The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-26

think he'll be glad laft ua o,,r..,
and beat me bec' .use I couId NO, 40
the hard work. was afraiI or nv
life, sir"
When we h,eached the stotion the
lad sat dowr on the la ag.aye trucl- n,
.ne iar emu of the Platform. and got
tickets Toe two before joined him.
Inc station master was alone and gave
US no heed. and when the train came
along we were fortunate. enough TO get
a compartment To Ourselves. Iud.,
the lamplight 1 had a chance To lo.k
my young friend over. lie was a
slight slim boy. with IL pretty face and
y winning way. l noticed that he had
small hands and feet and was neat in
his dress. l had Intended to ask for
full particulars of his story when We
got settled down on the train. but he
was SO nervous and diftiIent that re-
Trained. had taken "A brotherly inter
est In the lad and II naturally followed
that 1 should inquire what he meant TO
do when we reached London. He re-
piled that he didn't even know the
name of a single street and that he
was in fear OF what might befan him
when We reached the end of our Jour.
ney.
My lodgings were situated I'm Little
Bascomb street and were over the shop
OF a very respectable jeweier. I had
the whole floor and kept my own man.
Just at this time, however, he was alb
sent on months leave. and the
thought came into my head to take the
boy home with me for n couple of
weeks. Even before l knew his name.
which he gave as Tommy West, l had
made the offer. He seemed reluctant
to accept. and II was only after con-
siderable urging that he consented to
be my guest. as IL were, and then l
had to promise that he should pass as
my young cousin, Next morning, as l
got fair sight Of the lad by daylight.
was somewhat mystified. He didn't
look a bit like country boy, and /
couldn't imagine what he had worked
at. His hair had been cut in the most
awkward way. and he seemed awk-
ward In his clothes.
] wanted Tommy TO 60 out after
breakfast aud lee London, but he had
no curiosity on the subject, and 1t was
only after dark that got him out OF
the house for dinner. That evening
told Tommy Of my intentions regard
ing a place. and. though he thanked
me, he did not seem very enthusiastic
IN the four days he was with me we
were out together only four times and
then only to dinner at a modest restau-
rant My demeanor toward the boy
was fatherly. as l wanted to win his
confidence. but II seemed to me as II
he dreaded conversation aud avoided
II whenever possible. On the fifth
morning he had disappeared from the
house. aud far an hour I was more
mystified than ever. His clothing had
been left behind. and I could not make
out how he had gone, No note Of ex-
PLANTATION had been left behind.
i was trying to figure 1t out ana Won
dering IL ! shouldn't go to the police
when q detective called to see me. In
the course Of half an hour l was tied
up in knots, as 1t were. On the night
left Kent Sir James Barfieh had
been murdered had come up to Lon
don with o boy. That boy was be-
Aeved to be woman in disguise. II
. 1 was q wQman's hand which had done
Sir James to death. What had done
with the boyr He had disappeared
leaving his suit behind. Al, Just sol
But he had first changed to- the femals
apparel N the portmanteau, as was
speedily shown, and he had gone oui
IN proper dress I was either con
fedeFate or the biggest fool In England
In either event must go with the ofh
GER ! was locked up for week and
then admitted to bail. and It was thres
months before they concluded that
was fool instead Of q confederate.
Meanwhile all pf England wal
searched for the girl but she was moi
found. She lived Ia London. She was
! | doubtless one Of Sir James many vic
TINS She went down there to kill bin
and she accomplished hsy yeyepes
She played We that she might get safe
IL away, aud her plan succeeded Sh,
|, probably went from my house to he
, own home. and IN spite Of all their ef
, forts the police could not track her. NJ.
7 friends declare that | ought to hav'
had at least a year Ia prison for beinl
SO thick headed. but they are preJu
. diced | am simply guileless. goo'
patured Map, aud can't even say tina
, am sorry the girl eluded pursuit.