The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-21

myself they were the identical pair of
horses the oily hunch-back had three
years before driven from my stable.
Finding the owner, inquired of him
how he came to find such beautiful
matches, and so like a familiar pair
that | once owned.
"a bought them in Cincinnati" said
he. ''from an importer of blooded stock.
This was picked pair from his impor-
tation which he had reserved for his
special use; but urgent business calling
him to Europe, and not caring to leave
them in hired hands necessitated his
selling.
Il bought the pair for $4,000. and
have many times been offered more
than double that money, but 5000
would not tempt me. They have beauty
and speed, and are to-day the fastest
double team in the State"
Gould you describe the man from
whom you bought them?" asked.
"Yes," said he, ''the man from whom
l purchased was medium sized. appar-
emily forty years of age, with hair
quite gray prematurely, | should
think-and his general appearance
clerical. One would not have taken
him for stockman. He was well in
formed and one of the most agreeable
conversationalists ever met"
l explained my part in the history of
the horses and how lost them. He
ignored my belief that they were the
same horses, but l brought forward
such overwhelming evidence in proof
of my ownership that he agreed o. sur
render.
l paid him $1,000, the amount which
received from the rogue, feeling that
he was the more injured of the two,
and received back my team, mutually
agreeing to spend another thousand, if
necessary, in bringing to justice our
thSf; for we were persuaded that the
hunch-back, the twin brother and the
clerical-looking person We're one and
the same individual.
A minute description was gwen to
detectives in the various large cities of
our country; police reports were care
fully read. but nothing from our man
could be discovered. Finally, believing
that he had been picked up under some
assumed name and imprisoned, ] had
almost allowed the matter to fade
from my mind, when one winter, my
health falling me, | needed the advice
of my physician and went to Florida.
In St. Augustine l took board at a sort
of select hotel, patronized principally
by Northern families wintering there
for health and pleasure, and all of them
representatives of wealth. Among the
guests at the dinner table my first
evening there, was a young lady of
rare beauty and engaging manners to
whom was introduced as Miss Ellie
Mcknight, the only daughter of a
widow from Baltimore.
Our landlady turned to the daughter
and said: Miss Elfie, have pleasing
news for you. Count Van Earl has
written. engaging rooms, saying we
may expect him in a day or two"
At this announcement the count be-
came the topic of conversation, and l
saw in the pleased smile which fitted
across Miss Ef1ie's face that the counts
coming interested her particularly; and
in the two days preceding his arrival,
| noted the eager interest she took in
every thing pertaining 10 him.
l have often thought that the pursuit
of any coveted object up to the very
eve of its possession is the most bliss
full state of human existence; there is
nothing in the possessing of that object
that even approaches the dreamy, hope
full, happy longing for the time to come
when the cherished idol of our hearts
will be ours to hold in contentment.
But this aside. Count Van Earl,
learned, had not only an immense for
tune, but was heir prospective to an
extensive landed estate in England and
Wales. He was an Oxford graduate
and had taken an extra course in Edin-
burgh. His travels had taken in every
point of the compass, and he talked
like u book about the beauties of Sibe-
rian wilds and the splendor of Oriental
skies; he had touched the mold and
must of ancient tombs, and walked
with the Turk among his modern
graves; in fact, this titled scion of no.
bility was so promising an acquisition
to our select circle that it was not sur
prising to see an extra display of silver
on the table for the greeting of the
count.
remember well the morning of his
arrival. My room opened fronting the
hall, and as he assembled the broad
stairway in company with his valet,
had a fair view of his face. 1t was the
face of my notorious swindler and thief;
face that once seen could hardly be
forgotten, especially when the force of
circumstances had photographed it on
the memory, as in my case.
Now here was dilemma. This man
was society's pet and the affianced
husband of beautiful and aristocratic
lady. and | a stranger. But resolved
to act, and act at once. So leaving the
house l sought and obtained an inter-
view with a well-known detective who
carried the seal of authority, and ac-
oH hin, 90 thn