The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-03-06
He smiled.

"To tell you the truth, ] stopped to
take on single passenger--a gentleman
who has come down from Bayswater."
"For the pleasure Of travelling onoe
more over the same route 7"
"Exactly so--for the pleasure Of travel
ing in certain society. Don't be alarm.
ed for your own safsty--its o detective
policeman" ~
a."
l was about to repeat the words in as.
constituent. when he motioned me to ST..
lence.
Sand who is the offender p
don't know myself yet He doesn't
want scene until the moment of arrest |;
we are safe enough until we reach Bays.
water"
"Where is he ?'i
"The detective? He sits by the door
yonder, with ragged fur cap pulled over
his eyes Did you ever see more per-
feet specimen Of the dilapidated country.
man 7"
Ismiled I'could hardly help it.
"What is the case ?"
"a murder-a man and his wife and
two little children-their throats cut, last
night, and the house set FIRE to after
wards'
"Great heavens what monster p
We had continued the conversation
throughout in whisper, scarcely above
our breath, and now the conductor rose
and left me to study the faces of my fel.
low passengers, with curious dread and
horror.
Somehow, often as l revolyed the mat
ier in my mind, my fancy Mould settle on
a coarse, gross looking man opposite, with
bushy beard and shaggy wool coat,
with the collars turned up round his ears.
| felt convinced that this man, with the
brutal eyes, and the heavy, hanging jaws,
was the Cain and as | looked Purtively
across caught the wide open blue orbs
Of the fair GIRL
Obeying the instantaneous impulse Of
my heart, rose and went over to her
''YOu heard what we were saying, my
childT
"Yes-a murder-oh, how horrible !"
'Do not be frightened-no one shall
hurt you"
She smiled up in my face with sweet
cohfding innocence.
Our stay at Exmouth was but brief;
but during the delay l could see that the
watchful detective had changed his seat
to one nearer the brutise man in the shag
gy coat.
"See," faltered the young girl-'thcy
they locked the car doors at Exmouth !;
they are unlocking them now"
She was right.
Probably they were fearful that the
criminal should escape" 1 remarked in an
undertone.
"Will you-mayI trouble you to bring
me glass of water2'
l rose and made my way towards the
ice cooler by the door, but with difficulty,
fdr the train was again under rapid motion.
To my disappointment the tin goblet was
chained to the shelf.
"No matter" said she, with a winning
smile, II will come my,elf"
| drew the water, and held up the cup;
but instead Of taking itas she approached, I,
she brushed suddenly past me, opened the
door, and rushed out upon the platform
'Stop her stop her |" shouted the de.
tective, spring to his feet. "She will be
killed conductor -brakeman--hold up u
There was rush--a tumult--a hustle
l was the first upon tho platform; but i,
was empty aud deserted, save by hall
frozen looking brakemen, who seemed
horror stricken.
"She went past me like shadow, and
Jumped off as we crossed Cairn turn
pike road" he stamered.
dumped off the express train F! Well,
said the conductor, Struggling his shoul.
ders, "she must have been killed instant
ly. What mad folly I" .s
"It's Eve hundred dollars out Of my
pocket said the detective ruefully. ~
didn't want row before we got to Bays
water, but l was a confounded fool. A
woman cornered will do anything, be
lieveW
"What !" ! calculated; "you surel,,
do not mean that child"
~ mean," said the detective calmly
"that that child, as you call her, is Attil
Burton, married woman Of twenty.s Al,
years Of age, who last night murdere,
four persons in cold blood, and was try
ing to escape to Canada, That's what
mean n
The train,was stopped, and party Of u
headed by the conductor aud detective
went back to search for any trace of tn
: beautiful creature, whose loveliness an,
| apparent innocence had appealed to m
} sympathies SO earnestly. Nor was il lonl
before We found her, lying quite dead b
; the side Of the track ,frightfully mapgle
by the force Of The fall, and mutilate
almost beyond recognition.
: "Well, she's escaped Justice IN tbi
world, ifnot in the next" said the deteol
i've, gloomily, as he stood looking dow
, upon heE remains, a'-
"Do you suppose she expected to b
able to spring OF the morning train with
| out injury !" l asked.