Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-11-23
sTArNTON VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23 1885,

been, in reality, concerned in fraudulent trans
action, and far less in any deeds of violence.
We had just left Preston, and he was conclu
ding highly interesting account of how 5at
money was circulated in the provinces, wher
suddenly a thought struck me, to which never
theless scarcely liked to give utterance. l fell
exceedingly desirous to know exactly how gar
roting was effected, yet how was to put tbt
question to so inoffensiye and gentle,nanlike
scoundrel2 At last l mustered resolution e
nough. Did he happen to have heard from
any acquaintance who, through misfortune
or otherwise, had failed in the intellectual
branches of his profession, how the garrote was
effeoted2 Itrembled for his answer, and hall
repented of having said anything so rude as soon
Ms the question had left my lips. He, however.
did but blush slightly and becomingly, smiled
with the confidence of master in some art who
is ignorantly interrogated as to his knowledge Of
its first principles, pulled up his false collar with
bis real hands, and thus delivered himself:
"Why, singularly enough, sir, the garrote is
my particular line:
My satisfaction at this avowsl was as may be
imagined complete. 1t was like the question
about Hugoument mooted among the omnibus
passengers, being referred to the strange gentle
man in the corner with the Roman nnse who
turned out to be the Duke Of Wellington.
How eloquent did my fraudulent friend be-
come about this bis fayorite topic! What spirit
he threw into his descriptions What hair
breadth escapes from the police and other intru.
sive persons interrupting him in the pursuit OF
his vocation, he had at various times expert.
enced Left alone with his man he had rarely,
indeed, been unsuccessful. Once, however, with
u gymnastic gentleman-a harlequin, in plain
clothes, returning home from the theatre-who
mad thrown a summersault clean over his head |;
and once with stout party from 8 city dinner,
who had no neck-positivey none-to afford the
operator chance, and who bit my poor friends
arm in such manner that it was useless for
weeks afterwards.
sand you did these feats of yourself and with
out any assistance3" enqured with some in
credulity. :.
"Quite alone, sir" replied he; "but, in all
cases the garrotees were several inches shorter
than myself with a man of your size, for in.
stance" and he laughed good humoredly, ''it
would be almost an inipossbility."
laughed very heartily at this notion too.-
Would he be so good as to show me; just 10
give me an example how the thing was dones
II throw my arm from the back of your neck,
like this" said he, suiting the action to the
word, but with the very greatest delicacy of
touch. "You are sure am not inconveniencing
you2"
Not at ALL" says I. $50 on"
81 then close the fore arm slightly. Stoop q
little lower, please thank you, compress the
windppe with ~"
Where was II Why was l lying on the
floor of the carriage instead of sitting on the cor
VI pfa cta ns.0
and where were the bank notes which it had
contained? These questions, in company with
many Others, presented themselves to my mind
as the train glided into Carlisle station. Above
all, where was my agreeable companion2 l
knew by the unerring Bradshaw that the train
stopped nowhere between Preston and -
Yes, but it did though, just for one minute, at
the junction of the Windermore line, to drop
passengers. although not to take them up.
"Guard, guard!"
'Yes, sir; Carlisle, sir. quarter of an hour
allowed for refreshments"
Don't talk to me of refreshments" / cried
hoarsely. did man from this carriage get
out at Oxenholme2"
Yes, sir; very gentlemanly young man with
a fishing rod and landing let. A lake tourist
asked whether there was trout stream in that
/ have not quite settled yet, in my own mind,
whether the thing was planned from the first,
and the lost hat itself-which was not claimed
"a portion of the disbolical plot; or whether
the intentions of my companion had been really
honorable, until l was fool enough to put
in his way, which he could not re-
sist 1t was like placing the Bloomer suit of ar
NOR in the chamber of Joan of Arc, and expect
ing that she would keep to Crinoline and the
small bonnet in preference to that martial cos
tune to which she had been SO long accustomed,
and in which she looked so becoming. Previ-
Gus to the outrage the mans conduct had been
certainly quite irreproachable. He reasoned,
too, perhaps, that since he had so fully "put me
up to the time OF day." should have no further
occasion for my gold repeater. At oil events,
my travelling acquaintance had taken that away
with him.