The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-24

STORY, US ne toio IL, ala not explain
things to my satisfaction, and this less
cned glamour gave me a clearer in.
sight But was in cleft stick and
without grounds for hostile action had
even the wish to take it,
1t was in the bittercst time of the
winter months when Montgomery ono
day said to me quite suddenly: II must
go over to Lancaster tomorrow"
You'll have cold drive" said.
He could not ride, so 1 knew he
would not ask for my pony.
''liow can | get IL trap?" he asked.
'Oh! I'll manage that" answered;
land III come with you for tho sake of
the outing"
thought he looked disturbed ut this,
but had an uneasy feeling about this
trip. did not want to lose sight of
my charming ledger, who by this time
owed me for nearly three months
board and lodging, and-I wanted to see
the end of the drama.
But mean to stop few days." he
said
''Do you? Well, can come back be-
fore YOU" 1 continued. "At all events
the jaunt will not be unpleasant, even
in this bitter weather, and we shall en-
JOY it better together"
''All right" said Montgomery, in n
tone that suggested 1t was all wrong.
got the trap, and we set out over
the rough road which the winter rains
and storms had made worse than be-
fore. We were little bchindhand to
start with. Montgomery had taken an
uncomfortable time to dress, and by
his bulky appearance had stuffed all
he possessed into his pockets. This
delay lost us our train, and when we
got to the station there was nothing
for us but darkness and disappoint-
mont. There were but two trains out
in the day-this at noon which we had
lost, and one at four o'clock to catch
tho up mail train at Lancaster.
What shall we do?" l said, when our
tiasco was made apparent.
To my surprise and Indignation, my
lodger's only reply was torrent of
about the foulcst oatlis 1 had ever
heard from human lips.
Swearing won't help u.s." l said,
gravely, and please remember l am a
clergyman"
Montgomery seemed to pull himself
together upon this, and made an apol-
ogy of a sort.
Let us go for n drink to the pub"
he said.
''All right" answered. You have
your drink and I'll have some tea
We turned up to the little village
where the Wheatshcaf held out all
manner of promises of good cheer for
man and beast. In the bar parlor we
found among others old Bob Liant,
lounging about us usual. AS we en-
tered and gave our orders-Mont-
gomery for his brandy and l for my
teal saw the old fellows eyes fixed
on my companion with an anxious
scrutiny. After n minute he went out,
and could see through small pane
let into the door what Montgomery
could not-the old constable nltcr-
nately reading a sheet of paper and
looking at Montgomery.
Then he went into the street, and
watched him 90 into the post office,
which was also u telegraph Office.
Was there any connection between
this and his scrutiny of my ledger?
We We're lingering about the place.
Montgomery rcsolutc to go to Ian
caster by the four o'clock train, and 1
as rcsolutc to wait at Fellside with
him-I thought to his chagrin-when
the noise of an engine painting into the
station was heard. 1t was at an en-
tirely uncovenantcd hour, and it meant
special. 1t meant something more;
for presently two policemen walked
up the cobble-paved street and turned
into the Whcatshcaf, accompanied by
Lob Liant. My lodgcr and had gone
back there for shelter from the rain.
which was falling steadily.
When they entered L saw Montgom-
cry start, turn white. and as it were
cover. The elder of the two came
up to him and tapped him on the
shoulder.
II arrest you in the queens name"
he said, 'for stealing Lady Asplin's
jewels"
''Stcaling." cried; and 1 knew that
was as white as my friend, my charm
ing ledger.
Yes" said the man, stolidly. "This
man, jim Brown, was Lady Asplin's
confidential butler, and made off with
her jewels on October 90 last Since
then we've missed him, and only today
came up with him. But now he's safe"
he added clicking the bracelets sharp
and firm.
So / had taken to my home as an
equal and q man of honor q clever and
unprincipled thief, and COMPOUNDED the
superficial 'gentility' OF sharp but
lers quick study, with the gcntlchood
of pne of the purple born. 1t was q
lesson never to be forgotten nor re-
pcated. Since then I have elected to
bear my solitude uncompanioncd and
to give myself away no more to lodg-
ers, charming or otherwise. For the