Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-16

IN. There was an interchange of
signals between the captain
and the shore, shout or two.
and a splash as the cables were cast
off. and then a vuiyer ran through the
boat, and the quay suddenly appeared
to move away, and Bertha dropped
back in her chair with sob which
would not be repressed, for they were
of, and Mr.. Romney-Romney was
left behind.
s'Don't be frightened" said Bartlete
to the ladies generally. Perhaps b.
h as slipped on board and gone below
I will &c and look"
He had not much faith in his own
theory, but he moved away as he
spoke, and looked through every part
of the steamer. He was soon con-
WINGED that their friend was not on
board. At this point he suddenly
remembered the letter in his pocket.
He hurriedly broke the seal, and read
as follows:
DEAR BARTLETT: l was playing
truant yesterday, or should have
answered yours sooner. The portrait
you send looks uncemmonly like our
old friend Harris, alias 'Rsmany," of
the Southeastern bank case, l have
sent the picture on to scotland yard
for further inquiry, and wild let you
know the result. Meanwhile keep
your eyes open, and don't let Mr.
Romney-Romney give you the slip.
He is pretty sure to know you.
Yo~rs truly,
LAURANCE TAPEHAM.
"Confound it ALL he has given me
the Slip" muttered Bartlett to him
self. He remembered Mr.. Romney-
Remney well enough now, and as his
mind ran over the events for the last
few days he began to have a general
idea that something was wrong,
though he was unable to see clearly in
what direction. The first suspicion,
however, which crossed his mind led
him to go at once to Kate Williams
and inquire privately who was left in
charge of the Virginia house.
What he learned from Kate gave
his suspicious more di6aite shape. 1t
appeared that James," Mrs. Will
liams' man-of-al work, had gone out
for the day, taking with him Maria,
the upper housemaid, with wh.m he
was keeping company. Mr.. Ronney-
Romney himself had arranged this,
like the rest of the excursion. He
bad made presants to all the servants
in honor of his engagement, and had
condescended to ask, as personal
favor, that James and Maria might be
allowed to go and visit friends at
Dover. There remained the cook and
the under housemaid, and, of course,
Kate added, Walters-Mr. Romney-
Romney's man.
"Ah, forgot him !" said Bartlett to
himself. That makes two to rec
kon with. And as likely as not they
have murdered the two women, and
are row rifling tho house at their leis-
ure, while we are hung up on board
this COMPOUNDED steamer"
There was just one nee of being
even with Mr.. Romney- Romney yet.
While he was looking regretfully at
the English coast, now rapidly drop
ping down astern, Bartlett oethought
him that the morning steamer from
Boulogne was due to start somewhere
about the time that the boat from
Folkestone came in. He at once made
his way to the captain of the Louise
Dagmar, and Intercepted that officer
as . the chance Of caxching the boat
back. If they were up to time at
Boulogne, the captain said, there
would be ten minutes before the other
steamer started. Unluckily, however,
they had been five minutes late in
getting off, and had lost another three
minutes through smack passing
across their bows coming out of har-
Dor. On the other hand, they had
one OF the fastest boats on the ser
vice, and a good tide under her With
luck the captain told Bartlett he might
do it.
After that, there was nothing to be
done but to return to the ladies and
begulle the next hour with small talk.
1t was as anxious an hour as Bartlett
had ever passed, and he found him
self continually relapsing into vacant
silence AS he mentally timed the stroke
of the engines or measured the seem,
ingly endless distance between the
ship and the French coast. When al
last the Boulogne harbor came in
sight, he was faiN to bolt away from
his friends and take up a
position in the bows. From that point
of vantage he described TO his belief
the smoke OF a steamer within the
harbor. 4 moment later he learned
from one of the crew that the Louise
Dagmar, after one of the best pas
sages on record, was in nearly five
minutes before her time. Bartlett
never knew how he got on board the
other steamer, still less what excuses
he made to his party for this second
desertion. All he clearly remembered
was his arrival, perspiring and breath
less, on board the Folkestone boat
about half a minute before she cast
off
1t was barely 1 o'clock when he
found himself jumping on shore again
in Folkst9ne harbor. In the mean
time, he had planned his next opera
tons very carefully. The first step
was to drive to the police station and
obtain the assistance of an Inspector
aAd constable in plain clothes. The
three aligkted just before they came
ia sight OF the Virginia house. After
sending the constable round to watch
the house from the back, Rartlelt and
the inspector advanced to the front
door Contrary to custom, it was
shut, but Bartlett had latch key in
his pocket and they effected an en-
trance without difficulty or noise
They at once became aware of a large
pile of luggage in the hall, portman-
teaus, trunks, and packing cases being
heaped up tndiscriminately, SO, on
seeing this, the inspector changed his
plan of operations. Upon sign from
him they retired cautiously, closing
the door again noiselessly behind
them, and took up their position in a
narrow side street Immediately adioin-
ing. They were none too soon.
Scarcely were they out Of sight when
Walters drove up in a large roomy
fly. He led the way into the house,
and was soon busily engaged, with
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