The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-02-17
A CHANCE OBSERVATION.

telescope, which was fine and powerful ln
strument, it occurred 60 me to ht my tcrros
trial eve piece Co The tube and aulu.a myself
looking around Che country. I had ite.
quently tested the power Of nay gias, by read.
Tag the time ON a church clock iu "a ucighbor
ing town, aud counting lightning rods on
distant buildings and IN various other uays.
and never tired Of making fresh tests
On this day had been through my rou-
tine, and, while sweeping tho glass slowly
around for fresh objects of interest / saw.
through a vista IN "a distant piece of woods.
two men carrying a small hut seemingly
heavy trunk
knew the woods perfectly. having become
familiar with every square yard oi 10 in my
cunning expeditions
The sight Of two men carrying trunk in
the woods was singular enough 20 excite my
curiosity speculatod on their probable er
rand. and. remembering Chat there was a
railroad station not Tar from there decided
that they were ON the'r way GO intercept 70
train.
As watched. the two men. putting ih"
trunk down and using it for seat began $3.50
animated conversation, which. ] judged. was
an argument Ny opinion was based on them
gestures and facial expressions. which ]
could see plainly
One Of the men was much taller than tlc
other. much better dressed and hol much
finer features The other, who va, Of loss
stature but very powerful looking owing o.
great breadth Of shoulder, and depth of chest
was dressed like lahorer
/ could gre these men 81. plainly fhni DO
seemed strange that could mot bear their
voices. and felt SO much lse au eave-lrop.
per that when they started simultaneously
and looked iu my direction / mtncfivclv
shrank back % avoid observation
They must have heard some noise which
startled them Tor they rose quickly and
stood in attitudes which befohmei expect
ancy. They stood Chm. a'.rt watchfu. and
apparently listening, for few n-taut.. and
then resumed their Seats as if what bad dis
turbed them was no longer m object of
anxiety.
The tall man soon rose. in decisive
sort Of way, and the other, rather reluctantly
as I thought. walked away ! concluded
that the tall man had sent Dim back for some
forgotten piece of baggage lt seemed nat
ural that the relations of the two men should
be those of master and servant. but could
not understand the equality indicated by
the mutual labor If carrying the trmk. of
the apparently familiar air of discussion.
No: / was mistaken m my -ufmi-e. the
servant, if be- We're such. bad NOT gone moro
than few steps, FOR here Dee was again.
bearing a pickax and spade
The tall man ODD inc meantime hAd Deem
walking about as If selecting spot o. bury
the trunk, for he pointed 90 large hollow
beside a granite boWlder where the servant
began digging. after having cleared away tAe
leaves which had collected there
While the servant wa, digging the master
sat on the bovlder watching him 40 work.
and smoking a cigar which saw him take
from pocket cigarette case and light
When the hole was ready the two mm
lifted the trunk into it and the short one COWS
ered II with earth Doe had thrown ont and
then carefully covered the place with leave,
The spot selected was a good one for the pm.
pose. as the hollow merely looked "a little
shallower than before
After the short man bad carefully con
cealed the tools beneath projecting part "
tho rock and filed the crevice with leaves.
the two held short conversation and au-
arated. going in different directions. tie tab
man toward the railroad station and the
other in the direction from ,mch they had
come with the trunk just "a, the men dis
appeared heard steps comin-up th, oh-e.v-
atOry stairs.
drew a long breath. a- oile does after ha.-
Ing finished a chapter iu an interesting Book
and. turning from my glass. sass servant
bringing me "a telegram DO bore tho am.
nouucemeut of a +ar relatives death, andi,
drove from my mind all Thought Of The CO.,
currence which bad just euero,-ei my atteu-
ton so thoroughly
As soon as could get tr.n ] was ou my
way 70 "A distant city, where had 90 repro
sent NV family no the funeral 0f my late
relative
Cirermstances connected with cuisines, per-
tanning 70 my relatives estate detained me
somewhat more than a month.
Soon after .ny return home ! beard Of il
robbery which had been committed iu the
peighboring town Of -a month or more
before
Mr.. Hammond. Wealthy gentleman who
owned fine place ON the bank Of the ---
river. had been robbed of several thousand
dollars worth of iewclry. silgerware and
other things. among which was "a very fine
collection ~ precious stones. both cut and
uncut
No trace of the stolen article. had been
SO 49,, haa a,., claw, to th. identify of
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