Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-29
CHAPTER XVII.
THE HAT WITH BLUE FEATHERS

company mel on ueF journey up 70 LOu-
don next morning, Mr.. Padger betook
himself TO the pier where he hoped to
meet the old sailor who rowed the guard
boat, and to hear whether the man in
the blue bathing dress OF the woman
who had screamed had appeared again
upon the scene.
He was not disappointed, for a few
minutes after his arrival he saw the old
man approaching with altogether extra
ordinary alacrity.
"I'Ye been a-lookin for you
guy nor, - he exclaimed IN a hoarse
whisper, as soon as he was sufficiently
near. ffI've seed 'er agin. -
Where? said Mr.. Padger.
''On the beach this blessed mornin q
bein photographed.
1.-The woman who screamed out that
day."
The very same, identical. -
WAS she alonel'
No, there was gent along side of
ser. g"
''Was it the man who had pockets in
his breeches?'
'Couldn t say not knowing of i'm out
Of his bathing suit
. What was he like?''
But the old salt powers Of observa-
ton were extremely limited, and he was
bic description Of the man; nor was he
moresUccessfUI IN his efforts to recall the
appearance OF the woman, his prevailing
impression not advancing beyond the
fact that she Wer smart little craft
and carried blue feathers at her ma in
truck, by which Mr.. Padger not un-
justitably concluded that he meant in
ler hat -
Look here, - he said, after vainIy
endcavoring to stimulate the old mans
memory, 6 Can you show me the man who
was taking the photograph this morn
ingl''
''Lor' bless zee, yes, sir, - replied the
man. cit was jim GarTon, and knows
him a most as well as if e were my own
brother -
The photographer was easily found,
being still NJ his usual post on the sands,
and when he had disposed of a family
group whom he was engaged in render
ing immortal, the old sailor endeavored
10 explain To HIM what was required of
HIM. It was some time before he could
understand the nauticalIY favored meta
phors of the Old salts description, but
when st length he realized his meaning
he declared at once that he recoIIected
her perfectly.
And very pretty she was too, with
'er blue at and feathers -
But though he was decidedly more in
telEgent than the sailor, he was COM
pietely devoid of the faculty Of painting
portrait in words, and was unable to
advance beyond the merest generalities,
while he could not give any account of
the personal appearance Of the man.
50 Benz - as he owned to Mr.. Padger
with an airy wink, ''more occupied in
spottin' the points o ( the little darling.
"a inf "a aIoiv 1o1
denly. I've got a pictur of 'em 'ere.
The gent moved in the fust 1 took and
spilled the plate, and then wouldn take
is. SO I KEEP IL for myself. -
tie half disappeared for q moment IL
the li5tle box which formed his portable
dark room, and reapDeared with a num-
Der OF negatives, which he proceeded to
examine.
There, " he said at length, ''that's
the little beauty. That's the one you
mean, aip { it?''
The old sailor took 1t, and having with
some difficulty placed il at such an angle
as enabled him 10 see it, exclaimed:
THAT s 'eT-that s che very one, and
the ivin' bimGge Of 'er too Jim, |
Illus told your father as you d be a great !
harris.
Let me sec, - said Mr.. Padger,. but |
when he had it IN his hand be hesitated !
for moment before looking at it.
Would he find IN that little square of |
stained glass q further confirmation of /
his worst fears the face of Gertrude /
Euuis, OF was this merely a wild goose /
chase he was engaged upon? His first !
apprehension proved to be unfounded /
for IL was not Miss Ennis or the least like !
her IT was g pretty, rather vulgar /
looking woman with q queer piquant /
little face. The man as the photo /
grapher had remarked, had unfortunate
ly moved, ana his features were repre- /
scented ny a shapeless, unrecognizable
blur
''Wiu you let me have this?'' he
asked when ne had concluded his exami-
nation
''Wou, - said the photographer doubt
July II ain the custom in the pro-
LESSON 20 sell the pictures of parties to
other parties, leastwise without the other
parties consent, and / had some
thoughts of keepm' the little daisy for
myself. -
Ion, never mind then. - said Mr.
Fadger, iudiffeTeutlv After all what /
Old il matter. He knew too much of his
business TO reject ali evidence that did
not conduce 10 the confirmation of his
own beliefs, but the probability was that
the coincidence of The woman : scream
coincidence and nothing more.
''TeiI yer wot, - said the man, as Mr..
PadEer moved away. ''Tou shall ave
u for hart crown, with gilt frame,
and 'ook TO aug il up by. -
All right, said Mr. Padger. The
price was eKorbitant, but II might per
haDs prove useful, and he would not
NEGLECT any clew which tended to lead
hlm from the point he dreaded to ap-
pIraCh.
Say, guy nor. - exclaimed the
sailor, rs hT. Padger having duly re-
vr.Erd and pocketed his purchase was
making his way homewards; 'ow about
that arr suvrin?''
Why, / promised it to you if you
showed the woman TO me. -
Wen, 'anE it ali, / done my best,
and the best can do no better, - grum-
bIed The man
on, all right, - said Mr. Padger
irritably, anxious to get rid of him
There you are -
''Tbankee guv nor, said the man