The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-07-16

lion now. The M re | looked at him
the less l liked him. He was hand
some. gentlemanly, with a fair form
and elegant figure, full Of supp'eness
and strength. His manner MAS
unassuming. his face frank
and genial. but by lacking closely at
him vou could see something sinister
lacking in the depth and s"f,ness at
his ewes.
Inever liked Il stranger Ia ie aflahIe
and prepossessing. and my friend MAS
the very pink Of afiabiliiy and grace
We played for an hour with alter
Mating success: he WAS an amusing
companion. well informed. and had
Travelled, but was shy Of conversation.
| left him. and still having some time
To spare. went To see friend in the
Temple.
When. ut the expiration at some
thirty or forty minutes. ! emerged nm
to Fleet Street. almost the first
person on whom nv gaze fell MAS INV
late antagonist at billiards.
I thought there was something
more than a mere coincidence in the
second meeting since We st"%i together
at the bakers. He was in a cigar
shop opposite.
Not hundred yards from the
Temple gate stood man whom ]
recognized with very welcome feel
ing. 1t was George Vixen. the
detective.
lie was fashionably dressed, and
looked an aristocratic If the first
water. / went up and greeting him
as | should an old familiar friend. held
out INV hand and said
Come and drink a glass of wine
; with me. have something {" say.
He shook hands IN the most natural
wav 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 al
Journey had to perform by rail.
I saw that. watching through the
glass of the door. he was taking a
mental photograph Of the two men.
They mean business. said Vixen.
quietly. ..but shall be with y"u.
We must part ut the door. ar they
will see that We have scented the
game.
And you" I said. chow will YOU
act,"
Il shall travel to Liverpool by the
night express.
lie left me. had M fear now
knowing him to be clever and deter
mined fellow.
Taking a casual glance across the
roai, saw INV man with his comPan-
ion. 1t WAS quite evident that they
We're tracking me. though lost sight
of them before reaching 81. Paufs.
| strolled along the churchyar.l.
wandering nearly {" lSlington. then
went through the city again before
made for the station /; NV acquaintance
of the billiard room did not come in
:. sight. thought I kept on the alert.
! / took nv ticket. lingering almost
to the moment Of starting before en-
tered the carriage. hut my man did
not appear. Two men were in the
compartment with me-. | could mi
So. the face of one, and the other MAS i
stranger.
The hell rang. The guard hal jas:
time to put a bewiilered OLD gentle,
man in by nv side and We were "T
! The man whose face ! hal not seen
turned toward me.
| | could hardly express an exciama'
ton. There WAS no misiaking that
frank genia: eounten1nce, NOR the
devil in those eyes, whose sofiness Wa
80 sinister.
He had me then ut last. Vixen
had broken his promise. anil | WA
left to travel that Perilous journey
. alone, with the man who had followed
me SO skilliully- another VII" m,gh;
be his confederate. and an old gentle
, man who after grumbling ou: his la
: dignation against all railway servant
aad locomotive travelling IN general,
was fast asleep in the corner,
, That the intentions of my billiard
, PLAYER were bad Was manifested by the
fact Of his having assumed falls,
, mustache and beard. They added t.
the beauty Of his face. but left 10 hi,
, eyes that sleepy. cruel glitter that i,
| characteristic If the Asiatic.
He spoke to me, remarked thu
: oddity Of our being travelling comIrin
ions. and grew unpleasan,ly familiar
I answered him. not Wishing to appea,
churlish or afraid, knowing that
could trust something to my owl
strength should the worst come.
We had made the last stoppage, ant
, were rolling swiftly through tn,
gloom. when among other topics. ou'
: conversation touched ON i.welry, h.
: drew snowy ring from his finger
telling me it Was curious piece %
workmanship. having Il secret spring
, which he said could not discover.
| took IL. searched IN vain for :
, spring. then returning it {" HIM. |,
dropped and rolled under my feet.
| stopped To pick it un. and :" did
: he. but in that moment, while m,
head Was down. he had me tightly b,
. the throat, and threw me To the car
. riage floor.
Though the horror Of the situation
: did not last a minute, il seemed m
. eternity Ia me. | felt the rufiiau,
hand, searching for the p,ckei-bok
and | strained desperately for chanc,
r Of resistance
} Their work was nearly done
Cramped in that small space. ! WI,
r Powerless and the veins in my THREAT
and head were swelling ike simon,
bars. when the old gentleman I'm tb,