The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-01-18

1ectuEeOs anu TiSutiys UOos ftuot NC
would reach Leicester by other means
than by rail.
II spent two or three days haunting
the Leicester railway stations, in the
faint hope of seeing my man, but to no
effect. 1t would, of course, have been
impossible for me to see every person
entering the many trains each day,
and preposterous to expect the station
masters to arrest every gentleman clad
in green sporting clothes; therefore,
after a wearisome watch, decided to
return to town and procure aid for q
thorough search after the scoundrel.
Accordingly, took my seat in
first-class carriage of the Midland ex-
press, which only stops at Bedford;
and made myself comfortable behind
copy OF the Times The bell had
rung, and the train was just on the
point of starting. when the carriage
door was hurriedly opened. and in
sprang person OF aristocratic appear
nnce, followed by a porter, who placed
bulky handbag on the rack, and left
the carriage as the train was moving.
Imagine, if you can, my surprise on
recognizing in my fellow traveller the
very person whom had pictured as the
culprit in the Fernleigh court robbery
the very man for whom l had been
seeking for days, the man had longed
to meet, had unconsciously walked into
my clutches; the fly had walked into
the spiders web without the familiar
iuvitation! / knew, though, that l
must 60 about the business shrewdly,
guardedly; and that any uncommon
action or indiscreet remark would up
set the whole affair. But l could not
refrain from inwardly chuckling as /
thought of my victims surprise, dis
gust and punishment, and the fame,
reward and promotion now in store for
me.
But l had reckoned without my
host. On seeing me the stranger
nodded pleasantly, and, opening a
newspaper, remarked:
Shocking affair, this Fermeigh
court robbery. 1t has caused quite
sensation in the neighborhood; and no
wonder!'
"'You're right answered, reticent-
ly, and endeavoring to screen my sur
prise at his audacious impudence.
YES he continued, nothing
abashed; the r'.gues have got clean
away, too, l understand. A smart par
ty, eh?'
"'lt does seem So
81 hear they have got q Scotland
Yard detective ou the track he went
on; but, bless you, those fellows are
never will be. understand that the
one engaged on this case hasn't got
single clew yet. I'm very much afraid
he's like the man who fell out Of the
boat-not in i'll
"'Ha!' laughed to myself; he will
sing in different key by-and-by! II
he only knew who was he wouldn't be
quite 80 merry!' But l answered, In an
affectedly Indifferent tone: There's
something in that!'
"sI'n ten you what It isl! h0 went on,
excit dly. apparently encouraged by
my IN ,rsing replies: The whole pack
of Scotland Yard detectives are not
worth that, sir!' and he snapped his
fingers. When they've got little
intricate work on they're baffled entire
ly. Personally, I'm much concerned
about this case. It's a disgrace, sir, a
scandal, that such deeds can be perpe-
trated without any practical risk in
a civilized country, where small army
Of men is retained to investigate such
matters, who have no more idea of how
to go about their business than a dom
key has of exerting himself. repeat,
sir he continued, vehemently, and
stamping his foot on the carriage floor,
it's a disgraceful scandal!'
Just because no clews are reported
in the newspapers 1t must not be con-
cluded that none have been found / re-
piled. In heated tone, for his CALLING
and slanderous remarks had quite up
set me; perhaps you will be convinced
differently some day!'
"'Never, sir, never!' he responded,
quickly. Indeed, I'm going to show
them a thing or two myself
"You are? replied, not without
suspicion of sarcasm.
I'm going to show them thing or
two.' he repeated, in deliberate man
ner. In confidence. I'm private de-
tective, engaged secretly in this case by
the duchess of Melbourne-one Of the
finest women that ever lived!'
Indeed!' CALCULATED in amaze
ment, and wondering whether had
been mistaken in my conclusion after
all.
"'That is So he replied; and what is
more, arrest you, Henry Graham, on
the charge of robbery at Fernleigh
court four days ago!" And he pointed
business-like revolver at my head.
Hands up, or l fire! Right! Now
move, and you are dead man. So say
ing, he drew q pair of handouts from
my pocket, and before I had recovered
from my amazement actually had the
audacity to handcuff me there and