The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-07-28

frolicscms, thoughtless child, unused x
The tall gentleman whom she had indi
Gated as her father, together With his com
panion, were obviously seeking for thu
lovely, teasing girl. They looked abcu
scanning every one. quietly but sharply
and then began walking along the line 2
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 tina
be bad scarcely glanced at her, and should
general aspect Of her prosaic figure. Thers
was an expression of anxiety on the fact
| Of the taller man, General Marine, as ths
rector presumed him to be. which VA
natural under the circumstances.
The two gentlemen paused at the door oi
the compartment in which the smiling
rector remained seated. The aderscanne6
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 q
foolish Amusement" responded Rev. Sept,
mus, with bland politeness commingled
with cordiality. 81 may at once. relieve
yoar natural asnxesy 6y intSS;rming tS;, y0a,
run away, out OF girlish gayety, to play at
II 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
surrnise led him to guess that this highly
MISUNDERSTANDING stranger was either
as -ond of practical Joking as his beautiful
daughter, or else daring railway thief.
He feared the latter-yet how emtnently
sedate and sober his aspect, while his ex-
appearances are against you, my good
dued tone. I'VE have no time to lose. II
you will not permit me to inspect that case,
mond necklace, I shall be obliged to request
you to accompany me and my friend here
to the station-master's office"
| II shall do neither the one nor the other.
| Unless there Is soms grievous mistake, your
conduct is .positively impertinent. decline
talns to any one but the person who has
intrusted it to me. Aud shall most deci.
dedly not accompany you any where" said
tho rector, haugihtly, assuming his most
ave 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
fleeing from home, and this was not her
father, but perchance atyrannical a 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.
I'M bo bo
| tinued roughly-"And 1t 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
Sss ss wss SRsnSea at the station this train
The Rev; septimus turned visibly pale
II regret that we should be under the
necessity of insisting on your coming with
us, !" urged the stranger.
sAre you not. then, General Mariner
II am not. My name is Doughty, aud
am member Of the detective force Here
is my card, IL 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 . situation.
i Will 0XpI6lu--
ut happens very awkwardly that tho
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 1t to you! Tall,
talkative and plausible!"
'Something of that kind" answered tha
rector, searching hurriedly for his dressing
case In order to produce one o! his cards.
Time presses. The train leaves in ten
have scene or a scuffie, !" said the detect.
" Thse s rector S mec5anic.lly put his hand to
bis waistcoat pocket to take out his watch |;
with little cry of alarm, he glanced down
uselessly. He turned again, cold with fear,
to seek for his dressing case; that, too, had
gone It 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
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 hs, been with
Sally, in all likelihood, and she saw mo
plain enough, though I couldn't spot her
anywhere, and she was afraid OF falling into
my clutches, especially as want her about
another similar affair"
o, horrible, most horrible! It was but
too clear; the Rev. Septimus Haslingdean
was now convinced that he had been most
cruelty duped. played upon by . base, de-
signing. artful wretch.
'It must be So" be meekly assented. SIS
there-is there any chance Of my being able
to recover my thingsW
~ can't say. We must dispose Of this
other little business first. ! quite believe
beyond what you say. but 1t IL deucedly
ask"
The unfortunate victim mentioned his
name and place Of abode, gathered his re-
naming properties together, aud rose, as
9 martyr might prepare to 60 to the stake.
MT; Doughty .iI. made i e sign TO one Of the
funeral procession was formed.
He felt assured he could easily exculpats
himself, and throw of the frig6tful impu-
tation of being q 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 master-the Earl OF Airly. He had
come by the train which had conveyed the
rector and his too bewitching fellow pas
senger In few brief words Mr.. 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.
II have not the slightest doubt all il ss
you say. observed the station-msster
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