Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-03-29
geIecten Miscellauy.
From Ballou's Monthly Magazine.
MIR. WANDLE'S STORY.
BY N. p. DARLING.

BY p. DARLING.
1t was at the Boston and Albany rail-
road depot in this city that first saw Mr..
Wandle. I was going to Worcester that
afternoon. The ''express" starts about
two o'clock, I believe. and as I had fifteen
or twenty minutes to spare, | went into
the gentlemen's waitiug-room and sat
down. The gentleman in the scat next
mine started up the moment | sat down,
and made rush for the door, casting
fearful glance over his shoulder at me-
Then the door closed behind him.
He was very singular looking gentle
man. apparently about forty years of age,
although at the first glance, you would
have taken him for man of sixty. His
hair was white as snow, while his whisk-
ers, which be wore long and struggling.
we're black as Day & Martins backing.
His nose was Roman; his eyes small,
dark aud restless; face pale as the palest
moonbeam that ever be med, and his
trembling lips were blue. He was small
man, and so thin that you could have
bored hole through him anywhere with a
two-inch gimlet.
But what was he afraid of me for =? Am
such terrible looking fellow3 1rather
think not At least, my friends don't
seem to think so.
NO" said I, .'that man has been do
ing something-and it's something awful
And yet he doesn't look as If he was
capable of committing any great crime
Perhaps, now, the poor gentleman is only
running away from his creditors" j."
But I had no more time to waste in
conjectures, for the train was ready +; and
30, taking my valise, went out and was
just passing through the gate, when saw
the thin gentleman dodge behind very
eorpulent old lady who stood a few PAGES
to the right of me. But saw his rest
less dark eye cleaning at me over the
old lady's shoulder.
We'll" said I, "if you 60 on this train
my dear sir, I'll see more of you before l
get to Worcester" And passing through
she gate, / got into the cars.
Every seat was occupied in the first
car that went into. As I entered the
next car by one door. the thih gentleman
entered it by the other, but he didn't see
me. He advanced along the aisle. glanc-
ing cautiously TO the right and left. slid
into seat, and the next moment sat down
beside him.
The thin gentleman started up and made
an attempt to spring out of the window,
but caught him by the collar and forced
him back into the seat.
'.Then you do want me p he said trem-
bling as if with the ague.
..Yes. | want you to sit down. and not
attempt to dash your brains out by throw
ing yourself out of the car window. If
you don't want to GO"
20. but | do!'' Then he put his lips
to my ear. .'You wont take me back. my
dear fellow. will you?,.'
Take you back Why should I take
you back?" And then the thought fash
ed through my brain that I was sitting
beside an escaped lunatic, and began to
feel quite as uncomfortable as my compan-
ion. WHO do you think an p asked.
You're detective. and my wife has
put you on my track ;" answered the thin
gentleman. in hoarse whisper. glancing
cautiously around among the passengers.
as if fearful that some one would overhear
him.
laughed.
mo. my dear sir, you were never more
mistaken in your life. I'm plain Robinson
Dobson. Matchmaker. Washington ST."
The thin gentleman grasped my hand
'.Egad!" cried be. Il knew | had seen
you before and [ thought-but, by the
way. don't you know my wife?"
How should I? Why. don't know
you. and I don't think | ever saw you
before"
"Then you don't know her-don't know
Mrs Duncan Wandle?"
..No SIR"
The thin gentleman threw himself back
in his seat with sigh Of relief Then he
mopped his face with his pocket handker-
chief and in the act, his black whiskers
fell to the floor, leaving his face almost as
smooth as glass bottle.
''Ho!" I, exclaimed.
lam Duncan Wandle, cried the thin
gentleman. clapping his whiskers into the
crown. of his bat. and clapping the hat on
his head.
'.And Mrs. Wandle is your wife p
".Doubly SO; and I'm running away
from her. By thunder Yes, Mr.. Dobson,
Tn running away from the aforesaid fe-
male. I'm going to San Francisco, and il
she follows me there Pm going to the
Sandwich Islands. and so on, clear round
the world"
'.And suppose she follows you all the
WAY round r
Then I'll go round again" said Mr..
Waudle.
'.And it she still follows T.
"A stern chase is long one. they say. y
"And Mrs. Wandle will find it so. Mr..
Robinson Dobson." And the thin gentle
man jammcd his hat over his eyes and
looked very determined indesd