St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-01

himself in the most comfortable chair
i'll the library, and ringing the bell,
ordered the footman to summon the
detective into his presence.
"Mr. McCann," said he, assuming an
air OF as much sincerity as was compat-
i6le with the usual good-natured express
| sion OF his countenance, ''What is the
meaning of all this? Lady Sophia COM
plains that you follow her about every
! where and this persecution is making
her quite ill. Now, | cannot allow her
to be annoyed in this manner, so please
do not let me hear of your doing SO any
| more'
For moment or two the astute i'm
spector made no reply, though he
Winked more than once with an air OF
the most portentouS solemnity; then.
creeping softly across the room, he
| threw open the door as if he expected
to discover some one on the rug outside,
with his ear to the keyhole. Appar-
emily disappointed at finding no one, he
closed the door with the same stealthy
| caution, and on coming close up to Sir
Peregrine's chair, and laying a great
! f0reflnger personally upon the barOnet'S
coat sleeve whispered hoarsely:
Lady Sophia is good many years
younger than you, Sir Peregrine?'
And who on earth said she wasn't
man." muttered Sir Peregrine hastily,
for his age was rather a sore subject
with him; Everybody knows that;
but what has my aye or hers to do with
the sapphireS?' At the same time he
withdrew his arm from the inspector S
| touch. CHANGING at the sleeve as he die
! so, as If he half-eXpected TO find that
the intruding forefnger had left a
| mark.
"Ahem," coughed the detective, and
there was sort of solemn invitation in
the cough for the baronet to ask further
questions, but, as Sir Peregrime re-
manned obstinately silent. Inspector
McCann was compelled to go on.
Lady Sophia takes good deal of no.
| tice of young gentlemen, Sir Pere-
grine," remarked he.
The shaft struck home. and Sir PEREZ
CRIME could not refrain from making a
slight movement expressive of annoy
ance, for he could not deny that Lady
Sophia frequently manifested strong
penchant for class which he was in
the habit of contemptuouSly designating
as ''bitS of boys,' taking a kind of
maternal Solicitude i'll them, which the
| scandal-mongerS of society were at
| times prone to animadvert on in rather
ali unkindly manner.
| well, well, and suppose she does"
|
has that to do with you or any one else,
except MYSELF"
Lord Athelstane Fulham has been
! going it bit lately, and think am
not wrong i'll stating that his lOrdship is
| in Queer street," continued the in
| spector, placidly.
| Sir Peregrine nodded an assent that
i Lord AthelStane'S difficulties were not
unknown to him in common with the
rest of society, as, indeed. at that time.
they formed a most Interesting portion
of the chronique scandaleuse Of the
day.
HE is going to Rotterdam" continued
| McCann, raising his finger impressive.
lly; "to Rotterdam by to nights boat
from Harwick.'
WELL" returned Sir Peregrine,s 81
suppose getting out of the country for a
time Is the les. thing that he can do"
| ROTTERDAM is not far from Amster-
DAM" answered the detective, senten-
tiously: land that is about the best.
place l know for getting rid of jeweiry.
VIII CHI has been come by in rather a,
queer sort of way. The Amsterdam,
mers don't give too much money, but
then they don't ask any impertinent.
! questions, either.''
"Hullow exclaimed Sir Peregrine,
placing both his hands upon the arms,
| of his char, and half raising himself
| up, land what the deuce do you mean
with your Lord Athelstane. and Amster-
| dam, and jewels that have been come
| by in queer way, eh?'
Once more the detective gazed eau
! tiouSly round the room, and as if to
make assurance doubly sure, stopped,
peeped under the table, and then cross
ing the room thrust the poker short
hn oh
| satisfied with these precautions, he
| again took up his place in front of Sir
| Peregrine and continued.
| HE have got" said the inspector,
| whose grammar was at times slightly
| cratic, "he have got a green velvet
| Jewel casket, which he won't trust to
| no portmanteau, but carries it in his
| hand wrapped up in piece of brown
paper and tied with red tape"
why, confound it, man." exclaimed
| Sir Peregrne, angrily, Lady Sophia's
sapphires were in green velvet case.''
Yes. my inquiries told ME that, Sir
| Peregrine." returned the detective, with
an air of triumph; ''things arn't long
will say the word. Ill have warrant
out against him, and nab him before he
sets his foot on board the steamer Boom
| plies, which starts Tonight
Sir Peregrne paused for a moment
| and turned over the matter in his mind.
mo" said he at length, Il won't have
| my wife'S name connected with anv
scandal. Bless my soul, we should be
| having an article in the Universe or
else paragraph in Verify, with per-
haps portrait of her and view of
| Hillside hall in some of the other
papers. On myword, | believe society
| Journals are worse than financial ones
| for matchmaking. l tell you what will
do. however. we will cross to Rotterdam
| i'll the same boat as he does and make
him give them up without any expos
! uTe."
just as you like Of course, Sir Pere-
grine." returned the detective. but il
strikes me that we shall have nastv
passage: not that L cafe, for | have
been too often across the herring pond
| i'll pursuit of runaway cashiers or alb
scOnding bankruptS to care for wind or
weather. but if you are bad sailor-''
and he glanced inQuiringly at the baro-
net as he ventured Oh this surmise.
Sir Peregrine WINGED little, and
moved uneaSily towards the library
window, against which the blast was
driving the rain in one continuous
sheet. For an instant he hesitated, and
then putting on an expression of al
most Roman fortitude, observed:
"Never mind whether l am a good
sailor or not, Mccain, the course have
marked out for myself is evidently the
proper one, and l intend to follow it.
The passage is not very long one, so
I'll risk it. You had better go and get
what you want and meet me at the sta.
tion."
IAN old sailor like myself" returned
Mccain, don't want to make heap of
preparations like mere land lubber. i
daresay you have spare waterproof to
lend me, and l will take snack in the
servants hall before starting, as we
have an hour and half yet to spares
%
Sir Peregrine nodded his assent, and
as soon as he was left alone sat down to
think matters over. He had sort of
V1vup idea that he was pQinp IN moI-o =,