The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-10-14

notes, two soveregns, and some change in
it, beside my ticket
"'What do you say to this?' the police
man asked me, evidently impressed with
the certainty of my guilt
Simply that it isn't true, | replied
4 know nothing of the lady's purse, and l
can easily convince you that am respect
able person
"'My goodness !! exclaimed my accuser.
why, the fellow isn't deaf and dumb after
all Constable, he pretended to be deaf and
dumb. That shows what scoundrel he
is =
81 arose to follow the policeman, and my
lying on the floor of the carriage stopped
and picked il up. 1t was the missing purse
"'Is that your purse, madam? asked,
as held it up. You must have dropped
it when you were looking out of my
window
"'I wouldn't advise him to play that
game any MORE said the policeman, sever
ely. Let me tell you, sir, that if you
travel under false pretenses you needn't be
surprised if you find yourself in trouble.
You'll have to give me your name and adj
dress in case anything more comes of this.
81 gave him my address as soon as |
could get away from the carriage, and at
the same time | gave him surreptitious
five shilIings and asked him not to give my
name to Mrs. Scoble.
81 saw Scoble on the platform as the
train drew up at Greencroft, but he did not
see me, for ! had concealed myself behind
the curtains of the carriage. | watched
him until his back was turned and then
sprang out and bolted into the cloak room,
which was close at hand | had hoped to
remain there until Scohle had left the sta
ton, but I was disappointed. The porter
in attendance, finding that bad no parti-
pected me OF designs upon the property
under charge, and told me that must not
stay in the Cloakroom. | tried bribery,
hut the action only confirmed his suspc-
ions, and he roughly ordered me to 20
about my business or he would have me
arrested. Just then Scohe spied me.
"'Why, here you arc, after all = he eX-
claimed. Where on earth have you BEEN
The niece had returned and was standing
looking in bewilderment, first at me, and
then at her uncle. Suddenly she took N
the full meaning of the situation, and after
saying TO me, Is this Mr. JoEnston?' hurst
into uneontrDllabie laughter.
There never was anything 50 contagious
and irresistible as that laugh, since the
world began, and the flash OF the girls
mischievOus eyes would have made John
Calvin smile even in the act Of burning a
hereto. l could not help it, but in another
moment found myself joining in the girls
laughter while Scoble stood and gazed at
us with an almost frightened expression.
The niece was the first to speak.
Uncle, she said, there has been q mistake
that would have been perfectly awful if
Mr. Johnston had not been a real humorist
and seen the funny side of it. Auntie has
driven home, for she could not wait any
longer, and we will all three walk home
together, and you shall know all about it.
81 hesitated for second and then said
50 myself that | would meet fifty aunts
sooner than say good-by to the niece before
| had convinced her that | was not always
stupid and that could sometimes he other
than nuisance. | not only walked home
with her and faced the dismayed and re-
pentant aunt, but | staid my full week at
Greencroft. When ! came away l was en-
gagged to be married, and had already be-
gun to call Mrs. Scoble aunt, partly to
show her that bore no malice and partly
by way of emphasizing the triumph that
the man whom she had called stupid had
won"