The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-04

lady. IL would pay much DeCter 10 be interestedsin me-" he added, with a light laugh.
 "Oh, there is interest and interest" 1" rejoined Mrs. Oliver, as she dropped her eyes and turned away.
 The young man was silent for mo- ment, and then rejoined, with the con- fidence beauty frequently inspires in his inexperienced sex.
 "I'm sure you're to be trusted, Mrs. Oliver, but it doesn't do to let these things get afoat. We don't want everybody to know everything"
 "Of course not"
 "Well," he added confdentially, "Jaggers is Al at Scotland Yard !; a 6rst-rate hand. Once give him the scent, he is like 8 bloodhound-sure to run his man down."
 "Ahl a police detective!" she ex- claimed. He nodded. "Ohi what 8 dreadful mani"
 "Not at all," rejoined MT. Stokes l; "he's one of the best fellows in the world, except in the way of business then he is as hard as nails."
 The announcement, that he was Gas hard as nails" did not seem to increase his popularity in the young widows eyes.
 "It is a mean, sneaky way of getting 8 living" she observed, "and all the talking in the world can't make it anything else."
 "I don't know about that" he an- swered; "one evil creates another, you know. So long as thieves run ahead there must be somebody to catch them. On the whole, think the de- tective is a grand institution, neces- sary one, too, and so you'd think if you had lost your jewelry and he," jerking his head towards Jaggers, "was to find it for you."
 "I suppose I should" she answered, demurely; Gin such cases we are apt to be selfish"
 "Yes," replied the young fellow, "and generally speaking, we are qnite ready to shake hands with the sinner when we benefit by the sin."
 "Perhaps," she answered, glancing up with shy, winning smile into his face, "but I don't think I should choose the sinner for my travelling companion, especially on a pleasure excursion," she added emphatically. He laughed and rubbed his hands to- gether as though he rather enjoyed the idea.
 "So you think we're on a pleasure excursion?" he chuckled.
 "At least it looks like it" she an- swered.
 "Ah! but you shouldn't judge by appearances it is quite the reverse, and you-well, I suppose we have been speculating about one another; vote we strike bargain-you tell me your story and I'll tell you ours."
 The lady looked down and played nervously with the folds of her dress as she answered with mournful air, as though she had just come out of the deepest department
 "Mine is soon told. I-I am a widow, as you see, and am going to join my friends in Quebec" She looked at him, adding inquiringly: "And you?"
 "Oh we're likely to have rather a lively time of it, he replied, half hesi- tating for moment, then adding briskly: "You've heard of the great jewel robbery, I suppose? All Lon don is ablaze with it. A wonderfully mysterious affair."" he added, knitting his brows, as though he had the mys- tery on the brain, "but think we are on the right track now. Jaggers is rather close, but I fancy I know a thing or two."
 "But what have you to do with it?" she inquired with naive interest.
 "Not much, really. Pm going partly for pleasure, partly for the purpose of Identification. I think I can swear to the fellow we're after, and know can recognize the jewels if he has them concealed about him."
 The widow regarded him with 8 look of furtive inquiry, as she asked in low voice, almost under her breath:
 "Is he in Canada2" He nodded con- fdentially.
 "Sailed five days ago, but on 6 slower vessel than this. We shall catch him at Quebec. We have tele- graphed to the police there, and they'll look after him, and take good care of him, too, till we come. Then Jaggers will just slip the bracelets on, and we'll be back in England in next to no time."
 "Please don't talk any more about il" she rejoined; Git makes one quite miserable to hear of such dreadful things." She got up and walked to the other side of the deck. He whis- tied as he leaned against the bull warks, and watched the little figure pacing to and fro.
 "Whew 1" he whistled softly. "How sentative these women arei What 6