The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-14
Into that ouIs. BIZ Of ilea walk. s waa


startled by man jumping over tiit
hedge and saying something to me wlnc'
| did not understand. Then, all IN a
flash, he pushed me back against tree,
clapped one hand over my moutf-oh'
such dirty hand "a and with the Other
tore off my bag. the chatelainc, and all
the rest Of it. He got some of my brace
lets. too. though don't quite know how
MANY. Then he boiled. and how dld
veil. but il was of no use. y cloud OF
walters went scudding down the road
after the rascal, but he was too quick for
them. I'm very sorry. Larry. but those
medals and things of poor young Mon
Grief were in the bag. They were for
tnnatelv not OF very much value, and
don { suppose
Cool heavens you don't mean to say
the thief has got Jack last gifts to ms
sister" cried, in Mortified disnIay.
ayes. they are gone; but what are
those bits Of things compared with my
black pearls, the real Indian iiliSfee,
and -
interrupted with some exclamation
more forciblc than polite, | fear, for l
was vaguely conscious of my aunt gaz-
ing at me in high dudgeon.
What a fool had been 10 allow Jacks
trust TO leave my hands for moment'
/ was no more fitted to be gwen such a
mission than any rascaily blackleg
Could | ever hold up my head again at
the bare thought of Mora Moncrieif,
whom had so wronged with my das-
tardlv carelessness? And as for looking
in her face. how could | dare do that,
unless these stolen goods could DC recov-
eredi
They must be recovered; if it took my
last penny. would win back poor jack
legacy. or never know a light conscience
again.
"What was the fellow like, aunt, who
made the attack asked, with ilatter-
ing eagcmess, provided my desire had
been 10 search for her stolen treasures.
a shortish, stumpy man, with
broad nose, and small, dark eyes. One
of his hands had the letters =. NJ
branded on the back. y
This was a useful and important clcw,
which the police officers noted with avid
itv: and shortly had the assurance that
the best measure. possible for tracing the
criminal would be taken at once.
Nv state of mind bordered on despera-
ton. and [ could see no clear way out OF
my difficulty. shrank from presenting
myself before Miss Moncrien minus her
brothers gifts, and yet she may wonder
at my non-appearance, having been told
Of nv mission by Dysart. On the other
hand. loaihed the idea Of tairying at
Mentone, where the mishap had oc-
Cured.
In the midst of my perplexities |
heard. the day after the robbery. that
suspicious characters had been traced TO
Alarseilles one of whom might turn out
10 be the man we desired to entrap. Mar
settles being step toward Mora, de
cided to betake myself thither, 10 find
out if there was any satisfactory truth III
this statement.
Nv only companion in the railway car
riage was a sharp featured lady of uncer-
tain age. with multltudinous parcels and
bags Not wishing to annoy her with
attempts at conversation which might be
retired behind my news
paper and forgot the lady ; existence.
Though stared iixedly at the printed
page. my mind was miles away with
Mora. whom / was fated perhaps never
to see.
Nv bitter sweet Teverie was disturbed
by my travelling companion
twitchng nervOusly at the corner of my
paper. looked at her III establishment,
and saw that she was much agitated she
drew the paper from my hand, pressing
her finger to her lips to enjoin silence.
I'm in for some sort of a romantic set
to with a crazy woman, thought to my
self as | Involuntary glanced at the
alarm signal on the wall opposite.
The lady wrote hastily some words
upon the margin Of my paper, which she
then returned.
read There is man hidden under
the seat; are we in danger of an attack ~
Much puzzled to know whether my
was off her head, OF really
frightened with cause, | wrote III reply:
Are you surer Did you see him get
I'M"
mo, felt him; lie clutched at my
foot, " was scrubbed hastily beneath my
query.
Surely no would be highway robber
could be 50 injudicious as to assail the
ankles of his victims before beginning q
more violent attack, so with a patri-
archal, reassuring smile | inscribed
Probably 1t was only dog"
mo; felt his fingers. Shall we not
stop the train? Something must be
donel' she wrote, vigorously undermining
the last words
1t was clearly my duty to investigate
the cause OF my fair neighbors growing
alarm, so with astute caution | asked
with marked distinctness If the lady OBJ
jected to tobacco smoke, comforting my
face the while with signs that she was TO
answer in the negative.
She confessed to a decided preference
for the odor of good cigar.