Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-17

to my husband"
"By Jupiter!n exclaimed Mr.. Wylie
jumping excitedIy to his feet. by Ju-
piter, have him! Excuse me, my lady,
he added, more calmly. II think see g
way out of the maze. Do as you intend
ed. Let him follow you to DarklIHg-
bourne, and if he presents himself TO you
there, defy him. You may do SO with
ilnpunity, for by that time he'll have no
letters to produce"
fsAt any rate" he said to her, "let bur
glary be the last thing We may be able
to hit on some easier expedient. Let me
see, now; and he reflected a moment.
How many letters are there?"
"Some forty or fifty"
"Ah, SO many? He couldn't carry them
about with him. Has he any servants ?''
Gust one-a valet-an Italian, like him
self"
"Hum [ wonder whether he could be
| bribed? Most Italians can. If I had a
week or two to gain his confidence -"
Impossible. If five thousand pounds
be not given Ulriel within week, the
letters will be in my husbands hands,"
''Oh, is that the case?"
During the ensuing week Mr.. Wylie
kept strict watch upon all the move
mouts of the count. He contrived to dis
| cover 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 Dark
lingbourne. The valet had orders to
have his portmanteau ready, packed with
everything necessary for few days
stay from home.
On the evening preceding the day on
which he was to see Lady Noodle at
Darklingbourne, Count Ulrici drove TO
Eusten. Mr.. Wylie, VINO had ascertained
beforehand the train by which he intend
ed 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
provided himself with a frst-class ticket
80 Rottenborough the station nearest TO
Sir Charles Noodles seat.
The count came to the station unac
com panied by his servant. Mr.. Wylie
noticed that his luggage consisted Of
large portmanteau oply-rO doubt the
one the servant spoke of. It was marked
or the side with thu counts initials, &C.
u" As it was too big TO be taken con-
venientIy into the carriage, its owner
directed it to be placed IL 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 a com
partment not far from the counts.
When the train reached Willesden he got
cut and went into the refreshment room.
There he remained until the train had be
gun to move, when ne rushed upon the
DIatfOru inst loo late to get in.
"Confound it!' he exclaimed, IN affect
ed vexaCion. ''rm left behind"
''Yery sorry, sir" said a porter. Where
are you fort"
"Rottenborough. When Is the next
train?"
mo other train tonight, sir. You'll
have to wait till four tomorrow morn
ing"
"My Gracious!' exclaimed Mr. Wylie,
apparently much put out by the iDfor-
nation. "What on earth am | TO do?
My luggage is gone on!''
Train stops at Harrow, sir. I'll tele-
graph there and have it sent back by the
next train"
"Thank you, wish you would. If 1
am to stop in town over night must have
it."
every well, sir What is your luggage
Iike?''
cts a large leather portmanteau, and
was put into the through van for Rotten
borough They'll be able to distinguish 1t
easily, as it has my initials upon it,"
"And they are, STRIP
&c. u"
The porter went off to telegraph, and
the detective returned to the refreshment
room. There Mr.. Wylie remained for
some time apparently absorbed in the
consumption of q glass of beer, put really
wondering what the result of his strata
sem would be. He greatly feared lest the
count might notice his portmanteau be-
ing removed from the van, and instead Of
a message coming that the luggage would
be sent back at once, one would arrive d.
recting his arrest. So great was his anx
iety on this point that it seemed to him
hours before the porter turned up. Then,
to his immense relief, he learned that the
portmanteau had been taken from the van
at Harrow and would be sent back by the
next train.
When the nexb train arrived at Wiiles,
den the porter pointed out TO him the re-
turned portmanteau. sure enough 1t was
Count Ulrici's. Letting it remain where
it was Mr.. Wylie jumped into a compart-
ment and proceeded with it to Euston.
At Eustoa, Mr.. Wylie claimed the port
manteau, and boldly putting 1t on top Of a
hansom- cab, drove to Kings cross station
on the Underground railway, and there he
took ticket to Charing cross. Carefully
choosing an empty compartment, he con-
trived during the course of the journey,
to effect a change in his disguise such,
that while no more like himself than ever,
he was still very different looking man
from the one who claimed the pOrtman-
teau at Willesden. When be arrived at
Clearinghouse it was quite dark, and there
were few people about. Taking the heavy
portmanteau in his hand, he carried it
| himself from the station to his Office In
! Duke street.
The moment he got safely into his
! private Office he produced a bunch Of
skeleton keys and set about picking the
| lock. Succeeding in this, he eagerly
searched through the articles in the bag
! for the letters he wanted. To his chagrin,
! he could discover no trace of them. Over
and over again he searched the contents,
! but each time with the same result. At
! length, he paused in his work, almost
! fainting with anxiety and disappoint-
ment.
"Another failure" he said to himself,
| ''and q worse one than before
As he spoke he continued earnestly
turning over the portmanteaa's contents.
"What fop the fellow is" he exclaim-
| ed. "Why, half of mis- luggage is brushes.
And now that 1 notice it, what strange
brushes they are! What heavy backs
they haver
The backs of the brushes certainly
looked very thick, and when Mr.. Wyiie
| examined them closely he found that they
/ Co