The Bowbells tribune., 1900-01-19

Lan ed Arnewood. The boy saw moth
ing more OF the stranger, but pocketed
the shilling and proceeded to execute
his commission.
mot knowing Mr.. ArneWOOd by
name, he naturally inquired from the
first steward he met, who happened to
be the bathman, Spratt. Spratt took
the letter from the boy despite the
latter's protests). saying he would de-
liver it himself. AS this probably
meant the loss of a tip. the boy natur
ally resented the bathman's action,
and kept an eye upon his movements,
with view Of subsequently claiming a
share in any resulting gratuity.
Spratt examined the address and en-
velope very carefully, turning it over
several times, and finally opened it.
He read the contents eagerly, replac
ing tie letter in a fresh envelope from
the writing table in the saloon, read
dressed it, and then coolly proceeded
to deliver it to passenger (presuma-
bly, Mr.. Acnewood) in one Of the state
rooms.'
''The dickens he didv' I exclaimed.
''This is decidedly interesting. I have
met this Mr.. Spratt, and have his SOL
heard anything of Arnewood after the
ship entered the channel. Excuse me
for anticipating you. But does a
somewhat grimy person named Blogg
come into your narrative, also"
"Well, as q matter of fact, he does,"
assented the steward, in some sur
prise. "as you will presently see. The
boy, it seems. appealed to Spratt for
| nd 1,,f3
! for his pains; whereupon he vowed
vengeance against his tyrant, but re-
! solved to wait a more favorable Oppor-
tunity of denouncing him than could
be found in the hurry and hustle Of
Decentralization. Still bro0ding over
his wrongs and watching his enemy's
movements, he presently saw him in
earnest conversation with the fifth en-
gineer. the very man you just men
toned, Blogg. At any other time he
would have paid no attention to this,
as the two men We're known to be
chums. But the bathman's tampering
with the letter made him suspicious,
and he watched.
''By this time the gangways were In
position. and the passengers were
scrambling ashore in their usual head
long fashion. Among them was a tall
man, carrying Il small brass bound va
lise, in whose movements Spratt and
the engineer seemed strangely inter-
ested. Immediately he landed, he was
accosted by the same stranger who
had given the boy the letter, and led
away, somewhat hurriedly, to broug-
ham, in which he at once drove away,
leaving the stranger, apparently, to
pass his luggage through the custom
house.
''When the brougham went Blogg
sprng hastily to the gangway, as
though about to start in pursuit, but
(perhaps realizing the unlikelihood of
overtaking iD went quietly ashore and
kept watchful eye upon the strang-
er, little dreaming that he was being
shadowed himself just as carefully by
the boy, who was now resolved to see
the thing through, even if he had to
take French leave of the ship for a
few hours to do so.
"Well, the stranger succeeded in
clearing the luggage (Which merely
consisted Of two portmanteaus and q
box) smartly enough, and had them
conveyed to q spring-cart, which he
had in waiting by his own servant.
He then took his seat beside the latter
ard drove Citywards, in the track of
the brOugham, followed by Blogg at a
smart run. Whereupon the boy start
ed in pursuit of Blogg."
quite dramatic" remarked. "Is it
not rather strange, though, that these
incidents should have attracted no at
tention?"
Not very, if you take into account
the hurry and confusion of disembark.
ing" replied Mr.. Gray. Everyone is
too busy to pay much heed to any bust.
ness but his own. You must observe,
also that the prompt dispatch of Mr..
Arnewood in a private brougham and
the handling of his luggage solely by a
stranger and his servant were clearly
devices to obviate the necessity of hir-
ing q cab or employing porters. The
whole affair was evidently planned to
burke subsequent inquiries as to Mr..
Arnewood's movements, and las 1t
would SEEM with his own sanction"
"How far did Blogg and the boy fol-
low the dog-cart?' inquired.
ut soon passed out of sight, but
Blogg kept on doggedly in pursuit for
about two miles, pausing now and
then, apparently, to make inquiries.
At last, thoroughly blown and ex'
hausted, he jumped into passing
hansom. The boy, having but shil.
ling. and dressed as he was, was una
BILE to follow suit, and had to abandon
the chase"
"Did he take the number Of the
cab?" ....
"He says he did, but forgot it again
before he could borrow a pencil to jot
it down. He was anxious, moreover,
to get back to the Wairoa before his
absence should be discovered, and, fa-
vored by the. confusion, managed to
sneak on board unquestioned."
"And Blogg?"
"He did not return to the ship for
nearly three days. This prolonged alb
serce without leave very nearly led to
his dismissal; but he got around the
skipper, with some fairy-tale about a
sick mother at Deptford, and escaped
with severe reprimand.'
This, then, is the clue you refer to
in your letter, I suppose?"
| l.Yes. h,lt I hoped to improve it by