Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-02

IN case OF emergency or pursuit. For
all this he was willing to pay hand
somely.
The ladies considered the matter,
and finally agreed to accommodate
him. They had occasionally taken
boarders, their income being none too
lavish. And besides being both hand
some and fascinating, Mr.. Hunt paid q
weeks board In advance An hour
later he returned with large trunk,
which was brought in the back way,
and no one the wiser.
He took the ladies into his entire con-
fidence at once. and having sworn the
maidens to secrecy also, he made him
self very much at home.
The evening passed delightfully."-, spent
In the sitting room, with the blinds
closely drawn. Mr.. Hunt was very en-
tertaining, and had many exciting Incl
dents to relate about himself. When
they were about to retire, he Remarked:
You must not let my coming in or
going out disturb you in any way.
shall have to prowl around at all sorts
of unearthly hours, you know"
"Oh, we understand" said Miss Har-
per, as though she had been raised In
detective headquarters.
you are often in great danger?'
asked Nell TREMENDOUSLY.
Yes, Often" he answered, land IL at
any time do not return say for four
or five days, or even week, and you
hear nothing of me, you can break
open my trunk and find full details
there, as to whom to notify. But don't
be in a hurry to give me up. I'm
lucky, and generally come out all
right
"Oh, do be careful of yourself?" said
Nell impulsively, and she would have
said more, but she saw her sister
frowning.
But, when a little later, that same
night, as Nell came down to be sure
the front door was latched, and met
Mr.. Hunt in the hall, dressed in a great
coat and SLOUGH hat, the idea Of his
danger, made an anxious look come
into her eyes.
Il will be careful tonight" he said,
offering her his hand, Il will think of
your uneasiness, and not be rash.''
Nell did not tell this to Martha. It
was her first secret from her sister.
Ten days, full of new interest to
the Harper sisters, passed.
Two more robberies had been COM
mitted, and the whole town was ex-
cited. The papers announced that de-
tecttyes were on tie trace of the
thieves. Mr.. Hunt smiled as he read
this aloud to the sisters.
YES" he said 81 think will have
them located by tomorrow night. I'm
on the scent. But this stuff in the
paper is all surmise. l have not given
them a single clew yet. They have to
say something. 1t would ruin my sue
cess If told anything to anybody out
side"
When the matter was discussed at
the Missionary tea that afternoon, the
task of keeping silent was almost too
much for the Miss Harpers, and they
only restrained themselves by thinking
of their triumph when the affair was
over, and they could tell their share in
it. They would pose as celebrities in
connection with the famous Mr.. Hunt,
detective.
Nell had quite given her heart to this
interesting man. and some rather tend
ier passages had taken place between
them, SO it was with a pitifully sad
face. she heard him say one morning:
IF all goes as expect, 1 shall leave
tomorrow morning."
Then he glanced at Nell, and sighed,
and Nell began to wish that the thieves
might not be found for some months,
Mt least or never Mt all.
That evening Mr.. Hunt went out
completely disguised in red wig and
whiskers, and walked with a decided
limp, SO that Nell and Martha laughed
heartily at him, as he went down the
steps. He laughed back ut them and
waved his hand.
He did not return ut all that night,
nor the next day, and their anxiety
was intense. On the next morning
there came letter for Nell, and for
tunately Miss Harper had gone to
market. SO Nell read 1t unhindered. 1t
was from Mr.. Hunt He stated that
he had been hastily obliged to leave,
that his life had depended upon 1t, and
that he wanted her to have his trunk
shipped Immediately, and secretly to
an address enclosed. He gave her a
few directions as to how to get his
trunk to the station. and closed his
letter with some words that made her
face flush as 1t never had before: "For
your sake have been careful of my
life. have You to live for now. You
will see me again before many weeks
Let no one know where am. My life
depends upon it. And thrust you.'
Nell felt that she could die for him
then and there. She hid the letter in
her bosom, and went up stairs to his
room, to look Mt the important trunk
and to wonder If she could get it away
as secretly as he wished. Her plan
ming was interrupted by the sound of
voice below, and on the stairs.
Then Martha burst suddenly into
the room, her face red and angry, her
eyes wide open with fright. Behind
her came the town constable, two po-
lice officers, and some strange men.
And YOU have no idea where he is r.
asked the constable.
NO gasped Martha, "He left Sun
day night"
They unceremoniously broke open
the trunk, and revealed a shocking
sight. A lot of silverware, jewelry, in
fact all the stolen goods were there,
except the haul of diamonds taken
from the jewelry store, and these Mr..
Hunt had evidently carried with him.
He was as shrewd n thief as ever
/ traced" said one of the strange men,
land you ladies We're nicely imposed
upon. The law won't do anything
with YOU for receiving stolen goods,
since you've surrendered them all, but
you'd better be careful after this about
taking in strangers without references.
I'd give don't know what to know
where he is. He did not leave any adj
dress where to send his trunk, did hep
No, he didn't, gasped Martha on the