Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-08-13

would cast his eyes around TO see II ne was
particularly noticed but he did not find me
looking at him.
|, Presently he put his hand up to his face
and moved his beard. l saw the move
ment distinctly. 1t had got little out OF
shape, and he had replaced it! That was
: something, 1t was something gained for
my client. If this was the man who had
occupied room near him on the night OF
the robbery--and that he was the man l
had not the remotest doubt-then the fact
ofhis being disguised was something
Sut this was not ALL I soon discovered
that the bl"ck hair which curled so daintily
about his neck and temples was false
4 5it my next discovery was more impor-
tant still. The man put his hand over and
rested it on the arm of the next seat, and
as he did SO, I noticed that the hand was
avery nervous and muscular one, and that
there was no useless flesh upon it. The
veins and cords were sharply defined, and
the knuckles were prominent and angular
Such hand as that could not belong to
such an organization as he appeared to
have. l knew enough of physiology to
know that Any healthy man with a nat
ural obesity. such as this man seemed to
possess, would have had a fat, plump hand
with the knuckles dimpled instead of prom
nent.
l began to feel nevous, | knew--knew
very well--knew as well as could reed to
know for my own satisf,ction,--that the
man before me was utterly, radically. and
entirely different person from what he APP
peared If he was a tall, musclar, bony
man, with sandy hair, and deep scar upon
| the lett cheek, then he would answer to the
description of the notorious robber, Porter
Drake. But how could l have him appre-
! hended?
As soon as could afford to turn my at
tention to the man's female companion |
gave her a careful scrutiny, and read her
character at once. She was an abandoned
prohigate woman whom l had seen in the
prisoners box at Cincinnati ! knew her
we'll, her fine clothes, and the lily powder
and rouge upon her face coulL not hide her
from me. had seen her Oh trial for a
heinous crime That was enough for her.
But fortune had another favor in sore
for me. We had just stopped a. little
station, and were moving on round curve
when my stout friend pulled a letter from
his pocket. 1t was in common brown
envelope, and as he took out the letter he
laid the evelope in his lap. He opened the
missive and showed it to his companion,
and while thus engaged puff of wind from
an open window, took the envelope from his
lap and whi"led it into the passage close
to my seat. cast my eyes down, and
quickly gave 4 glance at the fugitive pa
per. The superscription was up, but /
could not decipher it at that distance. /
picked it up and read the name, in scraw-
ly hand. PORTER DRAKE. By tie hands
Of -NoN Slasher" threw the envelope
down and busted myself with my paper as
expeditiolsly as possible. And | was none
too soon, for hardly had l gained the other
end of my seat, and hidden my face be-
hind the news print, when the man started
up, and came and got the envelope.
1 remembered Mistress "Moll Slasher''
very well. She was the one l had seen on
trial at Cincinnati--the one now before me. /
And | knew Master Porter Drake very
well, too. could see through his disguise
now, and read him like book.
Shortly after this the cars stopped at
and l ran out and spoke to the
conductor. | told him what had found.
and asked him to wait until | could find
an officer. He told me an officer had just
entered the cars to search for Drake, and
.ha. another was on the platform to watch
he passengers who might get cut Iasked
nm to keep quiet and leave the matter with
ne | then went to the rear ear, and ere
ong the officer came out. He was a
sheriff, and | knew him we'll
Have You found anything2 l asked
lin, after We had shaken hands
No. he replied. Drake won't trust }
himself within my limits
"But suppose l should tell you that he !
vas in one of these cars now!'
The sheriff thought was joking.
Did you see large, fat man, with huge }
lack beard, blue glasses, and white era \
at?' asked Il
Yes II
Did you ever see him before p l
Yes He came down OH this road over =
week ago b
Wasn't it on friday d
The officer thought moment and then N,