, 1888-04-13

| nthBt anu BAY ing SOllltIilIlR 10 ne Which,
l did not understand. Then, all in a
flash, he pushed me back against a tree,
clapped one hand over my mouth-oh,
such a dirty hand and with the other
tore off my bag, the chatelaine, and all
the rest of it. He got some of my brace
lets, too, though | don't quite know bow
many. Then he bolted, and how l did
yell! but it was of no use. A 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
tunately not of very much value, and l
don't suppose'-
Good heavensl you don't mean to say
the thief has got Jacks last gifts to his
sister, / cried, in Mortified dismay.
Yes, they are gone; but what are
those bits of things compared with my
black pearls, the real Indian filigree,
and"-
l interrupted with some exclamation
more forcible than polite, ! fear, for 1
was vaguely conscious of my aunt's gaz-
ing at me in high dudgeon.
What a fool l had been to allow Jacks
trust to leave my hands for a momentl
/ was no more fitted to be given such a
mission than any rascally blackleg.
Could | ever hold up my head again at
the bare thought of Mora Moncrieff,
whom / had so wronged with my das-
tardly carelessness? And as for looking
in her face, how could l dare do that,
unless these stolen goods could be recov-
ered2
They must be recovered; if it took my
last penny, L would win back poor Jacks
legacy, or never know a light conscience
again.
"What was the fellow like, aunt, who
made the attack" l asked, with flatter-
ing eagerness, provided my desire had
been to search for her stolen treasures.
"a shortish, stumpy man, with a
broad nose, and small, dark eyes. One
of his hands had the letters IS. M
branded on the back"
This was a useful and important clew,
which the police officers noted with avid
ity; and | shortly had the assurance that
the best measures possible for tracing the
criminal would be taken at once.
My state of mind bordered on despera-
ton, and l could see no clear way out of
my difficulty. / shrank from presenting
myself before Miss Moncrief minus her
brothers gifts, and yet she may wonder
at my non-appearance, having been told
of my mission by Dysart. On the other
hand, / loathed the idea of tarrying at
Mentone, where the mishap had &C.
Cured.
In the midst of my p%erplexities 1
heard, the day after the robbery, that
suspicious characters had been traced to
Marseilles, one of whom might turn out
to be the man we desired to entrap. Mar
settles being a step toward Mora, l de-
cided to betake myself thither, to find
out if there was any satisfactory truth in
this statement.
My only companion in the railway car
riage was a sharp featured lady of uncer-
tain age. with multitudinous parcels and
bags. Not wishing to annoy her with
attempts at conversation which might be
unwelcome, l retired behind my news
paper and forgot the lady's existence.
Though l stared fxedly at the printed
page, my mind was miles away with
Mora, whom l was fated, perhaps, never
10 see.
My bitter sweet reverie was disturbed
Unexpectedly by my travelling companion
twitching ~nervously at the corner of my
paper. l looked at her in establishment,
INC saw that she was much agitated; she
drew the paper from my hand, pressing
her finger to her lips to enjoin silence.
Pm in for some sort of a romantic set
10 with a crazy woman, l thought to my
self as l involuntarily 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 a man hidden under
the seat; are we in danger of IN attack"
Much puzzled to know whether my
companion was off her head, or really
frightened with cause, 1 wrote in reply:
''Are you sure2 Did you see him get
imp
mo, I felt him; he clutched at my
foot, " was scrubbed hastily beneath my
query.
Surely no would be highway robber
could be SO injudicious as to assail the
ankles of his victims before beginning a
more violent attack, 80 with a patri-
archal, reassuring smile / inscribed
Probably it was only a dog"
mo; l felt his fingers. Shall we not
stop the train? Something must be
donei" she wrote, vigorously undermining
the last words.
1t was clearly my duty to investigate
WIG SoooC VA IlJ Ahi hCAAhDOl . BlO"luR
alarm, 30 with astute caution l 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 tine odor of a good cigar.
THANK you for the permission,
madam; deprived Of my smoke, l really
suffer-"
1t was such a relief to speak after our
solemn interchange of written sentiments
upon the ragged edge of The Times, that
/ was prepared to give u~tterance to any
amount of %garrulous platitudes, LIGHTED
a match, talking volubly the while, and
when it was blazing, purposely dropped
it upon the floor, exclaiming noisily at
my own awkwardness. at was my
last match, too. l really must try to
save a spark of it to light my cigar"
1 stopped to pick up the burned frag-
ment, and took n sharp, comprehensive
glance beneath the seat. My companion
was right-a man crouched and huddled
there among the shadows. His face was
turned away, but l saw his hand clearly,
upon the back of which the letters rs.
NJ ~ rr.ara 1acr,lln fh.o,,-l tla I;-t ,ol