The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-01-29

tance, who, through misfortune or other
wise, had faiied in the intellectual branches
OF his profession, how the garotte was
erected. l trembled for his answer, and
half repented having said anything so rude
as soon as tho question had left my lips
lie, however, did but blush slightly md
becomingly, smiled with the confidence Of a
master in some art who is interrocated as
to his knowledge of its tirst principles, pulled
up his false collar with his real hand, and
thus deiv himself: ';s 3 $3.50 ~
'Why, singularly enough, sir, the sarotte
is my particular line.' r - = 1880.
My satisfaction at this avowal was. as
may be imagined, complete. How eloquent
did my fraudulent friend become about this,
his favorite topic! What spirit he threw
into his descriptions! What hair breadth
escapes from the police and other intrusive
persons, intcrrupting him in the pursuit Of
his vocation, he hnd at various times ex-
perienced! Left alone with his man he had
rarely indeed been unsuccessful. Once,
however, with Il gymnastic gentleman
harlequin in plain clothes, returning from
a theatre who had thrown summcrsnult
clean over his head; and once with stout
party from city dinner, who had no neck
positively none-to afford the operator n
chance, and who bit my poor friends arm
in such manner that it was useless for
weeks afterwards.
"And you did these of youself, and with
out any assistance p enqured, with some
incrcdulity.
quite alone, sir,' replied he, 'but in all
cases the garottes were several inches short
er than myself. With a man of YOUR size,
for instance and he laughed good humor-
edly, sit would be almost an impossibility.'
laughed l very heartily at this notion, too.
Would he be just SO good as to show me,
just to give me an example how the thing
was done?
Il throw my arm from the back of your
neck, like this said he, suitng the action
to the word, but with the greatest dclicacy
of touch. You are sure am not inconvc-
niencing you?'
Not ut ali,' said I-sgo on.'
81 then close the fore arm tightly. Stoop
little lower, pleas; thank You, and COM
press the windpipe with
Where was |? Why was lying on the
floor Of the car, instead of sitting on the
corner seat? Why was my NECK cloth I'M
fastened, and where were the bank notes
which it had contained? These questions
and many others presented themselves to
my mind as tie train glided into Carlisle
station. Above all, where was my agreea-
BILE companion? knew by the unerring
Bradshlw's Guide book that the train stop
ped nowhere between Preston and.
Yes, but it did, though, just for one minute,
at the junction Of the Windermere line. to
drop passengers, although not to take them
up.
Guard guard!'
yes, sir; Carlisle, sir. A quarter Of an
hour allowed for refreshments.'
Don't talk to me of refreshmcnts,'
cried, hoarsely. 'Did a man from this car
riage get out at Oxenholme:'
'Yes, sir; very gcntlemanly young man,
with fnishing-rod and landing net. A
lake tourist. Asked whether there was Il
trout stream in that neishborhood.'
have not quite settled yet in my own
mind whether the thing was planned from
the very first, and the lost hat itsclf-which
was not claimed-a portion of the diabolcal
plot or whether the intentions Of my COM
panion had been really honorable until |
was fool enough to put q temptntion in hi,
way which he could not resist. Previous to
the outrage the mans conduct had been
certainly quite irreproachable. lie 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
all events, my travelling acquaintance had
taken that away with him.