The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-01

assuredly receive.
looked at my watch. IL was already
seven o'clock. The through train started
at eight. / told my valet TO pack my val
Use and to put in some official paper and
envelopes. This done, i drove TO the sta
tion by myself. AS yet, there was no
sign of lie Grand. / waited about on the
platform in the hope that he would
make his appearance, but | waited in
vain. At last, AT five minutes to eight, il
suddenly occurred to me TO make thor
ough inspection Of the train. 1t was well
/ did so, for there, huddled up in the cor
ner OF a trst-class compartment, with a
travelling cap drawn down over his face,
and the collar OF his overcoat pulled up
to the eyes, was lie Grand, and he must
have been there for nearly an hour. Ne
had done his bost to disguise himself,
but there was no concealing those huge
proportions. jumped into the carriage
just as the train began TO steam slowly
out OF the station.
CHAPER Nv.
No doubt lie Grand saw at once that
il would be impossible for him 10 main
tain his incognito, so he made virtue
of necessity, and said:
"What are you running away too?"
"Only for n day or 30, i said.
"That is just my case. / want little
change, and really there is nothing to be
gained dancing attendance on the con-
gress. Never was there such collection
OF dumb dogs. -
IL had still doubted that lie Grand
had obtained some valuable information,
l could have doubted no longer. Moth
ing else would have justified this turning
of his back upon the congress whilst Ii
was still in the middle OF its sittings.
i determined to stick close to him in
the hope that | might gain some definite
information. However, during our Ion z
a e. "a
not until we were actually aboard tho
steamer which was TO convey us TO Dover
that he allowed his habitual boastfulness
to overcome his caution in even the
smallest degree. Then, Judging himself.
no doubt, TO be beyond the reach of any
possible danger, he drew from his pocket
the blue Official envelope which IS.,Ld
once before caught sight OF and said with
a triumphant smile:
This is one of my surprise packages. J"
"Indeed," ] said, "and what is the
value inside?"
Perhaps a crown, he answered gran
diloquently.
Then ne returned it to his poe ket, but
not before 1 had noticed two things
about IL. The first that IL was fastened |;
the second that there was no writing
upon IL.
i had now 10 devise some plan to get
possession OF this envelope, and II was
not long before hit upon one.
3 ! left lie Grand and went into another
cabin Here opened my valise and took
out precisely similar envelope. Then
folded sheet OF foolscap paper and plac-
ing II inside fastened the envelope. / now
had dummy package not 10 be dis
tinguished externally from the one in lie
Grand's pocket.
All this was simple enough. The difi-
Guilty was how to effect the exchange.
but had my own scheme.
The custom house officers were, as usu-
al, on board, and j went up To the chief
OF them, and told him IN confidence that
there was q passenger on board whom II
might be well for them to search for
cigars or tobacco. "Of course" i added,
"'I do not wish to be mixed up with the
business i just give you the kint for
what IL 10 worth. You cannot mistake
the passenger in question, he is so i'm
mense, and i can hardly believe that all
his bulk Is genuine.
The official was much obliged TO me 70
the hint, and 1t was arranged between
us that the search should not take place
till just as we were reaching Dover, and
that l should then place myself close to
the suspected passenger in order to avoid
the possibility of a mistake.
All came OF as we had arranged. As
the steamer was on the point of entering
the harbor, 1 went up TO lie Grand to
ietch my Nhllsc Nuich hnu PfeNiouoiy
placed beside him. Then the revenue
officers came up and asked him il he had
anything to declare.
"Nothing," said lie Grand impatiently.
'Please TO open your packages"
These were duly examined, but nothing
contraband was discovered.
"And now, sir, said the chief official,
81 must trouble you to turn out your
pockets"
"Whatl'i, exclaimed Le Garnd, SWELL
ing with indignation.
"Duty, sir. I"
"But il is unheard OF. Do you know
who i amp
"Thst doesn't matter, sir; we have the
right TO search any passenger.
"You will hear more of this" said lie
Grand.
But he had 10 submit, and he laid
motley collection of articles on the table.