The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-16
BENNINGTON, VT, THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1889

ed about ten of the most innocent of he
letters, and replacing the remainder il
the backs Of the brushes, locked up th'
portmanteau. Then he placed Svende
leri's letter ir one of Lady Noodles, put
them in his pocket, restored his disguise
to what it was when he claimed the
Counts luggage, and, taking the port
manteau in his hand, left the office
When he reached the Strand, he called
a hanson and drove to Euston,
At Euston he asked for the station
master. That official was duly forth
coming.
This find," said the detective to
him, sis not my portmanteau after all.
| thought it was at fret, as it has my
initials on the side and is aSoutthe same
size, but | find that my key won't go in
to the lock, so it can't be mine"
mo sir, it isn't yours" replied the
station master; "it's Count Ulrici's. He's
been kicking up deuce of row about
it. We've had half a dozen kilograms
from Peterborough already. I'm glad
it's recovered. What about your own,
sir ?"
That's the question. You had better
telegraph down the line about it. 1t
must have been put out at one of the
stations the five o'clock train called at.
l suppose Ill call and hear what news
you have tomorrow. Good night"
And the detective walked off.
Before four o'clock the next morning
Mr.. John Wylie was at Euston, not dis
guised this time, but in his usual cos
tune. He took a ticket by the first
train for Peterborough, where he ar
rived about eight. After swallowing a
hasty breakfast at the hotel in that in
teresting town, he Obtained cab and
drove to clearinghouse. There he in
quired for Sir Charles Noodle. Sir
Charles at once saw him.
He explained to Sir Charles that he
was detective. He had long, he said,
been shadowing foreigner who was
suspected of great crime, and who, he
learned lately, was about to try to levy
blackmail upon Sir Charles by pretend
ing to have letters from Lady Noodle
which reflected on her reputation. He
was anxious to have a talk with this
gentleman in an unsupported character
in order to try to obtain some unguarded
statements. He begged Sir Charles to
allow him to represent himself as Sir
WItu lIlt Cdlllc " tic
house. The Baronet seemed very averse
to such course, but Lady Noodle, who
was called in for consultation, so strong
ly supported it, that at last he was in
duced to consent.
About midday Count UlrIci arrived.
He sent up his card to Lady Noodle, but
she refused to see him. Then he asked
for Sir Charles. He was at once shown
into the library where the detective was,
The Count had never seen Sir Charles,
who, involved in business cares, seldom
went into the gay company his wife so
delighted in.
The Count at once proceeded to bust
ness in the coolest and most impudent
manner. He had no diffidence or hest
tatiun about stating what sort of rela-
tions he wished Sir Charles to believe
had existed between him and Lady
Noodle. He said he had letters in her
undeniable handwriting to prove the
truth of his statements,
"Show me them" said the detective.
The Count handed over the letters.
After fumbling with them for moment,
Mr.. Wylie proceeded to read them one
by one. When he had finished he paus
ed, and said very coolly, 81 see nothing
discriminating in these against Lady
Noodle, They are all of the most limo
cent description. But what's this =
And he held up Svendeleri's letter.
The Count turned deadly pale.
"Can l have made a mistake 2" he
muttered.
"I'm afraid you have" said Mr.. Wy.
lie, and he touched the bell.
AS he did so the Count spraDg mad!y
upon him. There was for a moment a
fierce struggle, but before the Italian
could overcome Mr.. Wylie's resistance,
Sir Charles and servant rushed into
the room and seized him.
Too late. my hearty" said the detec-
tive to the Count. Look, Sir Charles,
these are the letters he received from
Lady Noodle; more innocent notes wO.
man never penned. And see what |
discovered among them-s letter from
that Jewish scoundrel Svendeleri, offer
ing two thousand pounds for the Heavi-
side diamonds which were stolen about
two months ago. There stands the
thief !"
"What !" exclaimed the Count, you
are not Sir Charles Noodle 2"
mo; I'm John Wylle, private detec-
tive, at your service"
"What fool l was" exclaimed the
Count, mot to see how il came about
that my luggage went wrong"