The Red Cloud chief., 1888-01-27

horses the oily ~hunch-back had three
years before driven from my stable.
Finding the owner. l inquired of him
how he came to find such beautiful
matches. and so like 4 familiar pair
that i once owned.
IL bought them in Cincinnati" said
he. from an importer of blOOded stock.
This was a 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 bands necessitated his
selling.
Il bought the pair for $4,000. and
have many times been offered more
than double that money. hut 5000
would not tempt me. They have beauty
and speed. and are to-day the fastest
double can in the State"
Gould you describe the man from
whom you bought them?" l asked.
"Y0s." said he. '.the man from whom
/ purchased was medium sized. appar-
emily forty years of age. with hair
quite gray -prematurely. l should
think-and his general appearance
clerical. One would o have taken
him for a stockman. He was well in
formed and one of the most agreeable
conversatiOnalists | ever met"
explained my part in the history of
the horses and how I 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 to sur
render.
l paid him 81. 200. the amount which
l 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
| thief: for we we're persuaded that the
hunch-back. the twin brother md the
clerical-looking person were and
the same individual.
\ minute description was gwen to
detectives in the various large cities CT
our country: police reports were care
fully read. but nothing from Il man
could be discovered. Finally. believing
that he had been picked M under some
assumed name and imprisoned, l had
almost allowed the matter to fade
from my mind. when one winter. my
health failing re. l needed the advice
of my physician and went to Florida.
In St. Augustine l took board nj 4 sort
of select hotel. %patroniZed principally
by Northern families w~intering there
for health and pleasure. and all of them
representatives of wealth. Among the
guests at the dinner table my first
evening there, was Il young lady of
rare beauty anu engaging manners to
whom l was introduced as Miss Efic
Mcknight. the only daughter of a
widow from Baltimore.
Our landlaGy turned to the daughter
and said: Miss Ellie. l 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
a in the pleased smile which fitted
across. Miss Enie's face that the counts
coming interested her particularly; and
in the two days preceding his arrival.
l noted the eager interest she took in
every thing pertaining 10 him.
l have often thought that the pursuit
of any coveted object Cp 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. I
learned, had not only IN immense for
tune. but was heir prospective to al
extensive landed estate in England and
Wales. He was an Oxford graduate
and had taken m extra course in Edin-
buVgh. His travels had taken in every
point of the compass, and he talked
like q 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 IN extra display of silver
on the table for the greeting of the
count.
l remember we'll the morning Of his
arrival. My room opened fronting the
hall, and as he assembled the broad
stairway in company with his valet. l
had a fair view of his face. 1t was the
face of my notorious swindler and thief:
a 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 a dilemma. This man
was society's pet and the atiianced
husband of a beautiful and a%ristocratic
lady. and l a stranger. But l resolved
to act, anu act at nee. So leaving the