The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-03-15


night at the same hour-both of us ostensi-
bly, not to return. You will tell landlord
Baudray that you are going to Paris under
stand! / shall inform him, that am going
to take steamer to America tomorrow.
want to create q firm impression that we
have gone cleared out, vamosed the
ranch, and are hundreds of miles away
from this place.
"Now,' continued he, '.as to your occu-
patton while here, my boy: first Of al. let
me retail to you several important items OF
interest. have noticed that twice already
the Princess has ceased skctching Just be-
fore sunset; that the servants fellow at
some distance behind; that she dismounts,
waters that black charger and mounts from
this stone on which we are now sitting. and
that your friend, Lydia. has been with her
but once.n
Now" said he, speaking slowly to i'm
press his listener, my boy, must ask you
to take observations in my place, tomorrow.
II they all agree with mine, shall take it
for granted that they indicate a regular oc
currence Of what have just told you More
especially-do you hear, friend.-am anx-
| ious to learn whether Lydia will be with her
again. / must positirety learn that. You
| get these pointss
- do sail Richard.
Now, can that valet Of yours keep o sc.
| cret.'
The rack wouldn't extract it from him,
| If he makes up his mind to do so.'
will he falter; or have any qualms Of
conscience about taking part in a hazardous
scheme..
Hell do whatever tell him.
Every well, l want his assistance, too, in
this matter. ] want you both to pack up;
say farewell; go to st. Malo; buy your
tickets to p aris-being exceedingly cautious
to keep in the background and, on no &C.
count, make known your names-send all
your baggage through to that city; but get
of-both Of you-af Dol. will arrive a few
moments later. We will then hold con-
sultatlon together Do you get the idcar'
81 do replied the attentive and very
much puzzled Oxford.
will you act a,cordingly,"
II WILL
''Vcry well, then, let's join hands on it.
Meanwhile must ask you to wait longer
before admit you to my secret
Il see and acquicsce." meelzly said Dick.
Upon which they got into the buggy and
silently drove home to the inn, each one
occupied with his own peculiar thoughts.
CHAPTER VIII.
II THIS FAILS Me- EVERY THING ELSE FAILS,
| TOO.
At half-past nine Fairfax was of and
away, having first taken Dick aside and
made that now completely docile, but mysti.
fed individual, reeite in order his various
duties for the morrow. Oxford did this with
SO much precision as to win commentator
| from his friend. who added:
snow, whatever else you may do, my boy,
/ I IN alxSa III xfin
that you have gone away to Paris, to return
no more forever this year, at least. You
observed how marked was in my adieus to
all, giving out that was going back to
America immediately
At midnight he WAS in St Malo, where he
found awaiting him telegram from Ncb
bitt himself
Message only just received. See you
tomorrow on board Norma Hayre, 10 I'm. y
Fairfax smiled, and remarked:
Persistence often succeeds where genius
fails
At the hour named he stood on the decl
Of the "Morna," as she lay at anchor of
Hayre. Nebbit., looking as if he had just
stepped from handbook, came forward
and with his prompt, clear-cut sentences
began the conversation:
GOOD morning, Fairfax. Luckily fol
you, mere within of mine brought me back
and had followed it out entirely,I should
now have been in Southampton. should
never have waited for any other man but
you. observe you're in hurry; I'm q,
your service. What can do for youi"
"Yes. am in haste. / want to see 70,
privately"
"Let US go into the cabin, then" said Neb
bitt, leading the way into an elegant saloon
where he motioned Fairfax to a seat.
swell, Mr.. Ncbbitt, it's just this" sale
Fairfax, and plunged directly il medias res.
Ncbbitt listened with constantly increas
ing wonder and attention.
When the narrative was closed with thu
concise remark: THAT'S the whole thing il
NUTSHELL" he burst forth with the excla
nation:
"Most extraordinary thing ever heart
Of in my life. Make a sensation greater
than would the assassination of the CA
or Victoria! But how did it succeed, m,
dear fellow."
"Succeed! Succeeded SO well that no on,
can ind the slightest clue"
"Capital! Splendid! can scarcely be
leve it! Such plucky thing would
have"
'Stop. VIVA. did you call it,''
"Plucky, l said, and do consider it sou
Az Sou dSs1.iis lHSau W say you COu
slider it pluclSy and commendable!"
"Plucky! Why, my dear boy, think i
one of the boldcst things ever heard of
I'd like to shake hands with that fellow
Success is success. Since you say he nd!
succeeded, l consider it master-stroke
But" said he, suddenly and sharply, show
came soa to know any thing about it, 1
looks
''Stop, again Mr.. Ncbbitt. I've been lyine
to you. Nothing of the kind has hap
pened.'
Nebbitt's countenance changed in an In
slant. and his eye had q dangerous CLEAN