Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-01

| better in the moor home of Horseferry read
Money was no longer scarce, food was on
the table, port wine and comforts for the
sick mother; the doctor came back, for be
was now certain of his fees.
And all the time Incz Nerschoyle won
dercd greatly what hidden mystery lay be-
hind this unaccustoned prosperity. She
| suspected something wrong and was most
unhappy. Her fathers long absence, tho
coming and going OF strange, rough men,
| the delivery of many parcels, the contents
| of which she sometimes saw, and with in
creasing uncasiness recognized as parts Of
| an artillcrvman's kit-thcsc things filled
her with great alarm. Thenhcr father was
! SO changed. He seldom spoke to her, only
once when she gently upbraided him he
! kissed her and patted her hands, saying:
"Wait, dear child; wait. 1t will soon he
over. | am engaged in Some important
matters. When they are ended-t will be
very soon now-wo shall be rich and happy
together. -
Bat chance, a few words overheard, set
her to find out mere, and she became pos
sessed Of the whole shameful secret tho
very night before the attempt was TO bu
made
The road to Woolwich this morning as
she marched along WIS long and full OF
nameless terrors The clocks pointed to 9
as she passed through Blackheath and got
upon the COMMON. Half an hour moro
brought her into Charlton, the worst part
of her journey. for she trayorsed the open
heath and might be at any time observed
and intercepted. From Charlton across
the common it was but a couple of miles
to the great artillery barracks, which she
, presently saw, red fronted, a long row OF
imposing buildings facing her, the end OF
her journey. 1t was barely half past 10
when she reached the barrack gate, and
almost breathlessly asked for the com.
mandant. The sergeant on duty, a smart
horse artilloryman in skin tight uniform,
and wearing the Waterloo medal, looked
at her with admiring, yet suspicious, eyes
and spoke briefly and abruptly.
''W hat might your business be? 'Tain't
SO easy to see the commandnnt.
Il have something to tell him, some
thing most important. There is no time
to lose.
She was shown at once into the adju-
tants presence, but, having reached her
goal, her courage suddenly failed her.
She could frame no connected sentence.
'PleaSe-lleasc-yo must send-the
treasuTe-the escort-at once, was all she
could faltcr out
WE'LL DGt WnHG Is II. went on inc
colonel. Something serious, Of course.
Your father? We all knew him and liked
him. Is he well: No? Is that yo II
trouble? Tell us, my child. Perhaps we
may be able TO help you
1t was far more painful now; 1t was
agony, indeed, to tell the shameful story
to these two brother officers OF her fathers,
these honorable and chivalrous gentlemen
such as her father once was, but to which
high estate he had now forfeited all claim.
Still, she took heart from her despair,
goaded onward by the ncarness of the dan
ger, the need for immediate action.
~ don't understand it, not one little
bit, " said the colonel, when he had listen
ed to the end. ''Surely"-
"You know, sir, - interrupted the adju
tant, with nod of assent, 1.-THE escort was
not to go over today 1t was counter
manded We bad letter from Cox Il Co.
this morning saying their man could not
start-tho cash Was not ready or some
thing.
THAT is part Of their scheme. Can't
you Sec cried lnez, springing to her feet
and speaking with hystcrical oagcrnoss.
1.-THE sham escort is to take the place of the
other-of yours from here-and the money
is to lie stolen from the post chaise. You
half a troop at least Let them gallop and
overtaEe the robbers, let thcm'-
AT that moment a knock came at the
door and a sergeant major entered II
was Nerschoyle.
THE pay clerk has arrived, sir, and
something odd appears to have happened
on the read, he said hurriedly.
1--WE have brought you in the treasure,
Colonel Torrens, but not without scrim
nage. The others showed some flght-all
but that gallant fellow there who fell in
on the right side. They were poor rogues,
though, aud l think l could have account
ed for the lot alone and single handed.
The gentleman with the cash is inside,
and another chap, Eldridge, who will be
safer perhaps in the barrack guard. We
have secured him, but not before he had
potted the postboy.
1t was thought best not to make the AT
fair public. Eldridge was allowed to leave
the country and the rights of the story
We're never exactly known. There were
some doubts expressed OF the bona tides of
Lieutenant Nerschoyle, and some said that
he should have given earlier Information.
Whether his conscience only awakened
tardily, or whether he wished to let the
conspiracy take its course SO to have the
credit OF lnterposing to rescue the money,
was matter of doubt. But his friends
were willing TO accept the result without
too close inquiry into the anteoedent facts.
Interest was made for Verschoyle. and he
was given command under Sir De Lacy
Evans, in the Spanish contingent. Later
he became British consul at one of the
principal ports in Spain.
Inez eventually married an artillery Off
Ger and had pleasanter experiences OF
Woolwich than those of her first visit
Major Arthur Grifiiths in illustrated Lon.