Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-28
7 h G
Social Bucaneer
Ry Frederic s. Isham
copyrahs 1910, by Bobbs- s-Msrril Company
Ry Frederic s. Ish a m
CHAPTER XIX.
A EIyinq Trip.


had appeared at the express office In
the village, a slight but perceptible
emotion might have been noticed on
Chatfield Bruce's face. He paused
near the flower plat where he encoun-
tered Simpson and fixed upon that
person a gaze obviously interested or
concerned.
so he said there was a mistake and
I wanted the parcel back?" queried
Bruce, leaning on his light stick.
Yes, sir; that you had changed
your mind. tried my best to get the
parcel again for you, but 1t was
too late" He spoke a little sourly;
Mr.. Woods man did not like vacil-
lating temperaments; he felt inwardly
disappointed with this latest guest
from whom he had expected better
things.
But Bruce smiled indulgently on
him. I'm afraid Senor Caglioni rath-
er misunderstood" he observed.
Then you didn't want it back?"
asked Simpson, amazed.
I'm very we'll satisfied as it is.
Rather a mistake on the secretary's
part, don't you know. Not worth
mentioning, however. You say the
parcel had already gone, when he got
there?"
Simpson answered that he had
fortunately, or unfortunately reach
ed the express office, just in
time for the morning train. Bruce
inwardly wondered if Caglioni had
procured the address to which the
parcel had been sent No doubt!
Then the secretarys next step would
be Bruce looked at his watch, then
asked Simpson when the next train
left for New York. There was one,
the accommodation, at half past elev-
en-, half an hour after the train that
had taken the express parcels. Rath-
er late for that accommodation, re-
marked the young man, with laugn
somewhat strained, regarding at the
same time the hands of his watch in
dicating twenty-five minutes after II.
The eleven thirty! Would Caglionl
lake it? Perhaps; in which event
But it was a very deliberate train.
Simpson had said; it obligingly stop
ned at every station. When was the
next train after the accommodation
the young man then inquired. AT
twelve o'clock, said Simpson; it arriV-
ed in New York but a short time al
ter the slower one; it was called the
FLYER" AS he was not sufficiently
opulent to possess real flyer, or
.'aero" Of his own, Bruce answered
iestingly he would perforce content
himself with this one, that he might
not miss an important business en-
gagement in town. He should have
left earlier that day but for this little
Notwithstanding his arm-as he
would now explain to Mr.. Wood, his
kind host.
The young mans tones were blithe,
ingratiating; Simpson quite forgot any
slight umbrage he had brought back
with him from the town; expressed
regret the other should have been put
out by the suit-case's having been so
inexplicably lost for short time. But
to these last words Bruce waved an
Indifferent lit didn't matter" mistakes
would sometimes happen, in the best
He did not complete the sentence, but
gaily took himself off,
Half an hour later found him seated
in one of the ordinary cars of the flyer.
AS the train yet paused for the engine
to take on water, he reviewed Mr..
Woods last hospitable words, the
pressing invitation to remain longer
at his house. Miss Wood had not come
down; she was in her room changing
her gown, Mr.. Wood thought. She
had, of course, not known that he was
leaving so suddenly, or would, her faith
er explained, have surely arranged to
present herself in person, bid him au
revoir and again thank him.
Did Mr.. Bruce intend to return TO
Comscot? 1t was unlikely. Well,
then, the elderly gentleman would see
him somewhat later in town; his
daughter had told him about the ia
panese play, to be given at their home
for sweet charity. Good-by; until
then.
Them" into the young mans gay
eyes had come a sudden light. He
wondered if he and Miss Wood were
destined ever to hold the oriental mir
ror together up to nature.
A singular circumstance had been
on his mind all the while he talked
with Mr.. Wood those last moments on
the front steps. The key To the French
door of his room that he had felt sure
he had lost had been returned to the
lock. He had, on going back to his
apartment for the last time, seen 1t
there: passed his fingers, obviously,
Incredulously over it. What did 1t
mean-that ne had dropped it some
where, in the house, or on the lawn
that some one, presumably a maid,
had picked it up and put it back,
where it belonged? OF course, that
must be the solution.
He had so concluded in his own
mind when on his way to the station
he had passed Colonel Manyan's house
There he had stopped. or rather had
been stopped. by that gentleman, all
curiosity about the pearls. In the
morning light the colonel had looked
older and worn. The slight impedi-
ment in his speech again caught
Bruce's attention: it brought with il
sudden ognition-indubitable certi-
tude!
The man he had met in the dark in
Pages house? He had thought Id
knew the voice then, but had been un-
able to place it. Now. however-Bruce
laughed in his qucstioner's face. Col
0nel Manyan. the thief who had open
I'd. robbed thc safe No doubt-nO
doubt!
What had seemed an incunSequen-
tial incident gave Bruce an under
standing of how the colonel had man.
oeuvred in a desperate attempt tC