The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-08-29

Smoking-car, sir ~ asked the tip-ex-
pecting porter, as he bore my rugs and
minor packages along the platform.
said yes. and he made me comfortable,
and received his dime. Then the guard
came TO look after my well-being, but got
nothing more than innocent gratitude,
which was perhaps all he desired. have
no doubt that did him injustice in attri-
buting his efforts to induce fat old gen.
tleman with cough lean old gentle
man who was snuffy and middle-aged
gentleman enveloped in wraps. the lower
part of whose face was covered up like a
female Turks, an evident window-shutter,
to enter my car, in order TO spite me.
Duty TO his employers alone made him
endeavor to fill up; but the anxiety to get
as much room as possible for my money
was strong within me, and stirred unchar-
table suspicious.
You may lead horse to the water or
an anti-nicotinian old gentleman to a
smoking-car. but you can't make him
get in; and when each in turn put his
head into my compartment, he jibbed, for
some late occupants of II had been cigar,
not pipe smokers, and 1t was rather strong.
So / was apparently left alone-alone
with all the comic weeklies, and modern
poem.
The doors were banged to, the engine
whistled, the trair. oegan TO move. 1t
would not stop again till we got to Peter
borough, so that was safe to be undls-
turbed so far. There were several seats,
and could occupy as many OF them as a
limited number of members permitted. L
almost wished myself an Octopus. to take
full advantage Of the situation. Calming
down, hung up my hat, put on gaudy
piece Of needle-work won In bazaar
nffle, Lit my pipe, cut my papers, and be-
gan TO enjoy myself.
sat In the left-hand corner, with my
back To the engine, absorbed in big law
suit. II Is great fun to read cross-ex-
animation, and watch how a clever law
yer will make an honest man perjure HIM
self. at reads almost like a crime"
remarked aloud, "but then il is an honor
able, lawful, and beneficial crime. Sol
diers kill peoples bodies, lawyers kid
peoples reputatons, all for the good Of
society In the long run"
While was uttering the word run"
my ankles were grasped suddenly and
firmly then, before could recover from
the shock, they were jerked backwards
under the seat with such force that was
thrown forwards sprawlng. | tried to rise,
but my right wrist was seized, and the arm
twisted till was helpless, and presently
l found myself on the floor Of the car,
face downward, sharp knee being scr
entifically pressed into the small OF my
back, both arms fixed behind me. My
elbows we're tied together, and then the
knee was removed, and my ankles were
secured. During the latter operation
kicked and struggled.
Hum ~ said deliberate voice, "that
Will be awkward. Let's see; ali, these
will do"
These were my sticks and umbrella,
which some one proceeded to apply as
splints to the backs of my legs, using the
straps which had kept them In bundle
to fix them at the ankle and above the
knee. When he had done, was as help
less as trussed turkey.
Then was turned over carefully and
tenderly, and for the first time saw my
assailant.
He was a gentlemanly looking man,
well dressed in black coat and waistcoat,
gray trowsers. and neck cloth. His hair
and whiskers were just turning grizzly,
his chin and upper-lip were clean shaved.
His forehead was high, his eyes promi-
nent and fixed in their expression, his
nose aquiline, his mouth slit. He was
of middle height, spare but wiry; indeed,
his muscles must have been unexception-
ally elastic and feline, for you would new
er have thought, to look at him, that
he could stow himself away under the
seat of a railway car so completely.
He contemplated me with his chin In
his right hand, and his right elbow on his
left hand, and said thoughtfully: "Just
20. All for the good Of society in the
long run--an admirable sentiment, my
dear sir. let 1t be consolation to you, II
| should cause you any little annoyance.
He took a shagreen spectacle-case from
his pocket, wiped the glasses carefully
with silk handkerchief, and adjusted
them on his nose. Then he produced an
oblong box, which he unlocked, end
placed on one of the seats. After which
he sat down quickly in the place had
occupied few minutes before, position
which brought him close over my head
and chest, as lay supinely and helpless
at his feet.
"Do you know anything of anatomy ?''
he asked. / was as completely In his
power as a witness i'm the cross-examining
counsel's, and prudence dictated that /
should be equally ready to answer the
most frivolous and impertinent questions
with politeness. said that | did not.
" Ahw said he, swell, perhaps you
have heard of the spleen2 Exactly. Now,
science has never a. yet been able to find
out the use OF that organ, and the man
who bequeaths that knowledge to pos
terity, would rank with the discoverer OF
-. -