The Penn's Grove record., 1888-03-10

WIN MS requests ne WOulu give Ino
letters / had written him to my hus.
band. He has mistaken his woman"
Lady Noodle concluded, passionately;
II would rather die than give a penny
to the menaces Of such a cowardl"
"May L know the gentleman's
namep"
"Count Ulrici.",
"Whewl The male professional
be~autyr"
Mr.. Wylie, like everybody else, bad
heard of the count. lie was considered
the best looking, best dressed and best
mounted man to be seen In Rotten
Row. He was reputed to be very rich,
too, and it was this revelation as to the
means by which he lived that aston
ished Mr.. Wylie,
II presume" said the detective,
after a pause. you wish me to get
possession Of these letters In some way
or otherp"
Precisely" answered Lady Noodle.
Mr.. Wylie reflected for some mo-
ments in silence, then he said: ~ really
don't see how l can get them without
committing a burglary"
Couldn't you be induced to risk
thatp" asked Lady Noodle eagerly.
The detective started. Evidently
at trifles.
"WelI. you see," said Mr.. Wylie.
very deliberately, burglary is rather a
large order"
"I'm willing to pay anything to
baulk the coward" replied Lady Moo
die, fiercely.
THAT'S all right" answered Mr..
Wylie, doggedly; ''but moneys Of little
use to a man who's dong ten years."
at his words Lady Noodles face BE-
came downcast. She was evidently
disappointed. Mr.. Wylie noticed this.
"At any rate" he said to her, ''let
burglary be the last thing. We may
be able to hit on some easier expedlent.
Let me see, now" And he reflected a
moment. slow many letters are
therep"
"Some forty or fifty"
"Ah. so many? He couldn't then.
carry them about with HIM. Has he
any s~ervantsp"
"Just one-s valet-an Italian, like
himself"
"Hum. l wonder whether he could
be b1b4dp Most Italians can. If 1
had a week or two to gam his conf
dence-"
"Impossible. If five thousand pounds
be not given Ulrlci within a week, the
letters will be In my husbands hands"
"Oh, is that the case?'
Eyes; Sir Charles and l leave for
Darklingbourne-that's u place in
Doltshire-to-morrow, and the count
says that this day week he'll follow us,
and that if, on his arrival, 1 don't give
him that amount he will at once hand
the letters to my husband"
"By Jupiter" exclaimed Mr.. Wylie,
jumping excitedly to his feet. "By
Jupiter, 1 have himl Excuse me, my
lady," he added, more calmly. 81 think
l see a way out of the maze Do al
you intended. Let him follow you to
clearinghouse, and if lie presents HIM
sents himself to you there, defy him,
You may do so with impunity, for by
that time he'll have no letters to pro-
duce."
During the ensuing week Mr.. Wyiic
kept a strict watch upon all the move
ments of the count. He contrived, too,
to discover a good deal regarding his
past life and his future plans. He
picked up an acquaintance with his
valet, and from him discovered that
his master intended to carry out his
threat of going to clearinghouse.
The valet had orders to have his port
manteau ready, packed with everything
necessary for a few days. stay from
home.
On the evening preceding the day on
which he was to see Lady Noodle at
clearinghouse. Count Ulrici drove to
Euston. Mr.. Wylle, who had ascer-
tanned beforehand the train by which
he intended to travel, was there await
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 a first-class ticket to Rottenbor-
ough, the station nearest to Sir Charles
Noodles seat.
The count came to the station unae-
companied by his servant. Mr.. Wylie
noticed that his luggage consisted Of a
large p~ortmanteau only-nO doubt the
one the servant spoke of. 1t was marked
on the side with the counts initials,
"R. u" AS it was too big to bs taken
into the carriage, its owner directed 1t
to be placed in the luggage raj
Having marked well the portmanteau
and the van into which it was put, Mr..
Wylie took his seat In the train in a
compartment not far from the counts.
When the train reached Willesden he
got out and went into the refreshment
room. There he remained until the
train had bsgun to move, when he
rushed upon the platform, just too late
to get in.
"Confoand itp' he exclaimed. in
affected vexatIon. "I'm left behind,
"Very sorry, SIR" said a porter.
"Where are you for2"
"Rottenborough. When is the next
train?"
s'Nu other train tonight, sir. You'll
have to wait till four tomorrow morn
ing"
my graciousI" exclaimed Mr..
Wylie. apparently much put out by the
information. "What on earth am I to
dor" My luggage is gone onl"
Train stops at Harrow, sir. I'll
telegraph there and have it sent back
by the next train"
"Thank you, / wish you would. If
l am to stop in town over night, 1 must
have it,"
"Very well, sir. What is your lug.
gage like?"
at is a large leather portmanteau,
and was put Into the through van for
R~ottenborough. They'll be able to
distinguish it easily, as it has my ini-
tials upon it,"
And they are, sirP"
"R. u"
The porter went OF to telegraph, and
the detective returned to the refresh
ment ROOM. There Mr.. Wylie remained
for some time apparently absorbed In
the consumption of a glass of beer, but
really wondering what the result Of his
stratagem would be. He greatly feared
lest the count might notice his port
manteau being removed from the van,
and instead of a message coming that
the luggage would be sent back at
once, one would arrive directing his
arrast "a oraaf waa hia anyiatv an