The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-03-07
A COLONEI'S PERIL.

zone day." said Mr.. Myvart, "a card
was brought in to me bearing the name
of General Woodhall. He followed it,
and found myself in the presence of
white whiskered old fire eater, who at
once attacked me as though | were an
enemy's position.
"'Know my friend Hardyment? Colo
mel of the Haramzadi Horse-most dis
tinguished officer
81 confessed that had not the honor.
"'He's in trouble. They accuse him
of theft 1t has been put about that he
stole a handsome decoration, a star set
In brilliants, at the levee yesterday By
George, it's monstrousi Don't you think
SOP
4 should like to know the facts |
suggested mildly.
Colonel Hardyment, in the full uniform
of his corps, had been the day previous
to make his bow to royalty on his return
after long exile in the east.
"He had entered the palace and was
mixed up with the throng of dignitaries
pillars of the state, foreign diploma
lists, officers of both services.
''There he made the most of his time,
and with all the dexterity of an old and
practiced thief had collared everything
valuable that came within his reach.
"He was not caught in the act. But
wherever he went havoc and depreda-
ton followed in his track.
".sAnd what might the colonel say
HIMSELF OF course he has heard about
it from some kind friend
"'Not a word. The fact is-Hardy-
ment-is not to be found
"'That of itself looks did not dare
finish the sentence.
"'Pll shoot the man who accuses hint
Everybody's wrong, or else some one has
personated him.
"'But that would have been very diff
cult. First of all, the possession of his
uniform, the knowledge how to put 1t on,
and it would have been so easy to recog-
nize him, to detect an impostor. Such a
man as Colonel Hardyment would be well
known
"sNot in this country. He has not
been home for years. and there were very
few Indian officers at the levees.'
"'Were your
"'Of course not. Doyou suppose that
this would have happened if l had been
thereP
81 shook my head gravely. The whole
thing looked fishy in its most favorable
light-kleptomani at least.
"'You must not overrate my powers.
Let us go at once to Colonel Hardyment's
quarters. Where does he live, or, rath-
er, where did he liver
at was @ modest residence-only one
room, in q house all chambers, in the
neighborhood of Pail Mall. The porter,
who knew the general, accompanied us
up stairs and let US into his room with
his pass key.
"The room was all in disorder, cloth
ing lying about, uniform just as it had
been taken off thrown onto the bed,
which I observed had not been slept in.
"'When did you see the colonel lastr
I asked the porter. TO speak to, !
mean
"'The day before yesterday, SIR
"sHe has no servant Of his own?
".Not now,' interposed the general.
He had man--engaged him directly he
came iiome-but turned him off week
or two ago. That was why he came to
live here, where he could get attendance
and be valeted.' ID
II now made q more searching exami-
nation of the room. 1t had evidently
been ransacked. rummaged, rified from
end to end. Everything valuable had
disappeared; there was not trace Of q
trinket; the Jewel tray Of che dressing
case was empty; the tops presumably
silver) of the bottles had been removed
and some of the best Of the clothes.
II saw no reason to exonerate the colo
mel until / caught sight of bunch Of
keys ON the floor, and STOPPING to pick
them up found also an unmistakable
picklock or burglars skeleton key.
'sIt was thefirst suspicion of foul play.
Colonel Hardyment, under the circum-
stances, would scarcely have left his
keys behind him. He might certainly
have forgotten them, but even that
would not account for the skeleton key.
ss'Tell me more about the coloneps late
servant, will you, General Woodhall?
Where did he get hima
Through an agency, Ibelieye. Ras-
kelf was his name-a smart, soldierlike
chap-about Hardyment's own size, had
rather look Of him, indeed
"But even as spoke there was sound
Of hurried footsteps on the stairs, and
some one broke suddenly into the room
wild, disheveled figure--dirty, unshorn,
In ragged clothes-who threw himself
all OF heap in an armchair.
at was Colonel Hardyment himself.
Concern, surprise, indignation, were the
feelings expressed ON both sides and con-
fess shared them and was deeply af-
fected when heard the colonePs story,
which, after good dose Of brandy, he
was strong enough to tell. N
HE had returned to his chambers late
one night from his club when he found
message waiting for him. An old SOL
der friend Of his, who had just come
home and was staying at the Royal ho-
tel Blackfriars. had been taken suddenly
dangerously i'll. Would Colonel Hardy
ment come at once in the cab sent2
"He jumped in, was driven off rapidly
along the embankment, the long line Of
lights on which were the last things he
distinctly remembered. Somewhere there
he lost consciousness vague recollec-
ton Of the odor of chloroform chung to
him-and only came to himself long
afterward, as it seemed, and then he was
awakened by sharp sense of discom-
fort and pain.
HE found that he was bound hand
and foot to the bench on which he lay.
Then the pale dawn broke and gave a
dim light into the den in which he was
Imprisoned. 1t was back scullery OF