Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-02-03
THE BURGLAR AND
THE BRIDEGROOM

TlIE colonial express was just
drawing out of New Haven late
in the afternoon, when IL young
man with Il dark mustaclle and GLASSES.
who had evidently just boarded t,:e
train, walked down the car aiS..c and
paused i%hqll,ringly at the vacant seat
by my side. The train vas we'll filled.
and after lausi,g for al instant as ii
to see whether l objected to sharing
my seat With him the stranger planted
himself at my side.
Finally he leaned over TO me. and.
touching my arm. said:
Il trust. sir. the arrangements will
he satisfactory"
II beg your pardon. sir" l replied.
II am Miss Cclestc's man. l was sent
10 meet YOU
I never neglected an opportunity to
take advantage of circumstances, and
merely replied:
Indeed"
1--WE are due mt Providence at 1::222.
The ceremony will take place at S." he
went on, ignoring my non-committal
replies.
IF you will please 10 give me your
baggage checks" he continued. II will
have the servants attend to ii when we
arrive
II have nothing With me but this
satchcl." ! replied.
".Ah. you have sent ii on ahead. That
is good. But he said, you are per-
liaps wondering how l recognized vou?"
II am not remarkably we'll KNOWN"
l replied. land my pictures"
".Al. you look just like them. Miss
Celeste allowed me to look at one. | aim
gratitied that you did not forget II silg-
gestion | made to Miss Celeste that you
Wear Il fedora and II pink rose"
$50 that was your idea. was it:' l
said.
The train commenced to slow up for
Providence. My companion arose. and
l followed him when he leapcd mon
the platform.
a carriage attended by two footmen
WAS in waiting. and my companion
guided me to it. / was in such IL strange
position that l would have preferred
doing without the footmen Mt this par
ticM.ar time.
IT, Il few moments the carriage drew
up mt the door Of a large. well-ligiited
house with Il broad veranda. From the
pnrior laughter and conversation indi-
Gated that n large company was pres
ent. AS we alighted another carriage,
which had been just ahead OF us, turn
ell from the curb and IL solitary gentle
D,an walked up to the house.
I'VE are just in time. That Is the
minister" said my guide. II will show
you to yO,ir room, If you please. and
you raj join the company in the parlor
rs soon as you are ready. If you need
me you can rin,s." The broad staircase
was at hand, aid was saved the en-
barrassmcnt of meeting any of the
guests whom ! might be expected to
know. Celeste, also, I escaped.
My room was large. and upon the bed
Il number of packages were spread out.
l opened one of them. 1t was a dozen
silver spoons. A small card read: TO
Mr.. and Mrs. George Mopart: Congrat-
ulations." Evidently the package was
intended for mc. opened several 9th
crs. One was IL handsome diamond pin.
Just as I took 1t up l heard the knob of
my door turn, and unconscious..y l slip
ped 1t into my pocket.
A.s companion of the train entered.
Miss Celeste desires me to say that
she will meet you at the head of the
stairs in ten minutes. and will descend
with you for the ceremony"
20. thank you. William. Is your name
William? forget"
Games, sir"
".Nl right. James: that will DO"
rctied my cravat and then took an
other look at the presents. l remenl-
bcrcd afterward that l failed to return
that pin. Several other remarkably
costly presents of small size were a!su
missing aftcrward. though remam-
Der perfectly seeing them on the bed
VIII e was in the room.
had just about six minutes in which
to keep my appointment with Celeste
Had 1t not been for the ceremony
which was scheduled to take place i'm
mcdiately aftcrward l believe I should
have allowed my love of adventure tt
lead me to the head Of the stairs. Ce
leste! Nice name! l wondered VIVA
she was like. us I softly opened til.
door and looked out into the hallway
She was not there yet. Neither wer,
the s%eryants. left the room. clOsiN: