Wichita eagle., 1888-06-10

them I'm very sorry, Larry, but thos
medals and things of poor young Mon
Grief were in the bag. They were for
tunately not of very much value, and
don't suppose
Good heavens! you don't mean to sa,
the thief has got Jack last gifts to hi
sister, cried, in Mortified disnay.
'Yes, they are gone; but what ar
those bits of things compared with N,
black pearls, the real Indian fligree
and"-
l interrupted with some exclamation
more forcible than polite, l fear, for
was vaguely conscious of my aunt's gaz
ing at me in high dudgeon.
What fool had been to allow jack:
trust 10 leave my hands for a moment
/ was no more fitted to be given such e
mission than any rascally blackleg
Could | ever hold up my head again al
the bare thought Of Mora Moncrief,
whom I had so wronged with my das-
hardly carelessness? And as for looking
in her face, how could l dare do that,
unless these stolen goods could be recov-
cred?
They must be recovered; if it took my
last penny, would win back poor Jack
legacy, or never know a light conscience
again.
What was the fellow Ike, aunt, who
made the attack?'' l asked, with hatter-
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. NJ. ;
branded on the back
This was useful and important clew,
which the police officers noted with avid
ity; and I shortly had the assurance that
the best measures possible for tracing the
criminal would be taken at once.
NV state of mind bordered on despera-
ton, and | could see no clear way out of
my difficulty. | shrank from presenting
myself before Miss MoncTieff minus her
brothers gifts, and yet she may wonder
at nay non-appearance, having been told
Of my mission by Dysart. On the other
hand, | loathed the idea Of tarrying at
Mentone, where the n1ishap had oc-
Cured.
In the midst Of my perplexities 1
heard, the day after the robbery. that
suspicious characters had been traced to
Marseilles, one of whom might turn out
10 be the man we desired to entrap. Mar
settles being 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 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, | retired behind my news
paper and forgot the lady's existence.
Though / stared f1xedly at the printed
page. my mind was miles away with
Mora, whom was fated, perhaps, never
to see.
Ny bitter sweet reverie was disturbed
unexpectedly by my travelling companion
twitching nervously at the corner Of my
paper looked at her in establishment,
and saw that she was much agitated; she
drew the paper from my hand, pressing
her finger to her lips to enjoin silence.
I'm in for some sort of romantic set
to with a crazy woman, l thought to my
self as l invol,lntarily 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.
l read: There is man hidden under
the seat; are we in danger of an attack"
Much puzzled to know whether my
was off her head, or really
frightened with cause, | wrote in reply:
Are you sure? Did you see him get
in?"
.'No, 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 4
more violent attack, SO with patri-
archal, reassuring smile | inscribed:
Probably it was only dog"
mo; l felt his fingers. Shall we not
stop the train? Something must be
done!" she wrote, vigorously UNDERLYING
the last words.
1t was clearly my duty to investigate
the cause of my fair neighbours growing
alarm, SO with astute caution l asked
with marked distinctness if the lady OBJ
jected to tobacco smoke: comforting my
face the while with signs that shq was to
answer in the negative.
She confessed to a decided preference
for the odor OF a good cigar.
Thank you for the permission,
madam; deprived of my smoke, really
suffer-
1t was such relief to speak after our
solemn interchange of written sentiments
upon the ragged edge of The Times, that
was prepared to give utterance 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. 1T was my
last match, too / really must try to
save spark of it to light my cigar
l stopped to pick up the burned frag-
ment, and took one sharp. comprehensive
glance beneath the seat. Ny 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 IS.
NJ. =" were lesible through the dirt and
CRIME.
At sight Of this viliainous looking hand
my heart began merry dance. Not
from fear-my self respect ohiiges me TO
protest against this possible imputation-
but because we seemed to have in our
clutches the rogue who had stolen poor
Jack medals. I might dare TO present
myself before Mora, after all. instead of
hanging back like whipped hound.
San, nor rirhto', the lady Sa;I With