News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-04-05
Whew! The male professional

beauty !"
Mr. Wylie, like everybody else, had
ri. heard of the count. He 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 astonished
Mr.. Wylie.
"I presume" said the detective, after
pause, "you wish me to get possession
of these letters in some way or other? y
"Precisely," answered Lady Noodle.
Mr.. Wylie reflected for some moments
in silence, then he said: I" really don't
see how l can get them without com
mitting burglary"
r "Couldu't you be induced to risk
that?" asked Lady Noodle, eagerly.
The detective started. Evidently her
Iadyship was not inclined to stick at
8 trifes.
"Well, you see, said Mr. Wylie very
deliberately, burglary is rather 8
large order
"I'm willing to pay anything to
baulk the coward replied Lady
3 Noodle fercely.
That's all right" answered Mr..
Wylie doggedly; {" but moneys of
little use to man who's doing ten
years. At his words Lady Noodles
face became downcast. She was evil
/ IDENTIFY disappointed. Mr.. Wylie MOTTO
ed this.
At any rate" he said to her, let
burglary be the last thing. We may
be able to hit on some easier expedient
Let me see, now" And he reflected q
moment. :" How many letters are
there -
Some forty or fifty"
"Ah, so manyi He couldn't carry
them about with him. Has he any ser
vants2''
"Just one-a valet-an italian, like
himself"
"Hum. wonder whether he could
be bribed? Most Italians can. IF had
a week or two to gIin his confidence
Impossible. If five thousand pounds
be not given Ulrici within a week the
letters will be in my husbands hands"
"Oh, is that the case2"
"Yes; Sir Charles and / leave for |
Darklingbourne - that's our place in
Doltshire-to-morrow, and the count |
says that this day week he'll follow us, |
and that if, on his arrival 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 Ju-
piter, 1 have him! Excuse me, nv
lady, he added, more calmly. 81 think
L see way out of the maze. Do as
You intended. Let him follow you to
Darklingbourne, and if he presents him
self to you there, defy him. You may
do so with impunity, for by that time
he II have no letters to produce"
During the ensuing week Mr.. Wylie
kept strict watch upon all the move
ments Of the count. He contrived 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 his master in
tended to carry ont his threat of going
| to Darkliugbourne. The valet had
orders to have his portmanteau ready.
packed with everything necessary for
few days stay from home.
On the evening Preceding the dry ON
which he was to see Lady Noodle at
clearinghouse, Count Ulrici drove to
Euston. Mr.. Wylie, who had ascer-
tanned beforehand the train by which he
intended to travel, was there awaiting
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 Rottenborough, the
station nearest to Sir Charles Noodles
seat.
The count came to the station unac-
companied by his servant. Mr.. Wylie !
noticed that his luggage consisted of a
large portmanteau only-no doubt the
one the servant spoke of. 1t was mark
ell on the side with the counts initials, {
ar. o." As it was too big to be taken ]
conveniently into the carriage, its owner |
directed it to be placed in the luggage {
van.
Having marked well the portmanteau {
and the van into which it was put, Mr..
Wylie took his seat in the train in t
compartment not far from the counts. !
When the train reached Willesden he
got out and went into the refreshment t
room. There he remained until the t
train began to move, when he rushed c
upon the platform just too late to get t
III.
"Confound it - he exclaimed, in af- S
fectcd vexation. "I'm left behind"
every sorry, SIR" said porter. 7
"Where are You for 2" c
"Rottenborough. When is the next
train2" /
"No other train tonight, sir. You'll !
have to wait till four tomorrow morn l
ing" S
my gracious !" exclaimed Mr.. Wylie, G
apparently much put out by the infor
nation. "What on earth am to do? S
My luggage has gone on p |
'Train stops ut Harrow, sir. I'll l
telegraph there and have it sent back by +
the next train" l
"Thank You, wish you would. If I S
am to stop in town over night 1 must
have it." +
Every we'll, sir. What is your lug i
gage ike?" -... s
'Its q large leather portmanteau, and s
was put into the the through van for Y
Peterborough. They'll be able to dis. t
tinguish it easily, as it has my initials
upon it." \
and they are, sir7 2" G
"R. U" t
The porter went off to telegraph and
the detective returned to the refreshment T
room. There Mr.. Wylie remained for h
some time apparently absorbed in the t.
of glass of beer, but real d
ly wondering what the result of his q
stratagem would be. He greatly feared {
lest the count might notice his portman-
Ieuu DelnS removed from tue van, ana "
instead of q message coming that the b
luggage would be sent back at once, one s.
would arrive directing his arrest. So Il
great was his anxiety on this point that b
it seemed to him hours before the porter il
turned up. Then, to his immense re W
lief he learned that the portmanteau had f
been taken from the van at Harrow g
and would be sent back by the next il
train. e
When the next train arrived at VIII ID
esden the porter pointed out to him the p
portmanteau. Sure enough, it 81
was Count Ulrici's, Letting it remain d
where it was Mr. Wylie jumped into c'
and proceeded with it to CT
Euston. 81
At Euston, Nh. Wylie claimed the te
and boldly putting it on
he top of hanson cab, drove to Kings H
ross station on the Underground rail b
way, and there he took a ticket to Char a!
ng-cross. Carefully choosing an empty 81
he contriyed, during the iv
course of the journey, to effect change Z
II his disguise such, that while no more ca
ike himself than ever, he was still very hl
lifferent looking man from the one who
aimed the portmanteau at Wlllesden. III
When he arrived Mt Charing- cross it was m
quite dark, and there werc few people ta
bout. Taking tho heavy portmanteau III
I. l..