[2] The concealment of notes to a large amount betweeen the plate and back board of a looking-glass is true in substance and in fact. A case similar to the one described came under the writer’s own knowledge. Many years ago, in Cheshire, a woman in a humble position of life accidentally broke a looking-glass which she had had in her possession for very many years. To her infinite surprise she discovered a number of bank-notes, concealed at its back. The case attracted considerable attention at the time, and she handed the property so found over to the stipendiary magistrates, who ultimately decided that the property so found was hers, and the notes were consequently returned to her. There are many persons now living who can attest to the truth of this statement, which proves the oft-repeated adage that “truth is strange――stranger than fiction.” CHAPTER XV. PEACE MEETS WITH A TARTAR――THE CAPTURE, AND ITS RESULT. Peace paid frequent visits to the post-office to inquire for letters; none, however, arrived. He could not in any way account for Bessie Dalton’s silence. Had she turned against him? Or had her picked-up friend persuaded her to leave Bradford? These were questions he was unable to answer. Something had occurred――of that he felt certain. Perhaps Bristow had set the girl against him. “But no,” he ejaculated. “She’s not such a fool as to listen to the counsels of that drunken brute.” He dispatched another epistle to her lodgings at Bradford. In a day or two after this it was returned to the post-office at Sheffield. On the envelope was marked, “Gone away. Not known where.” His worst fears were confirmed. He uttered anathemas loud and deep not only against Bessie Dalton, but the whole sex generally. He was wild with fury, and, like M. Mallet, tore up the letter in a thousand pieces. “The perfidious, worthless, little hussy,” he ejaculated. “The ungrateful, deceitful minx to serve me like this. Gone away, and not known where. Oh, she’s made a bolt of it, that’s quite certain. There’s no dependence to be placed on women――they are all alike. Once out of your sight you stand but a poor chance. Still, hang it all, I never expected she would have served me like this.” He had a burning desire to know the reason for her leaving Bradford, and as the days passed over this feeling became intensified. He could not rest without making an effort to clear up the “mystery,” as he termed it. He took the train to Bradford, and hastened at once to his old quarters in that town. Bristow was not at home. This he was glad of. He inquired for the landlord, who at once made his appearance. “So Bessie Dalton’s left, I hear?” said Peace, after the usual civilities had been exchanged. “Yes, Mr. Peace, she’s gone. So also has Mrs. Bristow, and I don’t expect her husband will remain long. He’ll have to ‘bunk’ if he goes on as he has been of late.”