The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-12


and this adventure promised to be
quite out of the ordinary. There was
no noise from the next room, so | con-
cluded that DIR. Barclay was not up
yet and | dressed quietly for fear of
disturbing him. Walking out into the
office, ] saw to my surprise that his
door was open. with a sudden sus-
picion | stepped inside-there were the
wet clothes in pile on the floor, but
the room was empty. A glance into
the opposite room showed that the
crazy man too was gone. Swiftly l
ran back to my own apartment-the
tin box was not there!
I was so overcome by this discovery
that l weakly sat down on the bed for
an instant. but a flood of rage and
Indignation soon moved me to action.
Down the hill tore to the old works
The soft clay held the wheel marks
like wax; no need to look insde-there
were the tracks leading out and down
to the main road, and then turning
with sharp swing to the right. So
they were bound for Kingston and in
a two-horse buggy. Back to the house
I ran as fast as my legs would carry
me and, painting for breath. caught up
a copy of the Cleaner. Sailing from
Kingston. From Kingston for New
York. the Alicia, at 8 p. m., wednes-
day" I looked at my watch: it was
already half-past seven, and there were
forty miles and a range of mountains
between me and the city.
Murphy" l called. Murphy"
"Yehs wukmahsa, me hyeh, sub"
Saddle Brutus and start for Bog
NNi 81 rtc nf
about it now. want you to be away
from here in ten minutes"
"Hehs, wukmahsa, me gone, suh."
when you get there rub him down
and feed him--two quarts. I'll be
along by the time he finishes and will
go on with him."
"Yessuh," and in a few minutes 7
saw him make his way down the steep
path and start off at a canter. I took
some breakfast. had my mare put to
the trap. and an hour later was spin
ming along in the same direction.
We made the first nine miles in lust
an hour. which was remarkable time,
considering the fearful hills, and nv
spirits rose. l vowed l would catch
the thieves at any cost. One after an
other the familiar mileposts were pas
eleven we swung arotnd the sharp turn
and across the iron bridge just out
side of Bog Walk. As we clattered
along the street | saw Murphy coming
toward me, and it was evident from
his face and attitude that something
was wrong.
well, what is it?"
"Brutus, him cahn't go. wukmahsa.
Him lose shoe way back by Harewood
an him berry lame, suh."
l went to the blacksmith shop and
found that the pony could hardly put
his foot to the ground, for the boy had
evidently ridden him hard with the
loose shoe. breaking his hoof badly.
Mrs. Gibson, who kept the only team
for hire in the town, greeted me cor
daily. Coin to Kingston? Well,
amt that too bad-a couple of gentle
men came by at daybreak this morn
ing and got my horses. Was in an
awful hurry; said they'd come from
Port Antonio last night"
My heart sank. The mare was not in
condition to go further, for, expecting
change here, | had not spared her,
and the next train on the railway did
not reach the city till O'Clock. The
station-master was sympathetic. "If
you must get to town, sir, there's a
goods train due in ten minutes. The
conductor'll probably take you through
If you show him your pass.
| hastily wrote out a telegram to In
spector Goodwin, asking him to meet
me at the dock at 2 o'clock. I knew
Goodwin intimately and he would dc
anything in the world for me. Then,
having reduced Murphy to a state of
utter abiectness, I raced back to the
station as the goods train came in, and
Informed the black conductor that
was going to honor his car by travel
ing in it. He looked more than doubt
full, so l waved my pass at him.
"Cahn't possibly be arranged sub
1t is positively against all the rg'la-
tions"
This was maddening. by Jove!" |
cried. Il belong to the company and
I'm going on this train. If you give
me any of your insolence, I'll have a
talk with Mr.. Harcourt about your
case"
The two companies We're quite sep
arate, and | had seen Harcourt, the
president of the railway. jusv once, but
the darky did not dare to hold his
ground, and in another minute we were
off. The numbering old train crawled
along so slowly that ! half wished ]
had driven afte" all, but at last We
pufled into the Spanish Town station
I'VE go no farther" remarked my
friend the conductor. cheerfully.
why, the station master said you
vent right through to kingston"
"Humph! If ina; fool hal charge
OF the schedule thele'd be six collisions
a day"
! did not stop 10 argue. 1t was 1.
o'clock and there We're still fourteen
miles to be traversed. Once more
started out on run and in fifteen min
utes was bowling along behind a pall
of trotters over the level highway. Ii
is sometimes fortunate thing to have
| acquaintances who keep fast horses.
As we neared Kingston I became
more and more nervous. Suppose there
had been some hitch. Goodwin might
not have received my telegram or might
have misunderstood lin either case
all my trouble would go with mJ
money. There was certainly no time tC
! stop and find out, so | drove straight
| to the dock, looking anXiously ahcaC
as drew near. All. There was my old
| friend in his uniform, chatting viii
some one on the pier. l could hav,
cried out in delight AT the thought Di
revenging myself on the rlscals wht
| had made such a fool of me.
You're a queer sort of person." saiC