Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-11-13
A DETECTIVE VICAR.
by MISS NJ. e.
CHAPTER l.
BY THE NIGHT NAIL.

b1 TdE MIGHT NAIL.
There were but five minutes left before the
time for starting of the night mail from the
great central terminus in the busy com.
mercial city Of Grandchester, md the Rev.
George Caulfield, with a travelling bag in his
hand and a comfortable railway rug over
his arm, was walking slowly along the plat
form, peering into the first-class carriages
es he went by, in quest Of ease and solitude.
He was a man Of reserved temper, bookish
beyond his years, and he had a horror of
finding himself imprisoned among five noisy
spirits, cottony, horsey, and of that bolster
GUS and coarsely spoken temperament which
the refined and gentle parson would have
characterized as rowdy. The reverend George
was a Christian gentleman, Tut so far as it
was possible for his mild nature to hate any
one, he hated fast young men. He was not
fond Of strangers, in a general way. He en-
Cured them, but he did not love them. He
had fingered on the platform till the train
was within three minutes of starting, in the
hope of securing for himself the luxury of
privacy, hut as The long ham of the station
clock marked the third minute before eleven
he espied an empty carriage, and was in the
act Ct entering it wi.en a hand was laid very
gently on his sleeve.
"Parlon me-, sir" said a somewhat agi-
lHteI toltf. sIe you u IlculCul llloIls
Mr.. Ca, field turned and confronted a man
OF sight figure and middle height, some
years younger than himself-a man with a
pale face, delicate features, and soft black
eyes; q very interesting countenance, thought
the cura:e. The stranger looked anxious
and hurried.
"No." answered Nh. Caulfeld, II am a
c.erg ,;!nal."
THAT is almost as good. My dear sir,
will you do Ire a great favor! My sister, an
invalid, is travelling by this train, alone, but
she will be met by friends ut Milldale juno
tion. She - very ill-nothing infectious;
chest complaint, poor girl. If you will af-
ford her tho privilege of your protection,
only es far as Milldale, you will oblige me
enormcus..::."
There was 10 time for hesitation. the bell
was ringing clamorously, people were hur-
rying to their seats.
with pleasure" said the ~good-natured
curate, sorry to lose the delight of loneli-
ness, embarrassed at the idea of an I'M
NOW invalid, but far too kind to shrink
from doing an act of mercy.
The young man ran to tho second-class
waitin! room, the door of which was just
opposite, slEl returned almost Immediately,
carry IL :, li,;flal figure in his arms-a
small, fragile iOH:n, which he carried as
easily ISL t E;al leen that of q child. This
slender tn half buried in a large Rob
Roy :ha". lie placed with infinite care in
one OF ,by seats farthest from til, door: then
he ran lick to tie waiting room for more
wraps, II u! ow ard a foot warmer. He ad-
mint r"i with womanly tenderness to the
comfort 81 he invalid, who ~reclined mo
tionle|, a:iFi s;.cnt i'll her corner. and then.
hurried tn i:,si ated in the imminent depart
ure of the !: all, he stood at the door Of the
Carriage ,;ihinS to Mr.. Caulfie.d, who had
taken lis scat in the opposite corner to that
cccu: iel ly ,lo invalid.
"Sou az. more than good" said the
stranger. "Don't talk to her; she is low and
nervous, and you will agitate her painfully
if you force Ter to talk. dare say she will
dozs all he way. 1t is only an hour from
here to Mil dale, anil no stoppage till you
get there. Oh, by the way, kindly take this
bottle, and if She should turn faint or giddy
on the way give her a few drops of the CON
tents. There goes tho flag. Will you allow
me to offer you my card. l am deeply in
debted. GOODNIGHT"