. Affairs were in this condition
when her son Paul, who was in a bank,
embeZzled some money, intending to
refund il. but the d%efalcation was at
once found out; and as there had been
other petty frauds on the bank of late.
the manager and directors were deter
mined to make an example of the de
faulter.
''And now, sIr," concluded the old
lady, "we are in your hands. You
must do with us as you please. Had it
been in custody"
1t was no question of right or wrong
| felt | could not give these people up
to Justice, and at once assured them of
my protection, although in so doing |
felt rather guilty, for on that very NOR.
ming my father had been discussing
this case at breakfast, and hoping the
delinquent would be caught.
We were detained several hours, and
it was not until the evening of the next
day that we arrived in Newcastle. As
we alighted on the platform, whom
should / see but my friend the detec-
tive. Luckily neither of the others OBJ.
served him. After seeing to the lug
rage, we entered a cab and drove away
/ felt terribly nervous, but thought it
was better for the present not to ac-
quaint my companions with our real
position. That we should have a visit
from the fellow | felt certain, but could
devise no plan to elude him.
The ladies, on arriving at the hotel,
pleaded fatigue, and were served with
a Il of tea in their bedroom, whilst 1
had dinner, and afterwards went into
the billiard. room to smoke a cigar and
think over a way of escape for my new
formed friends.
What, Bob, is that you2" shouted
a familiar voice. 81 should as soon
have thought of meeting my great
grandfather here tonight asyou. Where
in the world have you sprung from
manYn
And there, to be sure was wild
laughing Ted Vercoe or mad Ted, as
more frequently called amongst his
fviapIg