Adventures Of Tad

▲uthor operpeb adams," "blows oot to Ska," "Paul Orafton," Etc. [Copyrightei, 1W, by D. Lothrop & Ca., and PublUhed by Sneeial Arrangement.] CHAPTKK XIIL-CONTTNÜED. " I don't wish to increaso the general unpleasantness," he obserred, poking his head through the door with a ghastly smile, " but I'm compelled to remark that the thief has also taken" "Not my Roman gold bracelets, John dear," interrupted hls wife, clasping her hands n a tragic manner - "don't say that!" "1 grieve to be obliged to say so, my love," said Mr. Masón, with affected pleasantry, " and also to add that not only have your watch and chain ben stolen silently away, but the biggest trunk seems to have been despoiled of a dresa or tno, as well as tlio fur-lined circular, which you would iiiMst upon bringing, in spiteof my remonstrances, whüe" "Here, ïad! Tad, come back here! where are yougoing!" internipted Miss Smith, as, at the words "fur-lined circular," Tad, Beizing his cap from the table, bolted from tlio room without a word, followed by Mr. Mason, who muttered something about hunting up the sheriff, while his wife, with a hysterie sob, sought her owu apartment for the purpose of seeing whether she had sustained any further lo. Mr. Atherton rose to hia feet with suspicion in his eye, and the little sachel key, which he had prcviously drawn from his pocket, in his hand. "I - I - do not like the appearanoe of all this," he said, in a tono of severo displeasure. "That boy's behavior, from my first encounter with him, at the station in Philadelpliia, to this last - er - hasty exit, has, to say the least, hardly been above suspieion; and 1, must say" "Wiat, sir!" wrathfully exclaimed Miss Smith, not heeding pacifio Mrs. Flagg's gentle twitch at her dressskirt, "so you dare to insinúate that my - that Tad, who's be'n ander my own ej-e ever senco he come to Bixport - an' a honestar, Btiddier boy never li ved - would" "Without meanin' to come into no colusión," gently but firmly interposed Captain Flagg, in persuasivo Minea, "an' aceia' we're all neighbors an' fricu's, snpposin' we lay to an' anchor fora Bpell, an' seo what comes of it. In niv vvay of thinkin'," continued the Captain, beaming mildly upon Mr. Atherton, who, apparently a little ashamed of his haste, had subsided agaln into his ohair, "that there boy is all Miss Smith says, an' more, too, an' ït's my belief that what1! sot him off all so sudden ia aome kind of a clew that ïe's in a huny to overhaul. Wliat do you tliink, Polly?" said that she knew itwas somehing of the sort, whtte Mrs. Flagg nurmured words to the same effect. So, as there wa.s ttothing to do but await erents, Miss Smith swallowed : vhat she afterwarda mentioned aa her 'righteous Indignation," and took up ïer knitting; Mr. Atherton oontrolled lis impatience as best he could, and, Lrawing a paper from his ]ocket, became seemingly absorbed in its eontents, though Tad was perpetually scampering up and down its columns; whüe the Flaggs cottversed ith each other and Mi-s Smith in a confldential nndertone, regardingthe strange eventa of the day. CHAPTER XIV. Meanwhile, Tad, possessed by one dominant thought, wliieh had llashed ocrosa hia miad at Mr. Mason's mention of the loss of his wiíe's ftir-lined circular, was speeding througli tluhalf darkness up the strcot in the drection of Potter's. For, an hour or so before, vrhile walking the hotel piazza, pending the anival of the stage, Tnd's ejes, whioh, generally speaking. vero eYerywhere, happened to glanoe throñgh one of the long Windows in t the dingy apartments dlgnifled bj the ñamo of "Ladies' Parlor," where, rather to liis surprise, he noticed a richly attireil lady, with a vail before her face, sitting on thc worn, hair-cloth sofa. Ouests were not conunon at Potter's- -particularly well-dressed ladies - aiul Tad, secretly marvejing, gave tliis one more particular attentlon as he walked to and fro. One thing stnick hini as being rather peculiar, which waa tliat, tlespite the warmth of the July evening, the Stranger uore over her other apparel a long silk circular, very similar to the one which had played so important a part in his own exodus f rom the city, even to the fur lining, of which he oaught a tiny glimpse. Joe Whitney had joiii(d him in hi walk, and, noticing the direction of his gaze, had whispered confidentially: "Say, th&t'itny passenger- Potter'a goin' to give me a quarter t drive her over to Middleboro, to eateh the train 'cause he can"t spare the bostler. She's in a Mg hnrrv," added Joe. vtilh a gleef ui chuckle, "so they're harnessing np Brown Pete, and títere isn't but one better trotter in the stable - that'a Potter's sorrel mare, and slie's a regular flier." For Joe, like most boys, was very fond of a tast horse, and, being an excellent driver for lüs yeara, obtained gratuitous rules and occasional quarters by taking occasional sengers to their umrrcnt destmations for Mr. Potter. But the arrival of the stage, vwthMr. Atherton and one óther passenger - a sniall, silent man, who only spoke in monosyllables, whose features Tad could not distinguish in the gathering darkness - drove Joe's communication and the mjsterioua occupantof