The Hickman courier., 1878-07-19

~ --AtNH III my SOuuSck anu WlluCi udg
L had often met him at the race cours,
in billiard rooms, and in other place
more or less respectable. Now he wa
changing the cheque for some petit,
amount, and was evidently astonishe'
by the immensity of the order / had pre-
sented. left the bank with my pocket
book full of notes, and found that ha,
lost the train. The next would be tn
night express, so Istrelled into billiart
room. A man is just as safe with a for
tune in his pocket as if penniless, so tha
he is wise enough to hold his tongue
There was some clever playing going on
and I stood watching the players til
some one challenged me to have a game
If L have one special vanity, it is my
science with the cue; 1 accepted and al
1 did SO strange feeling which had
been growing upon me took a sudden
turn which startled me.
My challenger was the man whom ]
had noticed at the bankers. There was
nothing strange in the fact of his being
/
but l was possessed with the vague
shadow OF & single idea. / had read
somewhere of man being followed and
| plundered in train, and somehow as
sociated the story with the man before
me. 1t was the first time had ever
| paid him any particular attention, but
gave him full observation now The
more l looked at him the less | liked
him. He was handsome, gentlemanly,
with fair form and elegant figure, full
of suppleness and strength. His manner
was singularly unassuming, his face
frank and genial, but by looking closely
at him you could see something sinister
looking in the depth and softness of his
eyes.
never liked a stranger to be affable
and Prepossessing, and my friend was the
very pink of affability and grace
We played 'or an hour with alternat
ing success be was an amusing com>
panien, well informed, and had travelled
but was shy of conversation. I left
him, and still having some time to spare,
went to see a friend in the Temple.
When at the expiration OF thirty or
forty minutes, 1 emerged into Fleet
street, almost the first person on whom
my gaze fell was my late antagonist at
billiards.
thought there was something more
than mere coincidence in this second
meeting since we stood together at the
bankers. He was in cigar shop oppo-
site.
Not hundred yards from the Temple
gate stood a man whom recognized with
a very welcome feeling. 1t was George
Vixen, the detective.
He was fashionably dressed, and looked
an aristocrat of the first water. / went
"P-----a greeted him as should an old
famiilar frleno, held out my hand and
said:
"Come and drink glass of wine with
me, have something to say"
He shook hands in the most natural
way possible. l took his arm, and we
entered the public bar of an adjacent
hotel.
I told him my suspicion, told him of
the sum in my possession, and of the
journey had to perform by rail.
saw that, watching through the glass
of the door, he was taking mental
photograph of the two men.
"They mean business" said Vixen,
quietly, "but shall be with you. We
must part at the door, or they will see
that we have scented the game"
"And you," l said, chow will you
act2"
al shall travel to Liverpool by the
night express"
He left me. had no fear now-know-
ing him to be clever and determined
fellow.
Taking casual glance across the road,
saw my man with his companion. 1t
was quite evident that they were track
ing me, though lost sight of them be-
fore reaching st. Pauls.
strolled aleng the churchyard, wan
dering nearly to Islington, then went
through the city again before [ made tor
the station; my acquaintance of the
billiard room did not come in sight,
though 1 kept well on the alert.
took my ticket, lingering almost to
the moment of starting before l entered
the carriage; but my man did not ap-
pear. Two men were in the compart-
ment with me. l could not see the face
of one, and the other was stranger.
The bell rang. The guard had just
time to put bewildered old gentleman
in bv my side, and we were off.
The man whose face had not seen
turned toward me.
/ could hardly repress an exclams-
tioD. There was no mistaking that
frank, genial countenance, nor the lurk-
ing devil in those eyes, whose softness
was so sinister.
He had me then at last. Vixen hsd
broken his promise, and | was left to
travel that perilous journey alone, with
the man who had followed me so skill
fully-another who might be his confed-
crate, and an old gentleman, who, after
grumbling out his Indignation against
all railway servants and locomotive
travelling in general was fast asleep in
| the corner.
That the intentions of my billiard
player were bad were manifest by the
fact OF his having assumed false mus
tsche and beard. They added to the
beauty of his face but left to his eyes
that sleepy. cruel glitter that is charac-
teristic of the Asiatic.
He spoke to me. remarked the oddity
of. our being travelling companions, and
grew unpleasantly familiar. / answered
him, not wishing to appesr churlish o.
afraid, knowing that could trust some
thing tony own strength should tn,
| worst come.
We had made the last stoppage, anC
were rolling swiftly through the gloom
when, among other topics, our converse
tion touched on jeweIry; he drew
snowy ring from his finger, telling me i
was a curious piece of workmanship