The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1870-12-24

passing through the car-''why did VIC
stop at that backwoods place?"
"Odt of water" was the reply, as he
hurricdIy raHsea bJ.
Now l knew perfectly well tIilt His
answer was not the trne solution of the
matter! Our delay did not cxcccd half
II minute, altogether too short II time for
rcplcilishing the boiler and where Oh
earth WAS TIE water to come from in that
dcs"late stretch of barren pincwoods.
Fivu minutes after. the conductor re-
entered the ear. made room for him
ut r.s side.
"Sit down, conductor you've moth
ing TO do tliis minute
He obcycd.
What do you mcan by telling mic
such lie just now -
spoke under MY breath he replied
in the same tone:
HAboht nhst?"
"About the reason ydN stopped to take
ON single passenser--a gsntlct'i II who
who has comc. down from Baysw"tcr.'
For the pleasure of travelling once
more Over the same route ~
Exactly so-ior the purpose of trav-
clit., for your own society. Don't be
alarmed 'rt.r Jour own socicty-it's de-
tcctive Ft'licct,ian."
saa abott to rcrcat the words in as-
tonishmcnt, when he mo;oucd me to
sicucc
The detective? He sits by the door
yond"r, with u ragged fur cap pallcd
over his eyes tid you ever sec a more
perfect specimen Of the dilapidatcd coun-
tryman 7"
! smiled could hardly help it.
"'Yhht is the case p !
= 1 n,nl.ler-z.a man aud his wife and
two littft childrcn-tlIcr thtoats cut
last night, and the hoiisc set OH fire af
forwards"
Great heavens what monster ~
We lad continued the conversation
throug ~; in Il whisper, scarcely above
our breath; and nov tlt hudduttor rose
aud LETT me to study tie faces Of lily icl
luw passengers with curious dread and
horror
Somehow, often rs | rcvolycd the
matter in my mind, my f.ncy would set
tie On coarse, Gross.looking man oppo.
site, with Il tushy beard and !, shaggy
Dat, with the collar turned up around
his ears. tlt convinced that this man
with the heavy hnngng jaw WAS the
ain ! and as J 'c"kdi f4ttift!y across
caught the wide open blue orbs of the
fair little girl.
Obcying the instantaneous impulse OF
my hcart | arose and went over to her,
You heard what we were saying. my
child 2"
"lcs-a rrrrlcr-oh lioS horrible
"Do not be irightcncd-no one Shall
li:;t: .ou,'
She smiled up in my face with sweet,
contidng innocence.
Oar stay at Exmouth Was bat grief ;
but durinS the delay, could sec that
the watchiul detective had changed lis
scat for one ncarcr The bruish mau in
the shaggy coat.
See, IaItcrcd the yoi;Hg elr, they
Iocscd tue car doors at i...xmouth they
are unlocking them now
She was right.
"probab!y they were fearful that the
criminal would escape" remarked in
an undcrtunc.
will ynu-muy I trouble you to
k'lns me glass of wstcr 2
| rose and made my way towards the
ice cooler by the door, but with difficulty.
for the train WAS again under rapid mo
ton. To my disappointment, tile tin
goblet WAS chained to the shelf
No mntlc,;" said she with Il winning
smile, II VIII come myself"
drew the water and held up the cup;
but instead Of taking it as she appro-
achcd, she brushed suddenly past me,
opened the door, aud rushed out upon
the platform.
"Stoy her, step her = shouted the
detective, springing to his feet; she will
be killed; conductor. brakeman, hold upl
There was rush, Il tumult hustle.
[ was first upon the platform but IL was
empty and deserted, save by half dozen
brakcnen, who seemed horror-stricken.