The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-04-13

tie use to man who's doing his ten
years"
AT his words Lady Noodles face
became downcast. Shewse evidently
disappointed. Mr.. Wylie noticed this.
"At any rate" he said to her, "let
burglary be the last thing. We may
he able to bit on some easier expedient.
Let me see, now" And he reflected
moment. "How many letters are
theref"
"Some forty or fifty"
"Ah, so many? He couldn't, then,
carry them about with him. Has he
any servantsi"
"Just one-a valet-an Italian, like
himself"
alum! I wonder whether he could |
he bribel7 Most Italians can. II
had week or two to gain his confi- |
| dence-"
impossible. If $4,000 be not given |
| Ulrici within a week the letters will be |
in my husbands hands"
"Oh, is that the case?"
"Yes, Sir Charles and / leave for
Darklingbourne-that's our place in
lDoltshirr-to morrow, and the Cour
.ay- that this day week he'll follow us,
aud that if, on his arrival, don't give
him that amount he will at once hand
the letters to my husband
"By Jupiterl" exclaimed Mr.. W,lie,
Jumping excl edly to his feet. "By
Jupiter, l have him Excuse me, my
lady," he added, more calmly, Il think
| zee way out of the maze. Do a.
lyou intend. Let him follow you to
Darklingoourne, and if he presents
himself to you there, defy him. You
may do so with lmpunity, for by that
time he'll have no letters to produce
i During the ensuing week Mr.. Wyli'
kept a strict watch upon all the move
ments of the Count. He contrived,
too, to discover good deal regarding
his past life and his future plans. He
picked up an acquaintance with his
, valet, and from him discovered that hit
master intended to carry out his threa'
of going to clearinghouse. The vale
, had orders to have his portmanteau
ready, packed with everything Leces
sary for few days stay from home.
On the evening preceding the day o.
which he was to see Lady Noodle at
, Darklingbourne, Count Ulrici drove to
3 Euston. Mr.. Wylie, who had ascer
3 tanned beforehand the train by which
he intended to travel, was there await
t ing him. The detective was disguised.
\ He was an adept in that business, and
now his own mother would not have
= known him. He had provided himself
: with first-class ticket to Rot,enbor-
n ough, the station nearest TO Sir Charles
e Noodles seat.
!, The Count came to the station unac.
d companied by his servant. Mr.. Wylie
Il noticed that his luggage consisted of a
8 large portmanteau only-no doubt the
g one the servant spoke of. 1t was
n marked on the side with the Couut's
4 initials, "R. U.e' As 1t was too big to
be taken conveniently into the carriage
!, its owner directed it to be placed IN the
is luggage van.
Is Having marked we'll the portmanteau
and the van into which it was put, MIR
Wylie took his seat in the train in 6
y compartment not far from the Count's =
When the train reached Willesden ht
got out and went into the refreshmeu
room. There he renamed until thu
Y, train had begun to move, when hi
% rushed upon the platform just too lat
lie to get in.
v "Confound it," he exclaimed, in af
Is fected vexation. 81 am left behind"
ID Every sorry, sir" said the porter
n "Where are you for?"
r "Rottenborough. When is the mex
train?"
fe mo other train toni ght, sir. You
have to wait till the o'clock to-mor
row morning"
y "My gracious exclaimed Mr.. Wylie
e, apparently much put out by the infor
nation. "What on earth am | to do
id My luggage is gone on!"
II, "Train stops at Harrow, sir. II
to telegraph tn, re, and have it sent bacl
by the next lrain."
Mt "Thank you, l wish you would. l
e. | am TO stop in town over. night | mus
as have it."
I'd "very well, sir. What is your lug
Iy gage like'"
ry ats large leather portmanteau an
IN was put into the through van for Ro
! tenborough. They'll be able to distir
guish. it easily, as it has my initial
p upon it."
y "And they are, sir?"
1t, ar. u"
The porter went off to telegraph an
H. the detective returned to the refresl
ment room. There Mr.. Wylie remair
sd ed for some time apparently absorbe
in the absorption of glass OF bee
hut really wondering what the resn
m, of his stra' agem would be. He great
OF feared lest the Count might notice h
ny pnrtmanteau being removed from tn
van, and instead of message comm
ng that the luggage woul be sent at ono
eu one would arrive directing his arres
lu So great was his anxiety on this poiI
- that il seemed to him hours before I'll
I'm porter turned up. Then, to his in
,is mense relief, he learned that the por
nd manteau had been taken from the va
Die at Harrow and you'd be sent back b
at the next train.
''I When the next train arrived at Wi
H. lesden the porter pointed out to hi
~ the returned portmanteau. Sure enoug
ie it was Count Ulrici's. Letting it r
ie' main where it was, Mr.. Wylie jump'
''' INTO compartment and proceeded vii
80 it to Euston.
At Euston Mr. Wylie claimed Il
ad p ,rtmanteau and boldly putting it c
er- he top of hansome cab drove
nd King's-cross Station on the Und
en- ground Railway and there he took
an. ticket to Charing-cross. Careful
he choosing an empty compartment
an. contrived, during the course of Il
journey, to effect a change in his di
ter guise such that while no more like hir
as self than ever he was still a very di
or ferent looking man from the one wi
claimed the portmanteau at -Willesde
lie When he arrived at Char'ng-cross