The evening times., 1895-08-27
My Mysterious Lady.

You want to know why I gave up being
a detective Well, will tell you, though
it is a sad story.
You know, sir, that had a daughter
as fine girl as you could wish to see. All
the young fellows around sought her notice.
Well, she got a bit spoiled. and then she fell
in love with a good-for-nothing lazy fellow,
aud when objected grew angry.
one day she went away, with never aline
to say where she had gone.
one day the great Langton case made a
sensation in the world. 1t was 4 case of
wholesale robberies committed in railroad
carriages-purses, watches, bags aud other
things had been taken from people in the
most clever manner.
one thing We knew-that most OF the
robberics had been committed in first
class compartment nts, on elderly people, and
often in the night trains; this made our
chances OF discovery more likely.
One day, as was walking up and down
the platform at Paddingten station. no.
ticed tan, elegant looking woman, who
was evidently going by the saue train as
myself. She Wore a thick Veil, so could
not see her features, but she was very dark,
with black hair.
Her walk seemed familiar to me- and
/ tried to recollect where / had before
seen her. but could not remember, try as
would. She appeared to be quite young,
not more than seven or eight and twenty,
and was dressed in plain black.
1 got into a first-class carriage, and ie
was with a peculiar sensation of surprise
that / found myself opposite my friend Of
the platform. There was only one other
person in the compartment, an old lady,
surrounded with luggage of all sorts, bags,
baskets and what not.
At last q sweet voice broke the silence.
.Can you tell me, sir, how long we stop
at the next station?"
1 gave start-that sweet, musical
voice thrilled me strangely. In a moment
my memory flew to my long-lost daughter
How like, and yet unlike; voice and figure
were hers, but here a brunette beauty, with
her dark skin and black hair, while my
girl was as fair as a lily.
You will only have three minutes at the
most, madam" 1 answered; lit is a small
station, and few get in or out"
She never lifted her veil, but / could
see she was watching ME with unusual
interest.
/ had asked to be permitted to open one
fthe windo ws, but my lady companion had
implored me not to do so, as she was
suffering from neuralgia. / could say moth
ing further, but inwardly cursed her
maIady. -.-.- ..
pulled out my watch In half an hour
we should be at our next stopping place.
The tall lady in black had drawn from her
pocket little bottle of some strong smelling
stuff for her face ache. She seemed in great
pain and used the remedy very freely. The
already stuffy air of the carriage grew still
more sitting. A peculiar .odor floated
round me. II was of no use; / must open
that window felt myself dropping off
l must make haste, or-I knew no more.
When 1 was once more conscious 1 was
still in the train. The old lady was asleep
as before, but the tall lady in black was
gone.
Looking out of the window, I saw we
were some way past our last stopping place.
l had actually slept through all the hustle
of the lady's departure and the noise of the
station.
put my hand to pull out my watch. Lot
it was gone, with my purse. With groan,
1 cursed my stupidity. I actually had had
the noted robber in my very clutches, and
had let her go.
AS soon as we came to our next stopping
place I at once telegraphed q description
of the lady to all likely places, and then
took train back to the last station.
1t was about O'Clock when reached the
place. Madam had alighted on that very
platform just two hours before.
1t was necessary to act cautiously. 1 in
quired of the ticket collector IL a lady, tall
clad in black, had passed out through the
gateway that afternoon.
He thought minute, and then said Yes"
He said she carried small portna nteau and
refused assistance. He thought she went
the road to the village, but was not sure.
1 walked away, after first taking care to
alter my appearance, SO that she would
not recognize me should overtake her.
That She was in the village somewh
was pretty certain, unless she was driven
to Calford station, q distance of ten miles.
Into the postoffice hurried and telegraphed
particulars aud orders. Itwasnow5o' clock
the lady might have been driven to Calford,
aud got off by train half an hour ago, and
then all would be up.
/ would go to the village iun and get a
meal. waited until my tea came up, and
asked the girl who brought 1t IL they had
many visitors in the house.
20, no, sir; only lady beside yourself
"a tall lady in black she be. I just took her
some tea q few minutes ago, and she is
beauty, sure enough.
us she fair or dark?' Inquired. care
lessly
told you until an hour ago. She came
In all muffled up. Ike; had neuralgia, sir,
she said; but when took her some tea she
was uudressed and. d.looked lovely. just ike
. picter."
She had told the waitrsas she was suf.