The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-08-23

I saw the Captain gave a slight start
stare hard at the man, and then appa
rentiy ask question, when, whatever
was the answer, he seemed satisfied
and gave orders for further search
which was, however, futile.
l was not alone i'm directing curiou,
glances at the second-class passenger
but he was quiet, dry-lOoking, close
shaven man, with an apparent power
OF shutting himself up within himself
and he paced the deck to and fro, with
mis- hands behind him, in a furtive
thoughtful way, till all searching was
at an end and the conclusion arrived
at that our luckless fellow passenger had
met his fate.
noticed that the quiet mau's eyes
were fixed on me as went to the sa-
loon, and going to where Miss Saville
was seated, strange feeling made me
turn my head for an instant, to see that
he was watching ME from the door
but he disappeared on the instant.
Full of the event was about to tell
all knew to my companion; but with
a show of real horror she held up her
hands, begging me to forbear.
!,
"I can not bear it. know ALL have
heard all. Poor man here in health
last night, and now-pray, pray, say
no more about it."
She was excessively pale and agi-
tated so much SO, indeed, that l
summoned the steward to bring wine,
for 1 was afraid the poor girl
would faint and she drank a glass
with avidity, shuddering afterward
while the cold perspiration stood in
beads upon her forehead.
1 proposed walk on deck, but it was
declined and, to my great sorrow, the
! shock had such an effect upon her
that she was confined to her cabin to
the end of our rather protracted voyage
But the morning was bright as we
came in sight of land and as we slow
~ steamed in ] found, to my great joy,
that Miss Saville was once more visible,
though was not prepared for the con-
straint with which my advances were
met.
was ready to upbraid her with CO.
quetry but l RETAINED, feeling that it
was possible she had taken my atten-
tons as merely to last the voyage; and
at last, cold and constrained, We stood
close together, for i'm another ten min
utes we should be debarking.
Happening to gs re around, | suddenly
became aware of the second class pas
senger standing close at my elbow, and
/ could not avoid q start-One which
made Miss Saville turn wOnderingly to
me, at the same time holding her veil
closely to me, for the breeze was rather
brisk.
'It was nothing" said "but, pray
it seems heavy" And pointed to the
little black travelling bag she carried in
her hand.
"No, no thank you; no." she said.
''indeed, sir, can dispense with your
offers of service"
"As you please, madam 1 said
sharply; for there was q harshness in
her voice that had q saw Sharpening
sound in its cutting tones. And in d
moment the bag was wrested from
Miss SavilIe's hand and thrown heavi-
sudden scuff1e, and saw her bounce
back against the bulwark, and the
same grating voice exclaimed, "Stay
your hand, or by sir, I'll fire!'
There was a swaying about, sharp
struggle; and / was about to throw
myself upon the hesecond-class passenger
"A ruffing who was committing an
outrageous assault upon my fellow pas
senger-wben a strong hand dragged
me back, just as there arose sharp
''click click :" and dizzy, surprised, /
saw the wretch drag a revolver from
Miss Saville's fettered hand, as she lay
torn and disbeveled upon the deck.
Had not the breath to speak before,
my friend" said the second-class PAS
eenger, painting as he arose from one
knee; "but for your information, Mr..
Frank Smith, I hold warrant for
your apprehension. Bank robbery,
gentlemen; cool twenty Thousand, but
I'm in hopes it is all here" And he
took up the bag that lay upon the deck.
''StanG up, sir,n he said the next
minute, as he assisted his prisoner to
rise, and tore off the VEIL every ciev-
er, very well done indeed, this false
hair; and the chignOn very becoming
sir. must do you the credit of saying
that you took me in, while poor Mat
thews hadn't suspicion, but was
rather down on your friend"
"Take me out of this, said a hoarse
voice. Aud would have turned and
fled, felt myself wedged in among
the crowd; for it seemed impossible
that the flushed face, veined and knot
ted with disappointment and rage,
could have been that which deluded
through the voyage.
"All right, sir, as soon as.we get an
officer from the shore. But there; you
need not mind for few minutes.D
"Take me below, officer" was the |
husky imploring petition next uttered
and the officer was about yielding, |
when q passenger exclaimed:
"But are you sure you are right, Of |
ficerw
"Right, sir? Yes, I'm right enough,
and 1 hope there's nothing blacker |
against him; for there is the death of
my poor mate TO clear up yet. 1t seems |
strange that ne should disappear the
very night that our friend here suspect
ed that he was found out; aud it seems
stranger he should have settled down
80 quietly after, and never show at all
when the officer who suspected i'm
was gone, for ne did not know l was
on board"
l glanced once more on the deathly
pale face as the detective led his pris
OucT OciOW auu Sluuy Will tuc
rush of thought through my brain,
made my way back TO my cabin, to
stay till the other passengers were
ashore, when hastened to a hotel, but
not, as had hoped, unseen. for en-
countered the officer just returning
from placing his prisoner in security.
He took me by the button and held
me for few moments.
'"There, you not be ashamed of it,
young man." he said, with q dry smile;
.he's got about as wOmanish face as
saw, and his disguise WAS as clever rs
It was possible to be. was hard push
ed but felt pretty sure, and at the
last / got one look that settled it.
There's q resemblance b-tween you
that, had he put on s|gOod beard, would
have made him look q deal like you
and it was that which made my poor
mate have his suspicious of some one
else but any how fourteen years will
make him rather different, and he
won't came the petticoats again."
Fourteen years w said.
"Yes, perhaps more! for it's bad
case-cOnfidential clerk"
We parted. and saw no more of |
the police officer. From the report of |
the trial, though i learned that the po-
lice had certain information that the |
culprit would sail from Liverpool in
the Helvellyn, hough his disguise had |