Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-11-08
AN OLD OFFENDER.

When Carl Binkley, the private de-
tective of the Macacheek air line COM
pany led Courtney Tenny to the alter,
she shaved his face until no hirsute ap-
pendage save a fine blond mustache re-
manned thereon 1nis whin prevented
his recognition by several acquaintan-
ces on the day of his wedding and he
and his bride enjoyed more than one
outburst of merriment at their expense.
The wedding tour planned by ''Bink"
as the employees and officers of the road
familiarly called him, promised to prove
quite extensive, and the directors placed
palace car at his disposal.
But he preferred, and so did his
bride, to travel like the rest of the
people, and on the afternoon of the
wedding day, they stepped on board the
train amid the good bys of host of
relatives and friends. They expected
to reach their destination at one o'clock
on the following morning, and for the
sake of Courtney who had a horror of
sleeping coaches, the bridegroom re-
fused an. offered favor from Scott the
conductor.
AS the train rolled westward the sun
sank to rest, and the night stars peeped
out again in the sky. 1t was beauti-
full mid-Autumn night, and the cool
breeze ever and anon blew the yellow
leaves against the windows of the
coaches.
Carl, y what if an old offender should
board the train-I mean a man for
whom you have been looking?r
The detective looked into the smiling
face of his newly made wife and smiled
himself.
''Well, | don't know what l would
do Courtney, !" ne answered; but sup
pose / would arrest him, take him 30
prison, and let you finish our wedding
tour alone.-
"How jolly that would belr Court
ney laughed, Il really wish such an
event would occur. | should be rid
uf you ut least fer time, and I'd have
the iolliest wedding tour ever written
Of
''I'd like to see YOU touring it alone
with your three trunks and groomless"
replied Carl, rs the brakeman opened
the door and shouted Bloomfield" at
the top of his lungs.
AZ the almost deserted station of the
inland town the train stopped long
enough to permit two men to board it,
and seat themselves in the car that bore
the newly welded.
The new passengers were tolerably
well dressed, and passinsly good look
ing. They occupied one seat short
distance behind the detective, and al
most beneath the lamp that afforded a
miserable light.
A detective is constantly watching
human faces, and after while he reads
them as he would an open book. Thus
1t was with Carl Binkley.
When the two men entered the car
his eyes were upon them, and followed
them to their seat.
BY and by the conductor collected
their fare, and the detective followed
him from the car.
."here are those fellows goingt" ne
..sked
Ito Terre Haute,r was the reply.
do they strike you unfavorably?"
Moderately SO" said Blink. 'sSend
man in to trim the lamp above them"
Then the detective returned to his
bride, who thought that something
strange was going ON, and a minute
later brakeman entered and proceeded
10 trim the light in the coach.
Binkley did not appear to watch the
two men; but nevertheless his eyes
were upon them, and before they had
moved back into shadier seat he had
spotted one, il not both.
Courtney, 1 am afraid your wish IL
about to comc true" he whispered to
his wife
She looked up surprised at the SOL
emnity of his manner.
''Why, Carl?"
"An old offender has boarded the
train," he replied, "and it is my duty
to attend to him. 1 am certain of my
man, though / have not seen him for
two years, and his face, smooth then,
is bearded now. Jack Hawk has re-
peatedly committed depredations OF
our line, and we can send him to the
penitentiary with ease. But yod see,
Courtney, yon must catch a man before
you hang him, and, according to this
truism Jack has escaped punishment.
/ must attend to him, save the company
further losses, and put several hundred
dollars in my pocket. He suspects
nothing yet, 1 believe. / think he has
not recognized me, and have no doubt
thct his companion y an old offender
like himself"
The Young wife heard her husband
through, and then, with wifely fear,
asked:
lis he dangerous character, CarlY"
swell, yes" was the reply; "but he's
one of those fellows who submit grace
fully when they see great odds against
them. OF course, shant attempt the
arrest alone. I'll go forward, and see
the boys in the express car. Do you
watch Jack while i am gone, Courtney.
If he has recognized me, which is not
likely, as / do not think he has seen
me more than twice, he may attempt to
play one of his tricks. Here" and