the parlor, alike, from his mind, Uil after the discovery of the robbery of Mrs'. Mason's room, wlien, as 1 have said, her husband's endden referenee to the loss of the cloak caused a new idea to occur to him, which brought the incident just narrated freshly to mind, and sent hun rushing from the room. Not only tliis, but, growing into an almost eertaintyi as he hurried along, it added such. speed to his flying feet that, on his arrival at Potter's, in a flushed and heated condition, Tad itumbled almost head-first igainst the smatl, silent man who had been Mr. Atherten's fellowpassenger, as he was walkingthepiazza with ñ cigor in his mouth. Hastily excusiag himself, ïad burst into the office, where Mr. Potter, who weighed nearly throe hundred ponnds, was sitting in his shirt-sleeves, reading the New England Farmer. "Say, Mr. Potter," gasped Tad, breathlesslv, "how long has Joe been gone with that person - passenger - in the long black eloak?" "Eh?" responded Mr. Potter, looking up froni his paper aiul speaking with aggravating deliberatlon, "how long? Lemme see. M'ria," raising his voice for the benefit of his wife, in the other room, "how long's thatyoung Whitney be'n away with that air lady passenger - the one in sueb a tremendona hurry to git to MiddleborrerP" Tad, with feverish impatienoe, nwaited tlie answer. The small man on the piazza, near the open door, must have been of a rather inquisitivo nature; for, holding his cigar betwecn his fingers, and his head a little to one side, he, too, seemed to listen for Mrs. Potter' s response. "Pretty nigh half 'n hour," callod Mis. Potter, through the half-open door. "Why, who wants to know?" "Me- Tad Thorne, Mrs. Potter," exclaimed Tad, in an agitated voice, and oh, Ir. Potter! won't you have the sorrel fhare put right in quiek, so I can drive oft" after her - I mean him - dressed up in Mrs. Mason's cloak, and cateh 'em before he - she - gets to Middleboro!" "Why, what on earth is the matter with yon?" demanded Mis. Potter, with some asperity, as ,-lie bounced into the office. "It's that Forrest - his name is Jones - I mean Edwards," poor Tad cxclaimecl, incoherently, "he's stole Mr. Atherton's hand-bag, full of dl'muns and papers, and dressed up in Mrs. Mason's clothes and cloak" "Mr. Potter!" interrupted a quick and somewhat imperious voice, proceeding from the snioker of the piazza, who, flinging his eigar asido, suddenly appeared inside the door, "haveyour fastest horse put into a light buggy, and be quick about it!" And in the yoiee, as well as its owncr, Tad, with a great thrill of joy, reeognized City Detective Blossom, who, it will be remembered, liad cansed .Mr. Jones to. restore the Uttle alligator-skin sachel to Tad, in the streets of Boston, a long time before. "Teil him the sorrel mare, Mr. Blossom," cried Tad, wfco :is wildly excited; "shc can troteverso much faster thau Brown Pete and oh! pleasi.' let me go, too!" The detective glanced aharply at Tad, and nodded. ■ Yon can go," he p;ül, briefly. "The Borrel mare, Mr. rotter, and be qoick about it," hej added; and, greatly bewildered, Mr. Potter bawled his directiona to his wife, who repeated them from the back I window to the bostler, Ín tlie stablcyard. "How was itP" aaked Mr. Blossom, in his curt way, as Tad foDowed him out on the piazza. And Tad suceoedet! in rivMiir a tolerably snocinct account of the robbery and leading itanees whlch had made him almost positive as to the guilty person. " Smart boy," the detective remarked, approvingly, as the buggj rattled round to the door; "jump in!" And. springing after Tad, Mr. Blossom snatohed the reins from the hostler'a hands, cliirrupod to the sorrel mare, and they were off. "It's a straight rosd to M'tddleboro - only om1 hül," gasped Tad, whose breath was almost taken away by the rapidity with whioh the light buggy was heinji whirled along behind the nimble heels of the sorrel maro. As long :i he livcs fae T-vill never target that night drive over the level, dusty highway, lined on either aide by the dense pinj growth peculiar to the New England States. The moon was nearly full. and us it gradually rose above the tree-tops great patches of altérnate light and shadows were thrown aeross the road. Mr. Blossom, whose thin, keen face did not show the slightest trace ol emotion, sat bolt-upright on ttie buggy-seat, with feet firmly braced, hi short muscular arras extended straight ut before liim, as rigid as bars of steel from the tautened rein-, which were wotmtl in niic turn about e&ch of lus smalt, nervous hands. Evidently Mr. Blossom not only knew how to drive but how to get all possible speed out of the sorrel mare. With her mail ears laid l);n-k and her nose pointing forward, the intelligent animal seemed tö understand that now, if ever, her best efforts were required, and her slim legs went measuring off the miles with long, steady gtrides that seemed to imperoeptibly grow lonjrcr and swifter as she warmed ap to her work. The sorrel mare was rning nearly two miles to Brown Pete's one, at her I present rate of speed. Trémbling with exeitement, Tad held his hat on with one hand, while with the other he clung to the rail of the buggy, as the