The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-07-03
miscellaneous.
The Mystery of ThorndaIe.
BY EDWIN AUSTIN OLIVER.

pulled out of the glass domed station.
| was looking out of the car window,
when felt the swish of silk skirt,
and, turning, | saw II richly dressed
lady seat herself beside me.
Excuse me-" | said, lifting my cap;
would you prefer the seat by the
Window"
She looked at me through her heavy
veil, but made no reply.
Deaf; perhaps deaf and dumb |
thought, as | glanced at her rich at
tire. However that may have been,
was quite certain, by the odor which
filled the air, that it was not necessary
for her to speak to convince me that
her favOrite perfume was violet.
When the train reached Thorndale
she arose to get out. l noticed she
had dropped her pocketbook close to
my feet. | stopped and picked it up,
and was about to start alter her, when
something prompted HE to keep my
seat. The train started; | stealthily
slipped the purse into my pocket and
looked out of the window, feeling as
if the eyes of every one in the car were
upon me. As Il matter of fact, | do
not suppose any one had seen me. |
consoled myself with the thought that
the pocketbook probably contained
something by which | could ascertain
the name of the owner.
Perhaps | might tell you that | was
Il boy IL years of age, and up to that
time could not recall Il dishonest act
of which | had been guilty. | lived
with my mother, and we were in hum
BILE circumstances.
was employed as an errand boy in a
large dry goods house i'll New York
City.
When my story opens l was going
to place called Blockton, on an er-
rand for my employer.
How that little piece of leather
burned my pocket. | had not taken
it out, for fear some one would know
that l had been dishonest, and it re
manned in the place | had first put it
until | reached my own room that
night.
| was bewildered when opened it
and found it contained $l60. Most of
the money was in new, crisp bills of
the denominations of SOS and SOS.
How my eyes danced as | counted
them over. | had never handled SO
much money before in my life.
Carefully looked into each com
partment of the pocketbook, hoping
to find something which would lead
to the Identification of the owner.
But found nothing. This was u dis
appointment, for five minutes after /
had picked up the lost article l regret
ted having hesitated as to my duty.
| almost considered myself thief.
concluded that my only chance of
finding the owner of the pocketbook
would be in going to Thorndale. But
how was to get time to go there? l
hesitated at asking my employer for
leave of absence, for fear that my dis
honesty might become known to him.
Several days later my mind was some
what relieved by being commissioned
to deliver some goods in Thorndale.
had not time to go home for the
peck etbook, but decided to make in
quiry, and if possible discover the
residence of the lady who had a fond
ness for violet perfume. Thorndale
was small village of only a few hun
dred inhabitants.
do you happen to know a lady
who got off the halfpast ? train last
Thursday afternoon?' l inquired of
the official | found standing in the
station at Thorndale.
well, no, | can't remember back
as far as that" was the disappointing
reply.
'She was tall, handsomely dressed,
and, if | mistake not, is hard of hear
ing" | added.
well, we've got il lady what lives
here who happens to be about as deaf
and dumb as they make EN-" was
the rather inelegant way he expressed
himself. Lets see; what day was it
you asked about?n
Last Thursday; the half-past 2
o'clock train from New York.
Did she smell like a cologne bot
tle?" asked the agent, with a broad
smile.
"Yes, violet l answered, encour-
aged. That's her Can you direct
me to where she lives?"
Yes, can. Ii you can wait about
five minutes, until my boy comes
down to take care of the station, I'll
drive you over there. Eve got to de-
liver telegram about mile beyond
her house. and I'm going right by it. ="
| thanked him, and said | would ac-
cept his kind offer The house | had
been sent to was close by the station
| ran over to it, and by the time | re
| turned, the agent was waiting for me
with his blackboard and roam horse.
The house | was in quest of was
about mile from the railroad, and
when we reached it my companion
pulled up his horse and | got out.
The dwelling was little white affair
which stood back some distance from
the road, and was well shaded by
| trees.
| pulled the bell and the door was
opened by a gentleman.
as the lady of the house in:'' in
quired.
Well replied the gentleman with
laugh, I'VE don't happen to be for
tunate enough to have IL lady in this
house; but perhaps there is something
| can do for youm
I'm looking for lady who lost her
pocketbook on the train one day last
week. The station agent drove Inc
over and said she lived here"
During the conversation he had
motioned me to enter, and l found
myself in small parlor not by any
means luxuriously furnished.
A