The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-28

slave OIL the weed and can't be philoso-
pher without my pipe"
Up to his little box of room he
climbed, found his pipecase and tobacco
pouch, and In five minutes was strolling
out to the point once more, when he
came suddenly upon the night watch
man, parsonage OF whose functions
and authority he was entirely ignorant.
The man eyed him narrowly and es-
sayed to speak. Not knowing him, and
desiring to be alone, Armitage pushed
past and was surprised to find that q
hand was on his shoulder and the man
at his side before he had gone rod.
Beg pardon, SIR" said the watch.
man grufay, but I don't know you
Are you stopping at the hotel?' /
II am, said Armitage coolly, TAX.
ing his pipe from his lips and blowing
q cloud over his other shoulder. "And
who may you bei"
II am the watchman, and l do not
remember seeing you come today"
Nevertheless l did"
ION what train, sir?"
'"This afternoons up train"
You certainly were not on the omni-
bus when it got here" ="
Very true. walked over from be.
yond the schoolhouse
You must excuse me, sir. did not
think of that, and the manager requires
me to know everybody. Is this Major
ArmitageH'
"Armitage is my name, but I'm not
major"
"Yes, sir; I'm glad to be set right.
And the other gentleman-him as was
inquiring for Colonel Maynard tonight?
He's in the army, too, but his name
don't seem to be on the book. He only
came IN On the late train"
"Another man to see Colonel May
nardP' asked the captain, with sudden
interest "Just come in, you say2 I'm
sure I've no idea. What was he like?"
II don't know, sir. At first thought
you was him. The driver told me he
brought gentleman over who asked
some questions about Colonel Maynard,
but he didn't get aboard at the depot,
and he didn't come down to the hotel
got off somewhere up there on the
bench, and Jim didn't sec him."
where's Jim?" said Armitage.
"Coms with me. watchman. l want
to interview him.
Together they walked over to the
barn, which tho driver was just locking
,up>after making everything secure for
the night
"Who was it ipquiring for Colonel
MaJnardI' asked Armitage
II don't know, SIR" was the slow
answer, "There was man got aboard
as I was coming across the common
there in the village at the station. There
were several passengers from the train
and some baggage, SO he may have
started ahead on foot, but afterward
concluded to ride. AS soon as saw
him get in I reined up and asked where
he was going. He had no baggage nor
nuthin, and my orders are not to haul
anybody except people Of the hotel, SO
he came right forward through the bus
and took the seat behind me and said
twas an right, ho was going to the
hotel, and he passed up half dollar. |
told him that couldn't take the money
that bus fares were paid at the Office
-and drove ahead. Then he handed
me cigar, and pretty soon he asked
me If there werc many people, and who
I had the cottages, and when I told him
he asked which was Colonel Maynard's,
but he didn't say he knew him, and the
noxt thing l knew was when we got
here to the hotel he wasn't in the bus.
He must have stopped back through all
those passengers and slipped off up there
on the bench. Ho was in 1t when we
passed the little brown church up on tho
hill" "
What was he liko?"
81 couldn't sec him plain. He step
ped out from behind tree as we drove
through the common and came right
into the bus. 1t was dark in there, and
all know is ho was tall and had on
dark clothes. Some Of the people inside
must have seen him better, but they are
all gone to bed, Isuppose.'
II will so over to tho hotel and in
quiro anyway" said Armitage, and did
80. Tho lights wero turned down, and
no one was there, but he could hear
voices chatting in quiet tones on the
broad, sheltered veranda without, and
going thither found three or four mon
enjoying quiet smoke. Armitage was
q man Of action. He stepped at once to
the group:
Pardon me, gentlemen, but did any
Of you como over in the omnibus from
the station tonightH"
II did, sir, replied one Of the party,
removing his cigar and twitching off
tho ashes with his little finger, then
looking up with the air Of man ex-
pectant Of question
"The watchman tells me q man came
over who was making inquiries for
Colonel Maynard. May / ask If you saw
or heard Of such personr"
"a gentleman got in soon after we
left the station, and when the driver
hailed him he went forward and took
seat nOar him. They had some oonver-
sation, but / did not hear it. only
know that he got out a@in q little
while before we reached the hotel. ?"
Gould you see him and describe him?
! am a. friend Of Colonel Maynard's, an
officer Of bis regiment which will ac-
count for my inquiry"
well, yes, sir. / noticed he was very