The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-05-03

with my previous suspicion, felt not
only extremely angry, but considera-
bly, alarmed
Il was afraid you were i'll, dear Mrs.
Conyers. do hope l have not dis
pleased you, she proceeded in dep
recating tone. Il did not mean to of
fend you.
! cit is of no consequence, | answer
ed, rising from the sofa; but please
do not do so again. | am nervous and
easily startled"
/ The circumstance was then tacitly
dismissed, and We got through the eve
ming pretty fairly, l rather looked
forward to safe night, for | knew Ell
lis bed was in readiness for her: so
said good night little earlier than
usual. Nothing happened to alarm us.
and next morning, in subdued and
anxious voice, Miss Burke hoped l had
not been disturbed, and that Ellis had
kept me from feeling nervous-this last
remark very reproachfully.
About u o'clock. when we were sit
ting in the drawing-room, Ellis came
up and told me that a gentleman want
ed to see me on business, but would
not give his name. s'PrObably about
some subscriptions, | observed; per
haps had better see what he wants +"
/ Without suspicion of what await
ed me, | went down stairs, and on en-
tering the dining-room encountered a
short and rather red-faced man. who,
bowing profoundly, asked if | was
Mrs. Conyers. On my replying in the
affirmative he continued: ''Mav | ask
what establishment you have?"
| | must have looked astonished, rs he
explained:
81 am a detective police officer,
madam, and my business here will, [
am afraid. be an unpleasant one."
''Indeedr' / ejaculated; ''in what
way?r
From information I have received
believe you have n person under your
roof who is wanted on very serious
! charge. l must ask your permission
to summon every one in the mouse into
this room, | have taken precautions
to prevent any one leaving it, and if
you will kindly accede to my request
shall get over painful duty as quick
ly as possible
If my lips had been capable of ut
terance, the words they would have
framed would have been s'Miss
Burke" but said nothing | merely
rang the bell, which Ellis answered so
promptly felt certain she must have
been behind the door, ready to protect
me in case of an emergency.
''Summon the servants, Ellis" |
said; ''and-ask Miss Burke to come
down stairs" 1t was almost like a
dream to me, seeing my four domes ties
walk in; and then-suspcctine moth
ing Miss Burke.
"Got you at last, siri" cried the de-
tective, making an agile dart toward
my companion.
mot wit .out some trouble" coellv
responded his prisoner, whose courage
was apparently quite equal to the oc-
casion. In my widest moments | had
never dreamed of so desperate a de-
nouement. and the discovery perfectly
paralyzcd me with horror 1t was too
dreadful to realize that had harbored
a wretch of man in woman's clothing
not only in my house, but in the capac-
ity of my companioni In less time than
| can describe it in the detective and
his prisoner had departed 1t was qui-
city and quickly managed, and though
3 detailed account of it did appear in
me, not allowed TO transpire publicly.
The pseudo Miss Burke turned out
to be notorious young man. or may
say lad, named Browning. WHO, hay-
ing embezzled large sums, as well as
stolen a quantity of magnificent jew
elry, had been unable, owing to the
precautions taken to prevent his doing
so. to leave London or to dispose of
his stolen property. Through the
agency of a female friend he had
adopted his disguise, and my unlucky
advertisement had suggested to him
the idea of insuring his own safety
should | be credulous enough to take
him upon the recommendations which,
| need hardly say, had emanated from
his own pen. Not only had he thought
of his personal security, but that of
his stolen goods, which, in the shape
of diamonds and bank-notes, were
found securely slowed away in the lit
tie black box which had thought con
tanned the worldly possessions of my
poverty stricken companion. - NelO
York EUeniasg World.