pines and hemlocks which borderedthe road seemed living by like lightning. There they are," briefly said Mr. Blossom, speaking for the lirst time since they had started. Far ahead in the moonlight rose Winslow's hill, bevond which lay Middleboro, about two miles distant. üutlined against the, jale ribbon-like road was a black moving object, at the sight of which Tad' 8 heart gave a great throb of exeitement. Mr. Blossom took the long, slender whip from the sooket and gently toiiched the sorrel mare's hearing flank.. Wheiv! Tad began to wish he was safely back on Mr. Potter's piazza. Such going! The mare was making such time as she had never excelled even at the Middleboro trotting-park. If a wheel should come off - But now, as tliey gained rapidly upon the team in advance, it was evident that the pursued had bceonie aware of a pursuer. Up the long hill sped Brown Pete, but the Heet strides of the sorrel mare followed with increaing speed. Down the log incline - and now the distant ligbts of Middleboro town were digtlnctly visible. CHAPTER XV. Mr. Blossom's lips werp tíghtly compressed, as lic glaiioeil from the fiying team to the distant yillage tignte; for, though the sorrel man' was doing her best, it was vcry evident that slu; was beginning to be "winded;" wliile Brown Pete, driven at a lesa rato oí speed at the beginning of the journey, seemed nearly as fresh as ever. "Yoij'd better pull up. Edwards- I'm bound to have jou," called Mr. Blossom, in a strong, olear voice, that rose above the rattling wheels. "First catch your hare," shouted a mocking voice, as the speaker, whose plumed liat had dro]ped oft", turned on the seat and lookeu back. He had suatched the reins from Joe's hands at the firet ndications of pursuit, and was pVying the whip uimirreifully, while Joe, in aaeeming agony of terror at discovering the dangerous chavacter of his passenger, had dropped into the bottom of tlie buggy. Bnt Joe was no coward, and was quick-witted withaL As he heard tho detective' s shouted rem ark and his unpleasant companion's replv, he hesitated one brief second, and then, reaching op, geized the right-hand reign in both hands - pulling on it with all Lis strength. Of covirso, the inevitable result followed. Brown Pete swerved wildly to the right - the forward wheel turned under the bnrry-bottom, and "cramped," wfaioh caused the buggy itself to turn over - with sueh surprising Buddenness that Joe went flying into a smal! duck paddie by the roadsiile, whilii Edwards - kiils, cloak and all - sailed impetuonsly over a fence, and lainlcd in a field beyond it. Mr. Blossom, with ajoyous exclama tion, bogan to pull up tlie Borrel mare - no easy task, I can assure yon. And Tad, who, despite his excitemont, had never taken h u-om the one object of pursuit, uttered a cry; for, before tlie bnggy cante to full stop, hc saw Edwardfl gathering himself lip and starting in a ridiculous' run across the field. "He sha'n't gut away!" cried Tad, whose ñervos, wrought up to the highcst piteh, would have vcntured' any thing to save the prize, so nearly within their grasp. Before the words, had left his lips, Tad had slipped overthe back of the Imggy, scaled the fence like a scjuinvl and was following close at Edwards' heels. while Mr. Blossom's nimble feet weré gaining the fence itself. Like most boys, Tad was a good runner, while Edwards, encumbered' by the clinging skirts, made very indifferent progresa, even though holding them as high as he could! And in another hioiiicnt Tad had scized the end of the long circular, whieh was itreaming out behind lik black wings. "(ii'me the sacbel!" panted Tad, and with the words the cloak-elasp parted 'I'ad tVll nu the back of his head, holding the fur-lined cireular in his hand, while Edwards plunged fov - oaught his foot in the front brea&thfl of Mrs. Maaon'i best black silk, and went down on his nose in a highly undlgnified manner. When Tad regained his ïeet, Mr. Blossom was rather huniorously regarding a very shanie-faced individual attired in a torn and nnuVstained black silk dress, which entirely failed tg conceal a pair of very masculina boots and trousers. Mr. Edwards wrists were adorned with steel handeuft's, and his features wore sach a Jowncast look that Tad's teader heart was touched. "If he'll only givo the rest oí the tliings up, liadu'i you botter let Mingo, Mr. Blossom?" suggested Tad, in a low tone; but the detective shook hls head. "He's wanted in Boston, for soinething more serions than stealing," said Mr. Blossom, gravely. And then he handed Tad the. recovera! sachel, together with Mrs. Mason's JeWfllry, which he had taken trom Kdwards' pocket with professional clextrritv. "If there's any reward offered tor all this, you've earned your ïhare of it," the detective remarked; and then the three made their way back in romparative silence. Joe had fi&hed himself trom the dnek puddle, onharnessed Brown Pete froin the OTerturned yehicle, which waa not badly damaged, and when the singular trio regained liini in the road, he as scraping himself with a stick, while the two hoiwes, earefiilly blanketed, stood, with drooping heada and reeking sidea, li_ the roadside. [to bi continueb.]