St. Landry democrat., 1885-02-14

Then she fastened away As I looked
| after her the figure in white came to
my mind.
50 turned into the lane and went a
few steps and then paused, for / heard
a step on the other side of thicket
hedge which separated the small yard
at the rear OF the cottage from the lane,
peered through the hedge and saw a
tall, strongly-built man of about TWEEN
ty-tive, standing with meerschaum in
his mouth, from which he was sending
forth volumes of smoke He wore a
sealskin cap, had sandy hair and full
fawn-colored beard. A heavy pea
jacket covered his body, and his legs
were encased in brooches and long
boots. He was bold, handsome-look-
ing fellow, evidently very powerful. In
a few minutes he knocked the ashes
from his pipe and entered the cottage.
l went back to the highway and walked
on toward Warwick. In a very few
minutes my friend of the cottage passed
me at q brisk rate, In his left hand he
carried bag-the bag which l had
seen in Miss M. IS hand when she passed
me in the park.
You may be sure that this excited
my curiosity. Who was this man
whom Miss NJ had evidently met by
appointment in the cottage, and to
whom she had confded the custody of
her bag? Furthermore, what did that
bag contain? II quickened my pace,
and the stranger and myself entered the
station at Warwick at the same mo-
ment. He bought ticket for London,
and did the same. In ten minutes the
train came in, and the stranger entered
the car. ! followed him. He kept the
bag on his knee in the grasp of his hand
all the time. bennington was only two
miles away, SO had not much time to
think if intended to do any thing
there. The train, knew, would stop
seven minutes there for refreshments
''As the speed slackened, [ placed my
hand on the arm of the stranger and
said:
g Excuse me-I'm an officer, and
want to know what you have in that
bag. There was robbery of jewels at
Sir George Ms yesterday, and I
know that lady from the house was in
communication with you an hour ago
and gave you the bag
''The stranger grew pale and appeared
IS though he would spring on me and
crush me. As the train stopped, he
glanced through the window. Then he
turned to me and said:
- You may take the bag if you will
let me 60"
But are the jewels in it?' I asked.
Look, was the reply. | opened
the snap and under silk handkerchief
there sure enough were the precious
gems.
'.'Get out, I said. and we will talk
about it. ,
He stepped from the car, and fol-
lowed him with my hand on the bag.
At the same moment he released the
bag, which | clutched. Then he said:
g You see that stout, well-dressed
gentleman with the white hair and mus
tache? He is the principal in this thing.
Let me speak to him.
II warned him not to attempt to es-
cape, and he laughed at the idea. He
walked up to the gentleman he had
pointed out and greeted him cordially.
The gentleman returned his greeting
with equal warmth. had my revolver
in my overcoat pocket, and placed my
hand upon it ready for use, if needful.
The gentleman beckoned a porter who
quilted the station. In minute two
policemen entered. The gentleman and
The officers spoke together, and the next
approached me.
'tMy man of the cottage followed
hem closely, and. pointing to me, said:
= L charge this man with the robbery
If diamonds from the house of Sir
George NJ. He has them now in his
possession.
"The gentleman, seeing the officer
hesitate, said:
!" This is Sir Georges son, and he
las followed this man from the neigh
oorhood of his fathers house. Arrest |
lin on my authority as a Magistrate.
''For time was almost dumfound-
ID at this man. audacity. protested,
however, that / was an officer, and that
had been summoned by Sir George
rom London to investigate the robbery.
told Colonel Wyse, as / found the
Gentleman was named, all the particu-
ars, but it was all in vain. Colonel
WISE directed the officer to lock me up,
md ordered the jewels to be delivered
Up. Sir Georges son, mind you-I
doubted his being any thing of the sort
took the bag, saying that he would
eturn home with the jewels and set the
minds of his parents at rest, and be
Jack by three O'clock in the afternoon,
or which time my examination was set
Iown.
sOf course my accuser failed to APP
'ear, and Colonel Wyse felt constrained
o allow me to go. returned imme-
lately to Sir. Georges, and soliciting
private interview in the library, told