The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-12-24
" Besides p" she said. interrupting::

w nat acclQentS, biI l! dShCu VIC AoNy,
with an air of interest. stt.
"Well, madam, since the affair OF Muller
and Mr.. Briggs--" -,
"Oh, 1 understand" said the lady, with
| q light and musical laugh; you are an aid
of being murdered, sir"
| "H'm, we'll"
| "Oh, pray do not make excuses, sir"
| sid the lady; I" can understand that per
| sons may be cowardly, when"
"Cowardly, madaml" said the poor old
gentleman, somewhat Disconnected.
Certainly" she replied, laughing more
| than ever; +" is it not so, to fear that you
are to become second Mr.. Briggsg Such
occurrences do not take place now"
"Not take placer cried the brewer,
opening his eyes; "why, on that very
| platform was reading"
"Oh, obi yes, 1 read it myself" said the
Ilady.
"You did," said the old gentleman.
"Assuredly," was the reply; why
notg"
"You see, then, that such things do
| take place, madam"
"Well, perhaps So" she admitted; "but
they are exceptional, sir"
81 might prove one OF the exceptions"
said he.
$50 you might, sir" returned the lady,
with family ironical smile.
| "You see, then, that there is ground for
nervousness, on the part of an old man"
said the brewer.
"Ah that is why you were locked in this
carriage" said the lady.
Exactly" he replied.
"Oh, I comprehend" she continued.
"On my part, am not nervous at all"
| xtUo,, 90 not ho criad
"No. Why should be 30, whom I
have YOU to protect me" She smiled
again ironically, and the old gentleman
bowed
The conversation then turned on differ
ent subjects. Presently, December and
Nav partook of sandwich together, and,
by-and-by, the train stopped at Tun-
bridge.
Here a tall, military looking, and rather
handsome man was seeking to find place
| in the tram. He must proceed, he said,
at once, on business of great importance,
| for he was already late, having come thus
| far on his way to Dover by a previous
train, which had unfortunately gone with
out him whilst he had been taking hasty
meal at the refreshment bar.
| al must and will proceed" he said calm
ly, but firmly, to the guard, who in vain
! protested that the train was already quite
| full
"The company are bound to take me
II" he cried.
There's no room, SIR" said the guard.
ave will see Hal" he calculated, look
ing into the carriage in which sat the
brewer and his companion, "here is room"
he added; and he frowned at the guard.
| "You cannot 60 in there, sir !" said the
latter, in great confusion.
an OF 90 in! Well, we will see" said
he and he coolly took key from his
pocket, and unlocked the door of the car
riage, stepping briskly in. n
The guard stared in am2zement.
"He has got keyw he ejacrlated to
himself. "Oh, he must be director
Beg pardon, sir?
But there was no time for explanation,
for the train was already on its way.
The brewer frowned, and looked cross
at this fresh addition to the company Not
so the lady, who at the voice and sight of
the new conner had at first turned slightly
pale. She merely gave a passing glance
at him, and recommended the perusal of
Henry Danton. As for the stranger, he
settled himself down in the opposite seat
to her, and taking from his pocket late
/ edition of the Standard, became apparent
" absorbed in the columns.
It NAV here be mentioned that the brew
er, who had at first been seated opposite
to his fair travelling companion, had lat
terly, for the purpose of indulging in his
| usual afternoon nap, changed his seat to
the further corner of the carriage. His
first seat, then, being vacant, was appro-
priated by the newcomer.
On. on rushed the train, through corn
fields and hop grounds, at steady, even
pace, which prevented its rapidity from
being felt. Now come open-mouthed rus
tic stood at . halfopened gate, staring
after the smoking, putting engine - It tore
along; now some c0vey OF frightened part
ridges rose from the edge of the embank-
ment, or q startled colt galloped away
rom the vicinity of the Tin its eyes) resist
less monster that appeared 10 be approach
ing him. And still on, steadily on, with
out oscillation or curve, sped the Dover
express.
The military man, or at least he who
appeared to be such, was steadily regard
ing his opposite neighbor over the top OF
his newspaper, while apparently engaged
| in reading. She, unconscious of the scru-
tiny. was absorbed in the fortunes of the
scoundrel-hero of her novel and the old
brewer snored audibly in the further cor
| ner.
The face of the mllitary-looking man
expressed perplexity and doubt. He was
parsonage of from so to % years OF age,
with an upright carriage, crisp, short,
curling black hair, intermixed with gray,
and peculiarly intelligent and piercing
black ewes. For some miles he appeared
to be debating with himself, and occasion
aIly, with an air of indecisiOn, put his
hand into his coat-tail pocket.
"The opportunity is good" he mutter-
| ed "and yet 80.
Atlast, when the train was within .
few miles of Ashford, he appeared to have
made up his mind.
"Iwill risk it," he said to himself; Eyes,
1 will risk it."
Click, clickl
The military man had suddenly with
drawn his hand from his pocket, in which
it had so long been fumbling, and the old
brewer woke up with q terrified start.
The fair lady of this story, with pale but
resolute look on her face, was sitting hand
cuffed!
aWhat-what is this ?" gasped the brew
er. only half awake, and turning in be-
wildered amazement to the military
stranger. "Who are you, siry' =,
"Inspector T, ofthe detective force,
was the reply.
man "what has she done?" :,
!" Are you sure she is LADY," inquired
the inspector, with quiet smile.
"Oh, who could doubt that " said the
al doubted it, sir" was the quick reply, !;
"and well for YOU did, for have decided
" saved your life" i
Saved nv life y cried the brewer, in
extreme astonishment.
EYES, said the detective.
"Rut how inquired the brewer.
"Look at that lady, as you call her,
said the officer. "Did you ever see any
one like her ?"
az" stammered the. old gentleman.
"Oh, never"
, ued the inspector.
"Never," cried the other. :,
avon have not read those handbills all
down the line, then" said Inspector J.
; "What handbillsg" inquired the brewer.
"Why, concerning the recent murders
in railway carriages
ayes. have read them" he rephe0
"Weil." said the officer.
az cannot see how that concerns tnis
lady" .,.,,so
Even the prisoner smiled at such obtuse'
ness.
"Iook, then," said the inspector, remov-
ing the prisoners bonnet, and win II
| mass of dark braided hair, beneath whlcn
showed a curly golden head: Does