Year: 1860

beauty in itself. looked at the rosy
cheeks again, and into her dark lustrous
eyes. My gaze was fixed upon this lat
ter point when she caught my glance,
and quickly dropped her veil. At first |
| felt little ashamed at having been
caught staring so boldly; but as the
face was hidden from sight, and had
for reflection, it struck me
that had seen those features before.


Here was study for me, and was
buried in it at aaee. Where had seen
that face? l whispered to Stickney,
and asked him if he had seen her before.
He said he had not, and joked me about
being so curious about pretty face.


We stopped at place called Turn
er's Mills in the edge of Ortou, to ex-
change mails, and here jumped out to
see the post master, who was an old
friend of mine-and as | was returning
to the coach the thought struck me to
look at the trunk which had been last
put on, and see if any name was on it
1t was marked with the simple initials
" A. NJ So that was all / gained from
that source. As l came to the coach
door approached it from behind, and as
| cast my eyes up found that the beau
ty had her veil raised, and was look
ing at the post Office as thoug h anxious
for the mail to come, that we might be
off. The expression of anxiety detract-
ed somewhat from her beauty, and as /
looked upon her now, seeing her face in
a different light, was struck with sort
of snake like cast which was percepti-
ble in the whole character of her fea-


lures. / was on the point of withdraw
ing my gaze, lest she should catch me a


second time, when light motion of her
head rolled her curls over her temple,


and l saw faint line something like a


vein over her left eye. 1t was a mark
la liyid scratch-where something


had struck her. II might have been the


stroke of whip. But-no: l quickly


glided back behind the coach, and there


reflected. Such mark as that could be


made with a fagot!


When l returned to my seat in the


coach the fair passengers veil was down


again. Could it be possible that my sus-


picions were correct, and that chance bad


thrown in my way a solution of the


problem which had vexed my deputies


so much Yes, | was sure of it and


the more compared the two faces ir


my mind, the more / saw the resem,


blance. Either those cheeks had been


painted red to-day or they had beer


painted white yesterday. The eye,


were the same, the countenance was tn,


same. and that brow, with its tell-tal,


mark, not to be mistaken.


We soon stopped at the door of th'


inn at Orton. The driver announced
that they would stop here fifteen or TWEEN
ty minutes to exchange horses and wai


for the mail, ard also informed the pas


sengers that they would find plenty o.


accommodation in the house if they chose
to go in.


The lady at first did not get out, bu
: at length she did so and went into th'
hotel determined now to find out VIII
she was. I left my deputy at the doc
t of the room she had entered, having or


dered him 10 rush in, in case he shoul
t hear anything that warranted his intru
e sion. On going into the apartment
: found the beauty was sitting by a win
5 dow looking out between the blinds
She started up as / entered, and let be
veil fall


l " thought this was a private room
e sir" she said. Her voice trembled an
0 sounded unnatural.


t 1T may be, returned but tha
Y does not exclude those who have bus
e ness. / came on purpose to see you"
Il There was momentary struggle, an
: then she appeared as calm as could b.
d " What are you ?" she asked.


e 81 am an officer from Bow street."
i replied. 50 / want TO know who you are


Stop-one moment" she said an
e as she spoke she carried her hand be
II meath her cloak. 1t was quickly witt
= drawn, and in it was pistol, but she hs
e grasped portion of her dress with
: and before she could clear j; had spruI
Ie upon her and seized ber by the arms
re But it was her no longer. There VI
Or more muscle in that slight body than
ID had bargained for However, my ms
O. popped in at the moment be heard Il
le struggle, and the beauty was soon seeu
D. ed. The glossy brown tresses fell I
e. during the scuffle, and some Of the pal