Year: 1859

rather be robbed dozen times than receive
such blow as thatP


Whereupon an old lady--probably the
wife of the farmer before mentioned-re-
marked that it was "a marcy it didn't put
out his eyel'


These fellows ought to be taken up for
loading their faggots out So said another
of the passenger It'll do very well to
load hay out wide, for that won't hurt no.
body if it does hit EN-, but faggots is diff
ferent'


This turned the conversation from the
subject of tho robberies, and it was not
renewed again during the day.


We reached Lowstone shortly after dark,
and went at once to the residence of Mr.
Stickney, whom | found at home. He had
been out all day and had made all sorts OF
efforts to obtain some clue to tie perpetra-
tors Of the robberies that were being com
mitted, but without effect.


Il CAL learn nothing he said, upon
which TO hang a suspicion. Two stores
have been robbed in this place, but not a
clue can gain to the perpetrators They
must be old birds


! Have you seen Gamblit?' l asked
Gamblt was the deputy at Orton, a town
twelve miles distant


Not lately replied Stickney.


He has been at work?' | suggested.


'Yes--I am sure of it,


Then said |, we will 90 over in the
morning to Orton, and with Gambit in
company we may be able to perfect some
arrangement for pursuing this investiga-
ton to better advantage


This met The views of my host, and so
we left the matter for the evening. On
the following morning we were up early,
and as the stage would take us directly to
Gamblit's house, we chose that mode of
conveyance, and repaired at a seasonable
hour to the tavern for that purpose. When
we reached the inn we found the old farm
er. who had been one of my fellow passen-
gers on the night before, stepping about
the piazza in a hi sh state of cxritement.--
He had been robbed Of twelve hundred
dollars, and he was sure it must have been
done i'll the stage coach, for he had slept
with his pocket book under his pillow
He had not thought to look into it when
he retired, but he had found it empty that
morning when he got up. He said the
wallet had been taken from his pocket and
put back again. AS soon as be saw me
he was anxious that should be searched
| let him perform the operation, and then
told who was, and informed him Of my
business.


But said |, where is that pale, con.
sumptive man, who came in with us?'


He went away last night answered the
landlord. who stood near


Ny first aim was to satisfy myself tha,
the old man had been robbed in the stage
coach, and of this he succeeded in con-
vincing me. After this my suspicious
rested upon the consumptivc man. and
believed, if could find him, should find
a rogue. Should we go to Orton, or re.
main where we were? Stickney said. &C
to Orton frst--get Gamblit-and then
make out programme for action. So
babe the landlord to keep a sharp look out
and also spoke with the driver who had
brought me over from Sidney, and who
was now on the point of returning, re-
questing him, if he saw anything of the
pale man, to see that he was secured Ths
suspicious individual had only remained
at the inn few minutes on the previous
evening, and had then gone away in. &
wagon which had come for him; but nc
one could tell what direction he had taken


The coach for Orion soon came to the
door; and Stickney and myself took oul
seats upon the inside, the farmer having
determined to remain where he vas unit
he heard something from his money. There
were two other passengers on the inside
and two or three on the outside, but they
were strangers to me. We had gore two
or three miles, when the driver pulled up
before a small farm house. where woman
and trunk were waiting by the garden
gate. The lady WAS handed into the
coach, and took a seat facing me, and as
she turned to give the driver some direc-
ton concerning her baggage she threw heI
veil over her bonnet. She was pretty
very pretty--with rosy checks, and spark
ling eyes, and teeth that shone in theii
pure whiteness like pearls. Her hair hung
in glossy brown ringlets over her neck anC
shoulders. and was a type of beauty in it
self l looked at the rosy checks again.
and at her pearly teeth--and into her dark
lustrous eyes. My gaze was fixed upor
this latter point when she caught my
glance, and quickly dropped her veil. A
first felt little ashamed at having beer
caught in SO rude an act as that of staring
at her so boldly; hut as the face was hid
den from sight and had opportunity fol
Election. il struck me that had seen those
features before.


Here was study for me. and was bur
led in it at once Where had ! seen that
face? Was it possible that had ever
known that woman--one SO loyely--and
now forgotten her? thought over all the
intimate friends of my wife; but she was
not to be found there. Then | thought
over all the pretty girls had known before
| was married;---b when | had called
them all by name | remembered that the
girl before me must have been mere
child when was u single man. 1t was
annoying--it made me provoke 1 with my
self--to think that | could not call this
piece of female beauty TO mind. | whis
pered to Stickney. and asked him if he ev.