Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-06-01

!
mean gettin' into close quarters wi apistol,
to max sure o yer aim.
Mrs Leeson turned and shook an angry
fist at him; but my aunt who was the 9th
er lady, stalked on unheeding, like one
consciously marching to noble doom.
It's very nice thing, amt it?" added
the cabby, addressing the group which in
! stantly gathered about him, ''to ha' life
preserver lifted to you be woman, becos
! you AK, for a hextra sixpence, for havin' to
go out o yer road? An seed she's got a
pistol as big as gun inside o her muff--
Look out in the papers to-morres, for muir
der on this heer line, sumwheer' atween
this an Colney! !"
This was pretty beginning, | thought,
as | rushed away to gain the platform while
my aunt was procuring her ticket. Hiding
behind other people IN the vicinity OF the
book-stand | watched the two go to car
riage where Aunt Tab secured seat by
placing something upon it--for anything
| could tell, the siX-barreled revolver: and
then, whilst she and Mrs. Leeson went to-
wards the guards van, to look after the
| luggage (Which had been sent down before
ran and leaped into second-class COM
partment of the same carriage my relative
had selected, nesting myself away out of
sight in the corner By-and-by the bell
rang, doors were slammed, and the train
slowly got into motion, when | had a
glimpse of Mrs. Leeson apparently sliding
| off into the rear while throwing encourag-
ing last kisses to my aunt | was in hopes,
as only a few minutes had elapsed, she
might be in time to have another meeting
with the prophetic cabman as she retired
! from the station.
1t was set down as fast train, but its
speed seemed very slow to me as | sat in
| the otherwise empty compartment, waiting
in nervous apprehension for some mishap.
| | listened feariully, half-eXpecting pistol
! shot every minute. But all went quietly,
and at last, when we reached the market
gardening districts, | got to amusing my
self by mentally tying up the acres of on
ions on each side of the line into long
strings ready for the retail market. We
arrived safely at Huntingdon, and there the
train slackened and almost came to pause
for moment, while the guard leaped out
and ran along the platform for some pur-
pose, but without actually stopping we in
stantly got up speed again. Just, how
ever as the train was leaving the station
a mans red face, with the hat nearly fall
ing off behind, presented itself with an
agonized expression at my carriage win
dow, the man struggling to force himself
through the aperture.
"Help me in, help --w he gasped,
sticking fast halfway. Though much star
tied | managed to get my arm under his
broad shoulders.
"You madman you'll be killed !" ex-
claimed the guard, who was now running
back the other way to leap into his van.
"What must you get out Of the other car
riage for ?' and the official angrly gave the
gentleman a push by the legs which, in
forcing him through one window nearly
sent me reelng out Of the other. 81 shall
summons you, sir "
Il don't care I'm not mad but she III
the next carriage is," painted my putting
companion. Don't say Il word" he adj
ded, facing round to the guard I'll give
you half crown at the next station"
She? A lady, sir? The one in the next
compartment? Pll inquire into it when we
STOP" significantly answered the guard
and the engineer having, in answer to a
signal from his whistle, slackened the ris-
ing speed again, the speaker leaped down,
and hurried to regain his van
=" I'll make it five shillngs, guard, if you
will get my stick from her !" excitedly
shouted the red faced man. "Oh dear !"
he said, turning to me, and rearranging his
ruffled dress, "who will travel by railwa VI
say"
"What is the matter ?" | very apprehen-
sively inquired, for well knew the lady in
the next compartment must be my Aunt
Tab.
"Watch smashed, | know, for felt the
glass 90 as | tumbled in," he remarked,
pulling out a dilapidated watch. But,
thank goodness, am safe" and he gasped
again. "Catch me in a frst-class any.
more! I'll go third in future as long as |
live. No mans safe, sir not with a wo-
man old enough to be his own grandmoth-
er"
"Sit down and compose yourself; you've
had either a narrow escape" | faltered,
more and more convinced my aunt was at
the bottom Of it.
Escape | shonld have had bullet in
me, sir, if hadn't boItcd. She's as mad as
hare | could see it in her eyes," and he
dropped exhausted on the seat "Talk
about Banting's system, This beats Bant-
ing hollow Pvc lost pounds and pounds
since we left London" Removing his hat
he vigorously mopped his face and head
with his handkerchief "Tm all in a vapor
bath at this minute" He was rather fat
man, wel-drcsscd, having the look of
gentleman farmer.
a think you mentioned lady, sir" l
hypocritically inquired. Nothing serious
has happened to her, hope"
"To her! Let me get my breath, and
I'll tell YOU" he painted, tanning himself
with the handkerchief Wed left town
about ten minutes, when | saw she was
watching me very queerly-there were
only ourselves i'll the carriage you under
stand well, to make friends with her, |
just offered her my newspaper You may
believe me or not but she deliberately came
on, like this and struck at me with a load
ed life-preserver Then she said some
thing did not catch, and pulled out a
bowie-knife. It's true sir as true as sit
here believe she's mad woman from
the backwoods Of America" he added,
looking into the bottom of his hat before re-
placing it.
WAS that all ?" | ventured to ask, glad
that things were not worse. % thought
you alluded to a stick ?'
E.FTba a+ oil vounor ,no,, To1o