The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-29


lovely, teasing girl. They looked abeu
scanning every one quietly but sharply
and then began walking along the line o
carriages The elderly respectable maid
apparently retained her seat. She was no
where to be seen; but the rector, watching
: the little incident with sons nmusems msnt
was obliged TO acknowledge to himself thai
= he had scarcely glanced at her. and should
decidedly not be able 20 reeollect 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 wa:
natural under the circum stances.
The two gentlemen paused at the door OF
the compartment in which the smiling
rector remain ed seated. The leaderscanned
the clerical traveller attentivey, and
glanced swiftly over the seats, the floor,
the racks, then again at thu sole occupant
of the carriage.
Pardon me-" he began courteously.
Certainly. think practical joking is a
foolish amusement" responded Rev. Septi-
mus, with bland polteness, commingled
with cordiality. Il may at once relieve
your natural anxiety by informing YOU
that your daughter has only this moment
run away, out of girlish gayety, to play at
hide-and-seek with YOU"
Il don't understand You" 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
morocco case lying conSpicuouSly on the
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
| distinguiShed-looking stranger was either
! as fond of practical joking as his beautiful
| daughter, or else a daring railway thief.
| He feared the latter-yat how eminently
| calata aud cohar hic rylliIa his
preston was open. albeit somewhat stern.
appearances are against you my good
| sir" said the stranger, speaking i'll a sub
| dued tone. I'VE have no time to lose. If
| you viii not permit me to inspect that case,
| containing. / understand, a valuable dia-
mond necklace, I shall be obliged to request
you to accompany me and my friend here
to the stationmaster's office"
II shall do neither the one nor the otaer.
| Unless there is some grievous mistake, your
| conduct is positively impertinent. decline
| to relinunish this case. Whatever it con-
taIns, 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.
1--WE shall see. That necklace belongs to
the Countess of Airly; you can see her ini
tials and coronet on the outside, and
A sad Multiplying thought darted
through the rectOr's mind. The true fact
of the matter was, evidently, that the beau
tiful girl was young Countess; she was
fleeing from home, and this was not her
father, but perchance a tyrannical 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
case was opened at the station this train
has just quilted"
The Rev: Septimus turned visibly pale.
'But-surely-"
Il regret that we should be under the
necessity of insisting on your coming with
US, urged the stranger.
'Are you not, then General Marine:"
81 am not. My name is Doughty, and l
am member of the detective force. Here
is my card, if you wish to seq 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 taat
she had totally disappeared, leaving him in
SO painfully an embarrassing a situation.
Il will explain-"
1T happens very awkwardly that the
stolen property is found in your posses
sion," said Detective Dou ghty, touched by
his dismay. Il 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,
talkative and plausible"
Something of that kind" answered thu
rector, searching hurriedly for his dressing
case in order to produce one OF his cards.
Time presses. The train leaves in ten
minutes. You probably do not wish to
have scene or a scutiie,' 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 fear,
to seek for his dressing ease; that too, had
gone. 1t had contained, among its various
stores some go or ESQ in gold.
sally Lighttingers, as we call her-she
says her name is Quickly, but she invents
new names every time shs 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
woman such as described has been with
you, and gave you the necklace, it was
Sally, in all likelihood, and she saw ms
plain enough, though couldn't spot her
anywhere and she was afraid ot falling into
my clutches, especially as l want her about
another similar affair"
o, horrible, most horriblel 1t was but
too clear; the Rev. Septimus Haslingdean
was now convinced that he had bsen most
cruelty duped, played upon by base, de-
signing artful wretch.
1T must be so'' he meekly assented. SIS
there's there any chance of my being able
to recover my things!'
"IcAn't say. We must dispose of this
other little business first. l quite believe
you have had nothing to do with the affair
beyond what you say. but it is deucedly
unlucky for you. Who are you, may l
ask!"
The unfortunate victim mentioned his
name and place Of abode, gathered his re-
naming properties together, and rose, as
martyr might prepare to go to the stake.
Mr.. Doughty made a sign to one of the
porterS to assist and melancholy, almost
funeral procession was formed.
He felt assured he could easily exculpate
himself, and throw off the frightful impu-
tatlon OF being common thief, but the
sense OF his own mortifying loss, the feel
ing that he had been duped like the sim
plest Moses Primrose was too much to bear
with calmneSs. A gentleman was with the
station msster-the Earl Of Airly. He had
coma by the train which had conveyed the
rector and his too bewitching fellow pas
senger. In few brief words M. Doughty
explained the state of affairs. The Earl
lifted his hat with kindly courtesy to the |
hero OF the unlucky adventure, who drew |
forth the case containing the necklace.
Il have not the slightest doubt all is as
you say" observed the station-master |
gravely; but | must not act on my own |
responsibility, sir. l have only your own |
word-you do not seem to have any Gre |
dentials proving that you are really Rev |
Mr.. Haslingdean, and we get so imposed |
upon"
Il have letters in my pocket directed to |
me- pleaded the Rev. Septimus
well. That is something. But this is |
a serious matter. I should probably get |
myself into trouble if let you go without |
being absolutely sure You are what you |
rrnfaSs fn ha - to1 81,