Year: 1870

cominB in sight OF tho detective. AS ho
was I'm good time, and was oblige1 to pass
F'olnth street on his way, he made up his
mind TO call on Mrs. Wilson, and If he
found her brother there, to ask him the
cause, fearing that he had offended him.
trhe widow was sitting In her drawing
: som, and displayed great deal of pleas
uee at seeing her visitor, and sympathized
most heartily with him when he narrated
his loss to her. She asked him great ma
nv questions as to the opinion of the de-
toctive and was hardly less confused than
her Brother had been, when Mr.. johnson
alluded to the probability of a speedy cap
lure of the offenders, and added that his
porier could swear to one at least of the
gang.


Mrs. Wilson at this juncture became SO
alarmingly pale that he feared she was
about to faint, and sprang up to open the
window and admit fresh air. As he rose from
his shass the door was violently opened,
epd yauglhn burst into ;nc room, MS
clothes disordered, his face heated and bis
whole aspect denoting great anxiety. See
ing Mr.. johnson, he hesitated, and look
of intelligence and alarm was exchanged
between himself and Mrs. Wilson. lie
then, by great effort, partially recovered
his co mposure, apologized for the mode of
his entrance, and said that he had xpected
to see his sister alone, and had something
of importance TO say to her. The mer-
chant Immediately prepared to leave, and
had exchanged farewels with the widow
when the door again opened, and to his
amazemcnt his warehouse porter entered,
with letter in his hand, and gave it to him
wit hout saying word. After obtaining
leave from the lady-Vaughan had moved
to the window, and was looking out, with
his back to the rest-he broke the seal, and
read the following line in pencil, "Don't
leave the room till come" written upon
card bearing the detectives name.
Though he could not for the life of him
guess at the meaning OF the above, he de-
term ined 10 do as he was hidden, if posi-
BILE and contented himself with nodding
TO his porter, and saying, "Tell the gentle
man TO be quick, then"


The porter vanished, and Mr.. johnson,
although feeling acutely the awkwardness
of the situation, did the best thing he could
do under the circumstances, and asked
Vaughan wherefore he lett him so abrupt
ly il the street. The former endeavored to
make some reply, but his nervousness in
creased SO painfully that it was incohercnt.


Once again the door opened, but this
time it was the detective who appeared,
closely followed by a couple Of policemen.
Advancing straight 10 where Vaughan
stood, apparently transfxed with fear, he
laid his hand on his shoulder and said,
"Will you come quietly? or must I use
forcof


To the dismay of Mr.. johnson, who ex-
pected an outburst of passion, Vaughan
asked in trembling voice:


"What is it you want me for?"


"Rcbbery Of some s9OOO worth of goods
froIt this gentlemans store. Have you
an ything to say about itP"


"Not to you." And he held out his
hands for the handouts.


During this scene no one had thought of
Mrs. Wilson, but their attention was now
called TO her by heavy fall upon the
ground, and they perceived that the un-
fortunate lady had tainted away. Mr.
j ohnson, as soon as he could breathe again,
demanded from the police officer the mean
ing of this intrusion, insisted upon it that
there was some mistake. and attributed
he agitation of Vaughan and his sister to
the horror they felt at a charge of this sort
being brought against gentleman.


The detective without saying a word, fit
ted the handouts on the young mans
wrists, and signed to the policeman to re-
move both rom the room. As soon as the
door closed behind them Mrs. Wilson was
carried out ne smiled and said: know
well enough what am about sir, but did
not like to arrest friends of yours until
had satisfied myself that was not wrong
in my suspicious. Vaughan is the man
who held YOUR porter in conversation,
while his confederates were securing the
plunder, and from all accounts it seems
they knew where to go. Mrs. Wilson was
often in your store, am told can you tell
me whether 'she seemed to examine the
place at all 90


In moment a light broke over the mind
of Nr. Johnson, and he remembered his
interview with the widow, some few days
before.


why" he said, "I showed her all over
the store myself. What fool must have
boen."


"Ah,' said the detective laughing, ''its
the old game after all. l thought so;
clever woman is always found in conjunc-
tion with these fellows"


oven ] could forgive the sister; she
may have been led away; but as for her
brother''-


Lord bless you, sir-he is no more her
brother than you are all we have to do is
to sit still, and we shall have the rest of
the gang here. When left you l ran off
to your store, after setting watch on the
house, and brought the porter back with
me. was at standstll for moment, as
to the best step to take next, when was
told that you had gone into the house. I
thun a2..3blod the note and sent IL up, to
enable your man to take look at the pris-
oner as l did not wish to mako mistake,
and also to detain you in the room in case
they should attempt to escape. He swore
positively to him, although he only saw his
back, and on his doing so l came up myself
and the rest you know, as far as this house
is concerned. dispatched one of my men
to make inquiries of several of the leading
railway ticket offices, and from his report
I have good reason to believe that the
whole party meditated an emigration to
some Of the large cities out west to- morrow,
So we have only just had time to put the
stopper upon them"


Mr. Johnson, burning with indignation
at discovering the real character of the peo-
pie he had been associating with, resolved
to stay and see the end Of the whole affair,
In the course of an hour the front door
bell rang violently, and two young men of
emnently gentlemanly exterior, were ush-
cred into the room. Seeing two strangers
seated there, they were considerably aston
ished, and muttered something about ex-
pecting to find Mr., Vaughan.


"All right sir" said the detectives 81
will lead you to him when l have had
moments conversation with you. BE kind
enough to allow me" and he advanced