The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-31

| crowd was scattered.
'.Isee papa and Uncle Charles is with
| him-what a SURPRISED" she cried gailv
Il don't see my maid. o, Bellamy
| Bellamy, how tiresome you are But am
| stupid myself: of course she mustn't GET ont
| till the train stops. Could l get out for a
minute, and just run to see where she Isl
! | am going to play prank on papa. He
| loves a Joke: he is full of fun | will nra.
tend not to be myself at all 1t will be s,tc6
! fun" She quickly threw a thick brown
| gossamer veil over her bonnet, pulling Il
| close over her face then she whisked q
| light gray wrap completely round hel
| figure.
II think it would be wisest to stay where
| you are. Your father is sure to see Won il
| you show yourself. Besides, he will doubt
| less go to all the carriages, and-and youl
maid will signal to him, " urged the rector
so, but l must tease him. cried Miss
| Ada, who was evidently used to doing ex
| actly as she pleased and objected to being
| thwarted in any hayward caprice q
| won't risk minding this-to take care of il
| for me-oniy just minute, you know: .
| pushing the morocco case containing the
diamond necklace into his reluctant hands
| There is papa-that tall man in an ulster
| Don't let him see me- let me out, quick
| 1t is only for fun. will ask him TO come
| in here if you don't mind"
The train stopped, and the lively young
ance, whisked open the door, sprang to the
| platform, carefully keeping her face con
cealed, and darted away, light as a swal
| low, to hide for moment, like some CAV
frolicsome, thoughtless child, unused tc
| control.
| The tall gentleman whom she had indi
Gated as her father, together with his com
| panion, were obviously seeking for the
| lovely, teasing girl. They looked about
scanning every one quietly but sharply
and then began walking along the line Il
| carriages. The elderly respectable maid
apparently retained her seat. She was no
where to be seen; but the rector, watching
the little incident with some amusement,
was obliged to acknowledge to himself that
he had scarcely glanced at her, and should
decidedly not be able to recollect even the
general aspect of her prosaic figure. There
was an expression of anxiety on the face
of the taller man, General Marine, as the
rector presumed him to be, which was
natural under the circumstances.
The two gentlemen paused at the door of
the compartment in which the smiling
rector remained seated. The leader scanned
the clerical traveller attentively, and
glanced swiftly over the seats, the floor,
the racks, then again at the sole occupant
of the carriage.
pardon me" he began courteously.
Certainly. think practical joking is a
foolish amusement" responded Rev. Septi-
mus, with bland politeness, commingled
with cordially. 81 may at once relieve
your natural anxiety by informing you
that your daughter has only this moment
hide and-seek with you.n
81 don't understand you,n coldly an
swered the tall stranger. 'Your looks are
more respectable than your ways sir AL
low me" and leaning in at the window,
he attempted to lay his hand on the red
Il, Al
reverend gentleman's knee.
Most decidedly not" exclaimed the rec
tor, whipping the costly toy into one of the
outer pockets of his travelling coat A rapid
surmise led him to guess that this highly
nguished-looking stranger was either
as fond of practical joking as his beautiful
daughter, or else a daring railway thief
He feared the latter-yet how eminently
sedate and sober his aspect, while his ex-
preston was open, albeit somewhat stern
appearances are against you, my good
SIT, said the stranger, speaking in sub
dued tone. 1--WE have no time to lose. If
you will not permit me to inspect that case
containing, l understand, a valuable dia-
mond necklace, | shall be Obliged to request
you to accompany me and my friend here
to the station-masters otfice.n
Il shall do neither the one nor the other.
Unless there is some grievous mistake, your
conduct is positively impertinent. l decline
to relinqniSh this case, whatever it con-
ta1ns, to any one but the person who has
intrusted it to me. And shall most deci-
dedly not accompany you anywhere" said
the rector, haughtily, assuming his most
severe clerical air.
Eve shall see. That necklace belongs to
the Countess of Airly; you can see her mi
tials and coronet on the outside and-n
A sad, Multiplying thought darted
through the rector's mind. The true fact
of the matter was, evidently, tn at the beau
tltul girl was young Countess; she was
fleeing from home, and this was not her
father, butperchance atyrannical husband
Her young life, her bright future, her ten
der heart had all been sacrificed on the altar
of ambition; what a pitiful story! Per-
chance she was guilty-she loved another.
But before he could reply the other con-
tinued roughly-"And it has been stolen"
Not by me, " cried Rev. Septimus, utterly
shocked.
That remains to be proved. Lord Airly
has telegraphed that his wife's dressing
has just quilted"
The Rev; Septimus turned visibly pale.
'But-surely-"
II regret that we should be under the
necessity of insisting on your comAlg with
u.s. urged the stranger.
Are you not. then, General Marine!"
Il am not. My name is Doughty, and
am member of the detective force. Here
is my card if you wish to see it,
There must be, surely, some terrible
mistake, stammered the reverend gentle
man, looking about with a scared gaze for
the vanished beauty who had flown so
mysteriously. He could not believe that
she had totally disappeared, leaving him in
80 painfully an embarrassing a situation.
Il will explain
st happens very awkwardly that the
stolen property is found in your posses
sion,'' said Detective Doughty, touched by
his dismay. II have no doubt you will be
able to explain matters. Did you say a
young person handed it to you? Tall,
showy-looking, dressed up to the mines,
laxative and plausible3"
Something of that kind" answered the
rector, searching hurriedly for his dressing
case in order to produce one of his cards
Thine presses. The train seaves in ten
minutes. You probably do not wish to
have scene or a scuflle," said the detect
i've, gently but firmly.
The rector mechanically put his hand to
his waistcoat pocket to take out his watch
with a little cry of alarm. he glanced down
his watch was gone, and the chain hung
uselessly. He turned again, cold with foar
to seek for his dressing ease; that too, had
gone. 1t had contained, among its various
stores, some $40 or ESQ in gold.
"Sally Lightfngers, as we call her-she
says her name is Quickly, but she invents
new names every time she wants an alias
Miss Sally was at the station and is sus-
pected of stealing the necklace" said Mr..
Doughty, watching the movements of the
unhappy traveller attentively, and with
some professional interest. II young
Il 4