The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-19
CHAPTER X.
A SLEIGH RIDE.


Another fall of snow, coming at this
time, made capital sleighng in Central
Park and fashionable New York FASTENED
to take advantage of it. The air was cold,
but there was 10 wind, EXCEPT such as was
created by the swift movement of the
sleighs. The sun was out in a cloudleSs
sky, and there was sparkle and exhllara-
ton everywhere. The soft juggling of the
bells, now near, now far, but always audi
bic, sounded fitting accompaniment TO the
dancing of the blood in youthful veins
Those graceful cutters, that were gone be-
fore you could utter your admiration, con
taiEed many happy pairs of lovers, who,
bundled up in soft furs and buffalo robes,
imagined that life would glide along as
smoothly as the sleigh--at least, as swiftly !
The horses seemed to enjoy the fun as much
as the lovers; they laid back their ears and
feGUied low down on their flying legs, and
the white track slipped away beneath them
like the surface Of cataract. 1t was
glorious sport. On the lake the snow had
been swept away, and the skaters were cir
cling and wavering in inextricable con
Vclutions. The boughs of the trees, so
long bare of foliage, were now weighted
with soft burdens of snow, which the still
air had suffered to remain as it
had fallen. Kemeys' bronze panther
croughing fro her spring, on the
rock that overhangs the drive, seemed to
have Just thrust her terrible head out of the
white blanket in which she had been bid
ing her time. Cleopatras needle stood slim
and erect ON it's bleak mound, like a soldier
frozen at his post in a strange land, after
standing guard for twenty centuries on the
banks OF the mysterious river, beneath the
scorching suns of Egypt.
One of the speedlest of the cutters was oc-
cupied by two gentlemen, who were so muf-
fed up in fur caps and collars that it was
impossibleto distinguish their features; and
they, ON their side, made no attempt to
recognize any among the flying crowd of
sleIgners. The larger man of the two held
the relns. and kept his eyes on his horses
ears; but this occupation did not prevent
him from listening to what the other was
saying, and occasionally interposing some re-
mark or question Of his own. No more Sc
cure place for a private and confidential
dialogue could have been found than the
one they had chosen; with all fashionable
New Y DIRK around them. they were as I'M
known and as unheard as if they had been
on the lonely summit of Mount Shasta on
in the midst of the barren deserts of Arr
zona
"Your report of his conversation" said
the holder Of the reins, Though it certainly
doesn't conflict with the theory of his guilt,
does very little toward clinching the proof
of it. Golding has injured him, and he
hates Golding for il. We knew as much
before; and there are probably hundred
men in New York to-day of whom the
same is true. 1t is more to the purpose that
some of his expressions indicated a willing
ness to contemplate violent measures. As
for his conduct when you confronted him
with the personal in his paper, it is worth
taking into consideration, and that is as
much as can be said of it, IL was good
point, and ! am sorry it didn't effect
more definite result, one way or the other"
1T is also to be considered that no other
man has appeared whom there is nearly as
much reason to suspect as Cowran," re-
marked the other occupant of the sleigh.
Nothing in his record or situation is iiicon
sistent with the theory. Ought not these
facts to carry some weightp
"rhey are merely negative. On the
other hand, we have Cowran's character
and temper He has the name of being
bold man, one who fulfills his engagements,
and has never been known to do any under
hand work. His temper is warm, and
when provoked he is inclined to violence.
All that doesn't describe the sort of fellow
who would write a series of anonymous
letters"
But the letters are violent enough,
surely"
I'm their expressions, but not what we
believe to be their intention-which is an
important difference. They threaten Gold
ing with death, but they do so only with
the design Of exterting money. The letter
which was received in answer to the sec
ond personal removes all doubt on that
point Have you seen itY"
mo; have only heard of it."
ut took up our suggestion as to provision
for his wife and family and after a lot of
palaver, and saying that be had no personal
hostility against Golding, and would be
willing to spare him if the Lord permitted,
and so forth, the writer admitted that, al
though nothing would induce him to accept
money for himself, still he might be in-
duced to permit Mr.. Golding to do something
for those dependent upon him."
itY'
Yes, and quite an ingenious one for
religious maniac. Mr.. Golding is to give
him advance information of the rise or fall
of his stocks. Thisis to be done by advertise
ment5 in the Personal column OF one of the
morning papers, the information being
given in a c.pner.n
''Is the cipher given tooF'
at is, and it is just the thing for the pur-
pose; easily understood if you have the key,
and not so peculiar as to excite curiosity in
those not concerned. The whole thing was
evidently planned out from the beginning
Finally he says that in case Golding gives
any Information which is not correct he
may expect very short shrift and he is left
to infer that so long as the information
brings money the Lords vengeance win be
delayed. The fellow Is a contemptlble
hound, and that is why l find it difficult TO
reconcile him with what we know of Cow
ran. / could understand his killing man
in a fit of passion, but this is horse Of
quite different color"
"Will Mr.. Golding give the informationf"
inquired the other, after pause.
"To be sure he will, and the fellow will
make money on it. That seems to be about
the only chance Of identifying him."
lyon mean that we can trace him by
means Of the brokers through whom lie
actsp'
But if he is as shrewd as he has proven
himself to be thus far, he can elude US then
without much difficulty | was IN hopes
that he would have asked for a certain fixed
sum Of money. | would have been sure of
him thenn
But he won't be satisfied with one haul,
do you Think He'll be coming again and
again, and sooner or later we must catch
him mapping"
fro BE CONTINUED
Renews Der Youth.
Mrs. Phoebe Chesley, Peterson. Clay coun-