River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-03

George Vixen, the detective.
He was fashionably dressed, and looked
an aristocrat of the first water, went W
and greeting him as / should an old
familiar friend, 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. / took his arm, and we
entered the public bar of an adjacent
hotel
told him my suspicious, told him OF
the sum in my possession, and of the
Journey | had to perform by rail-
I saw that, watching through the glass
of the door, he was taking mental pho
tograph 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"
sand vou," SAID, show will you act. :
II shall travel to Liverpool by the
night express"
He lett me. had no fear now--know-
ing him TO be clever and determined
flow. 5rs
Taking casual glance across the road
/ saw my man with bis companion. |
was quite evident that they were track
ing me though lost sight of them befor
reaching st. Paul's.
| strolled along the churchyard, wan
dering nearly to Islington, then wen
through the city again before | made for
the station; my acquaintance of the bill
lizard room did not come in sight, though
/ kept full on the alert.
took my ticket, lingering almost to
the moment of starting before l entered
the carriage, but my man did not appear,
Two men were in the co apartment with
me. I 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 by my side. and we were off.
The man, whose face l had not seen
turned toward me.
l could hardly repress an exclamation
There was no installing that frank
genial countenance, nor the lurking devil
in those eyes, whose softness was so sin.
lister.
He had me, then, at last. Vixen had
broken his promise, and l was left tC
travel that perilous journey alone, with
the man who had followed me SO skill.
fully, another who might have been his
confederate, and an old gentleman who
after grumbling out his indignation
against railway servants and locomotive
travelling in general, was fast asleep in
the corner.
That the intentions of my billiard play.
er were bad were manifest by the fact
of his having assumed a false mustache
and beard They added to the beauty OF
his face, but left to his eyes, that sleepy
cruel glitter that is characteristic OF the
Asiatic.
He spoke to me, remarked the oddly
of our being travelling companions, and
grew pleasantly familiar. / answered
him, not wishing to appea churlish Oh
afraid, knowing that could trust some.
thing to my own strength, should the
worst come.
We had made the last stoppage, and
were rolling swiftly through the gloom
when among other topics. our converse
ton touched on jewelry he drew a snowy
ring from his finger, telling me it was Z
curious piece of workmanship, having 8
secret spring, which he said could MOI
discover.
took it searching IN vain tor spring
then returning it TO him. 1t dropped
and rolled under my feet.
stopped to pick it up, and so did he
but in that moment, while my head was
down, he had me tightly by the throat
l. ~ 10 h.
His confederate was upon me in an in
slant. could scarcely breathe, and coulG
not struggle, for heavy knee was upor
my chest, and tive strong, brutal hands
were crushing the life from my throat.
Though the horror of the situation die
not last minute, it seemed an eternity t.
me. l felt the ruffians hands searching
for the pocket book, and | strained des
perately for chance of resistance.
There work was nearly done. CrampeC
in thet small space, was powerless, anc
the veins of my throat and head were
swelling like sinuous bars, when the ole
gentlemen in the corner awoke and came
to my assistance,
l heard low whirr of some weapon ii
its descent, and my first assailant reelec
from me stunned Then the old gentle
man, with strength and rapidity of act
ion wonderful to see in person of hi:
age, seized the scoundrel, lifted him
away, and dashed him down on a seat,
There was brief struggle, and then
heard sharp click-scoundrel the sec
ond had pair of handouts on his wrists
"They were more prompt than | haC
expected said the old gentleman, re
moveng his wooden comforter, witt
which he fastened my first assailant'
hands behind him, "and a railway car
rage does not afford much scope for /;
struggle"
The pocketbook was safe. The ruff
fans were securely bound, and the gen
tleman who, with his spectacles ant
muffiing stood out, in bold and pleasan
relief as the detective, kept guard owe
them.
At the station they were handed owe
into the custody of the police. / wa
all right at that time. Vixen rode witt
me as far as the hotel nearest here, anC
tomorrow he will call to see if am an,
the worse TO: my ride by express.
The contents of the pocket5ook were
Marys bridal dowry.
The detective speaks of the senio
partner in the firm of Brand & Lake a
the most hospitable ard generous mar
he ever met in the course of his profes
sional career.
Lake was quite cured of his love 70
billiard playing. He had too narrow al
escape, and he did not forget the lesson
.-Chdmber's Journal.
TheGerman Onion Market.