The Portland daily press., 1895-07-15

wo"lu fetreat shortly as soon as his
Lonoon affairs were disposed of. The
Gount lived in a fine suit of bachelor
apartments, spoke with a very foreign
accent and frequently lamented the fact
that ne had never before visited the
great English city.
nave no particular fancy for noble
men, and so l declined with various ex-
cuses all invitations to meet the count.
But one evening just after dinner there
came to me the beautiful daughter of a
gentleman at whose house 1 had just
dined.
II have favor to ask of you, dear
Mr.. Grosvenor, she said, land it is
that you remain this evening for small
card party which l give in the billiard
room. One of my guests has written
that he cannot be here, and," laughing,
"papa says Americans are so charming
ly obliging that have ventured to ask
you to make up the missing one. And
besides | want you to meet Count Zier
storff. Papa, persuade Mr.. Grosvenor
to meet the count. -
The girls blushing face and the ia
theirs rather brusque reply rather pre-
pared me for the revelation which the
father made me in confidence few min
utes later over our cigars. Remain, !"
said he. 81 fear that my daughter is
deeply sTnitten with this stranger who
has been i'll London such few days.
And wish you, with your native sharp
ness, to inspect him critically for me.
In other words, tell me if you think him
a suitable match for good and beauti-
full girl like my daughter That he has
money have no doubt .
The billiard room was dimly lighted
at one end when the guests began to ar
rive. The first announcement was Count
zierstorff. And, turning with laughing
face to present me to his nobility, Miss
Delaplaine nv hostess. uttered a crv of
dismay. With sudden attack of velt!-
go had reeled, and but for servant s
assistance should have fallen to The
floor.
My illness did not prevent me from
returning to the room to say good night
to my hostess and also to get another
glimpse at the ''count - He was lit
tie thinner than when I had last seen
him, and he wore wig, but that ne
was the man I sought my quick eyes
left me no doubt.
That night I allowed the count to go
home with a party of gay friends &C
companying him, and it was fully day
break when they left his rooms, and
saw the chandeliers go out. Finally
but one light twinkled in his apart-
ments. ''That is his sleeping room, y
said, land now is the time to act.
Noiselessly slipped into the house,
giving the doorman handful of silver
to admit me, and along the corridors l
stole to the door of my gentleman's
room.
y"You may go, James, heard him
say to his valet. ST shall not need you
again tonight. And, by the way, James,
you can pack up early in the morning
We start at noon for Berlin
''Not SO fast, John Whiting I said
to myself. ''You have an account to set
tle with me first. -
The door opened, and the valet came
out. Slipping past the man, [ glided
into the counts room. He heard the
sound and turned with startled jump
to meet me- The heavy wig which he
had worn was laid aside, and his beard,
too was gone He was as clean shaven
as a monk AS he saw me he advanced
a step, and for a second we stood face
to face.
The sudden disappearance of Count
Eierstorf from London society made
something of a sensation. And mysteri-
Gus lines orept into the daily papers.
Once before taking the steamer tho
count begged to drop a line to Miss De-
laplaine and I humored him. But all
during the rest of the journey he was
silent, asking nothing and expecting
nothing.
Once I saw mute question in his
eyes, and I answered it. "You want to
know about Mrs. Whiting and Kate?'' 1
asked. "TheJ are much broken, and I
think this will-will kill them' Per-
haps l was mereiless, but detectives
have less mercy for criminals than COM
mon folk have.
The directors knew in advance Of
our arrival, and SO did the police. We
still agreed that all should be kept Sc
cret, and so when we arrived on the
pier there was simply mysterious
closed carriage and few officers in cit
izens' clothes to meet us. 1t was morn
ing, and we drove at once to the bank.
And ] must confess that the triumph
had achieved, ombined with the sur.
prise in store for them, made my heart
beat with more expectation than it had
in my 25 years experience.
The bank directors sat in solemn con.
olave when we entered. The prisoner s
hat was we'll pulled over his eyes, and
on each side of him were officers, great
stalwart men that fairly hid him from
sight.
Gentlemen, l said, shaking hands
with the vice president and bowling to
the directors, II have the privilege, by
permission of the chief Of police, of
bringing the prisoner here before he is
consigned to permanent quarters at the
expense of the state. And thrusting