St. Landry democrat., 1878-07-27

Mary bent forward to listen-Tom
clasped her hands in his own. Mr.. Brand
sat opposite them, interested by the
speakers manner, as he began.
when got the cheque | had an idea
that all might not be well, SO to make
sure presented it at the bankers.
There was, as I told you, a consultation
before they cashed it, and while the con
sultation was going forward, | noticed
stranger looking at me intentIy. knew
the man in my younger and wilder days.
I had often met him at the race course
in billiard rooms, and in other places
more or less respectable. Now he was
changing the cheque Tor some petty
amount, and was evidently astonished
by the immensely of the order I had pre-
sented. | left the bank with my pocket
book full of notes, and found that l had
lost the train. The next would be the
night express, go Istrelled into billiard
room. A man is just as safe with a for.
tune in his pocket as il 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
If have one special vanity, it is my
science with the cue; l accepted, and as
did SO strange feeling which had
been growing upon me took sudden
turn which startled me.
"My challenger was the man whom l
had noticed at the bankers. There was
hothing strange in the fact of his being
in the room, one of his favorite resorts,
but I was possessed with the vague
shadow of single idea. | had read
somewhere of man being followed and
plundered in train, and somehow as>
ISOLATED the story with the man before
me. It was the first time I had ever
paid him any particular attention, but
gave him full observation now. The
more I looked at him the less I liked
him. He was handsome, gentlemanly,
with fair form and elegant figure, full
of suppleness and strength. His manner
was singularly uuassuming, his face
frank and genial, but by looking closely
at him you could see something sinister
looking in the depth and sottness of his
eyes.
never liked a stranger to be afable
and prepossessing, and my friend was the
very pink of afability and grace.
We played for an hour with alternat
ing success; he was an amusing com>
panien, we'll informed, and had travelled;
but I was shy of conversation. | left
him, and still having some time to spare,
went to see friend in the Temple.
When at the expiration of thirty or
forty minutes, I 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 a 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 man whom Recognized with
a very welcome feeling. 1t was George
Vixen, the detective.
He was Iashionabiy dressed, and looked
an aristocrat of the first water. went
up and greeted him as I should an old
familiar friend, held out my hand and
said:
"Conle and drink glass Of wine with
me, ! have something to say"
He shook bands in the most natural
way possible. took his arm, and we
entered the public bar of an adjacent
hotel
1 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 a 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" said, show will YOU
act2"
II 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,
L saw my man with his companion. It
was quite evident that they were track
ing me, though lost sight of them be-
fore reaching St. Paul's.
[ strolled along the churcbyard, wan
dering nearly to Islington, then went
through the city again before I 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 ap-
pear. Two men were in the compart-
ment with me. could not see the face
of one, and the other was stranger,