Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-01-18

FAMED .Arnewood. The boy saw moth
ing more of the stranger, but pocketed
the shilling and proceeded to execute
his commission.
Not 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 Il tip. the boy natur
ally resented the bathman's action,
and kept an eye upon his movements,
with view Of subsequently claiming Il
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 the letter in a fresh envelope from
the writing table in the saloon, read
dressed it. and then coolly proceeded
to deliver it to Il passenger (presuma-
bly, Mr.. ArneWood) in one of the state
roOmS.'
"'rhe dickens he did, I exclaimed.
''rhis is decidedly interesting. 1 have
met this Mr.. Spratt, and have his SOL
emn assurance that lie neither saw or
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?'
We'll, as 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 a
Il 6Yy1fi ~
for his pains; whereupon he vowed
vengeance against his tyrant, but re-
solved to wait more favorable oppor-
tunity of denouncing him than could
be found in the hurry and hustle of
Decentralization. Still brooding over
his wrongs and watching his enemy's
movements, he presently saw him in
earnest conversation with the fifth en-
gincer. 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 iii
position. and the passengers We're
scrambliIg ashore in their usual head
long fashion. Among them was a tall
man. carrying Il small aSs-bound va
lise. in whose movements Spratt and
the engineer seemed strangely inter-
ested. Immediately he landed, he was
acccsted by the same stranger who
had given the boy the letter, and led
away, somewhat hurriedly, to a 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
Sprang hastily to the gangway, as
though about to start in pursuit, but
perhaps realizing the unlikelihood of
overtaking it, went quietly ashore and
kept Il watchful eye upon the strang-
err, little dreaming THAT he was being
shadowed himself just as carefully by
the boy, who was now resolved to see
the thing through, even il he had to
take French leave of the ship for q
few hours to do so.
We'll, the stranger succeeded in
clearing the luggage (Which merely
consisted of two portmanteaus and a
boX) smartly enough, and had them
conveyed to spring-cart, which he
had in waiting by his own servant.
He then took his seat beside the latter
and drove Citywards, in the track Of
the brouglmm. followed by Blogg at a
smart run. Whereupon the boy start
ed in pursuit of Blogg."
quite dramatic" remarked. lis 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 Mn.
Arnewood in a private brougham and
the handling Of his luggage solely by a
stranger and his servant were clearly
devices to obyiate the necessity of hir-
ing a cab or employing porters The
whole affair was evidently planned to
burke subsequent inquiries as to Mr..
Arnewood's movements, and (as it
would SEEM with his own sanction
How far did Blogg and the boy fol-
low the dog-cart?" inquired.
sit 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 a passing
hanson. 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, IA
vored by the confusion. managed to
sneak on board unquestioned."
''2And Blogg?"
HE did not return to the ship for
nearly three days. This prolonged alb
sence 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 a severe reprimand."
This. then. is the clue you refer to
in, your letter, suppose?"
Yes; but l hoped to improve it by
later news about Blogg. Ever since
the how told me- his Story>I have hOund