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

long cruise, and had it not been for my
! ~rascally confidential man just at the
last moment taking it INTO his head TO
get married and settle down on land,
| should have been no one knows where
now. | shall be off directly if 1 meet with
one to suit me. You know, Bob, ! am
rather hard TO please. / want a fellow
that | can make a companion Of at
tlmes.n
'Get married, " suggested l.
THAT would never do. | couldn't
get rid of a wife Just when l wanted.
No, Bob, | don't want a wife. | want
a man to see to my clothes, arrange my
books, keep a diary of our travels, and
dine with me, or take a hand at cards
with me when | think good to ask him.
l give a liberal salary"
81 believe l can fit you with Just the
a~rcticle you require" said /.
'From your description of him, 1
VIII take him, " said Ted a few mo-
ments later. especially as you think
you can persuade him to come at one
Well'-takIng out his watch-''E have
a few things to arrange. 1t is now
seven O'Clock; l should like to leave
here a few minutes after eight. You
see L have a long way to go and not
much time for it. | have a very heavy
wager on the voyage"
81 will do the best / cam" l assured
him.
"Well, said Ted, tive will meet III
this room again In a quarter of an hour;
and, if this friend of yours will go with
me, we will sleep on board tonight.
and be off before you are awake in the
morning. Oh, by the-bye, Bob, Mrs.
and Miss Spence are herel They are
occupying No. 10 sitting-room. Like
you they were snow-bound last night.
Don't say anything about my starting
off to-night-the old lady is such a
hdgety danel"
Fortune favors the brave" mutter
ed l 20 myself, as l went to inform
Paul of his danger and and opportunity
of escape.
81 have told Mr.. Vercoe nothing of
your previous history, but that you are
a gentleman who has been unfortunate
and is in trouble" said /. ''Tell him
just what you like yourself, and when
you like. l shah give him the number
of your room; he is sure to be pu%nctual.
l shall see you no Esore, " 1 added, hold
ing out my hand. "No thanks, please.
Redeem the past. ! will look after
your mother and sister for the present"
$50 far so good, y thought 1, as l was
ushered into No. ].
"Wonders will never cease" said
good Mrs. Spence, coming forward to
greet me.e 81 was surprised 1t the
tabIe-d-bote to meet Mr.. Vercoe, and
now here is MI. Lawsonin
Had it not been for Ted, we should
probably have slept in the same hotel
and known nothing of each others pres
ence here, | remarked-''perhaps have
left tomorrow without seeing each
other. L am overdue at GreystOne
Lodge, having been detained on account
of the s~now-storm.'
"What a strange coincidencel" said
Mrs. Spence. 1--WE too are on u way
to Greystone, and, like you, were de-
tanned for some hours owing to the
snow having drlfted so as to render the
roads impossible. And so you must
leave us 10Y for a short timer" she
went on, as 1 rose to 20. Il have or
dered tea for half-past eight; come and
take a cup with us, and bring Mr..
Vercoe.n
Il can't answer for him, but | shall
be delighted to come myself" said l,
bowling to the ladies'.
"Ten minutes latel" growled Ted,
as l entered the billiard-room. "Have
you sueceededp"
Eyes. This is the number of my
friends room,' - said /, handing him "a
slip of paper. snow let us have a few
strokes at billiards, l added.
We played very ~listlessly, talking
and now and then giving a ball a
stroke.
eight O'Clock, Bob" said Ted; and
in walked the detective.
Lets put more life into the game,
Ted" l said, feeling terribly unstrung.
''Sorry to trouble you, sill" observed
the detective to me, in a low voice;
''but you have two ladies here. Can |
see themI"
Iraised my eyebrows In surprise.
''Se my frIendsI What do you mean
man?n
'Now 1t is just this, MI. Lawson. 1
know the party of whom / am in search
left York last night by the z z. NJ. Ok
press; l saw all the passengers but the
two who were travelling with you. |
must and will see theml'
''If you must, you must" said /, as
Stunning a careleSsness l was far from
feeling; "but really Vercoe, will
you excuse me q mOmentr" Then
turning TO the detective again-"You
say you must and will see these ladies
at once; well, wait a few mlnutes-no,
no trickeryl l am gong to have a cup
of tea with them IN their private SIT
ting room, and you can go with me as
another friend l have just met acct
dentally in the billiaTd.roOm, al they
know | met Mr.. Vercoe a little while
ago. You see, | could scarcely enter
the room and say, here, ladies, is a p0-
liceman demanding an interview with
one OF both of you'll"
Times upl" said Ted; and We clasp
ed hands as two old s3hoOIfellows and
friends will do.
"Let me hear from you 0 and
again, Ted"
T"All right, Bob. My secretary shall
give you full accounts of u doings,
and now and again | will enclose a short
note; but you must not expect much
from me in the lstter-writlng line,"
My heart beat fast as we entered No.
10. What il my pr0tege should be cap
tured just at the last momentP l look
ed like a man i'll at ease as | said
Excuse me, my dear Mrs. Spence;
bui l have quite Unexpectedly met this
gentleman, and, as / did not like to
deny myself the pleasure Of your COM
pany, | have claimed the privilege of
an old friend, and brought him with
me.n
"Any friend of Mr.. Lawson's will
always be welcome; but you have for
gotten. Bob, to introduce him to u.s.
Mrs. Spence replied affably.
Dear mei'' said |, pretending TO
laugh. "What a breach of %etiquettel
Allow me to introduce toyou my friend
Mr.. Arthur Randall"
The fellow WIS completely crestfallen
he sat down, but seemed as though he
hardly knew what to do with his feet
and hands. Mrs. Spence saw his EN-
barrassment, and tried to draw him
into conversation. l trembled but at
that moment-weleome sound Tied
and his companion passed the door. |
drew a sigh Of relief.
What dreadful weather we are hay.
,,ufYY ATrs GuaDaa ohuarvaI EGIIaVa 1