The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-06-22

pective son-in-law and partner.
81 had an adventure" he said; 81
was the hero of a strange story in a
ride by express"
Mary bent forward to listen-Tom
clasped her hand in his own. Mr..
Brand sat opposite them, interested by
the speakers manner, as he began:
"When | got the cheque l had an
idea that all might not be well, so to
make sure presented it at the bank
er's. There was, as | told you, con-
sultation before they cashed it, and
while the consultation was going for
ward | noticed a stranger looking at me
intently. knew the man in my young
er and wilder days. had met him often
at the race-course. in billiard-rooms, and
in other places more or less respecta-
BILE. Now he was changing a cheque
for some petty amount, and was evil
IDENTIFY astonished by the immensely of
the order had presented. l left the
bank with my pocket-book full of notes,
and found that | had lost the train.
The next would be the night express,
so | strolled into billiard-room. A
man is Just as safe with fortune in his
pocket as if penniless, so that he is wise
enough to hold his tongue. There was
some clever playing going on, and |
stood watching the players till some
one challenged me to have game. Ill
have one special vanity it is my science
with the cue. accepted, and as | did
so a strange feeling which had been
growing upon me, took 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 in the room, one of his favorite
resorts, but | was possessed by the
vague shadow of single idea. | had
read somewhere of man being fol-
lowed and plundered in a train, and
somehow | associated the story with the
man before me. 1t was the first time
had ever paid any particular attention,
but | gave him full observation now
The more | looked at him the less
liked him. He was handsome, gentle
manly, with a fair form and elegant
figure, full of suppleness and strength.
His manner was singularly unassuming,
his face frank and genial, but by look
ing closely at him you could see some
thing 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 for an hour with alternat-
ing success; he was an amusing COM
panion, well informed, and had tray
eled, but l was shy of conversation. |
left him, and, still having some time
to spare, went to see a friend in the
Temple
When, at the expiration of some
thirty or forty minutes, emerged into
Fleet street, almost the first person on
whom my gaze fell was my late antag-
onist 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 OPP
posite.
Not hundred yards from the Temple
gate stood a man whom l 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 up, 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 suspicion, told him of
the sum in my possession, and of the
journey l had to perform by rail.
| saw that. watching through the
glass of the door, he was taking men
tai 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
act"
81 shall travel to Liverpool by the
night express"
He left me. l had no fear now
knowing him to be a clever and deter
mined fellow.
Taking a casual glance across the
road, | saw my man with his compan-
ion. 1t was quite evident that they
were tracking me, though lost sight
of them before reaching st. Paul's.
| strolled along the churchyard, wan
dering nearly to Islington, then went
through the city again before | made
for the station; my acquaintance of the
billiard room did not come in sight,
though kept well on the alert.
L took my ticket, lingering almost to
the moment of starting before entered
the carriage, but my man did not APP
pear. Two men were in the compart-
ment with me. could not see the face
of one, and the other was a 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 exclama-
ton. 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 had
broken his promise, and l was left to
travel that perilous journey alone, with
the man who had followed me so skill
fully, another who might have been his
co,l Il