Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-06-12

clasped her hand IN MS own. Ar. brahu
sat opposite them, interested by the
speakers manner, as he began:
when I got the cheque had an idea
that all might not be well, so to make
sure presented it at the banker's.-
There MAS, as 1 told you, q consulta-
ton before they cashed it, and while
the consultation was gong forward,
noticed a stranger looking at me intent
ly. knew the man IN my younger and /
wilder days. / had net him often at
the race course, In billiard.rooms, and 4
in other places more or less respectablc.f
Now he was changing cheque ior
some petty amount, and was evidently Z
astonished by the immensity OF the or (
der | had presented. l left the bank
with my pecket-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
lust as safe with fortune in his pock, 4.
as if penniless, So Tia he IS wise enough
to hold his tongue. There was some
clever play gong on. and l stood watch
ing 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 l aid so
strange feeling which had been growing
upon me. tosk sudden turn which star
tied me.
My challenger was the man whom l
had noticed at the bankers. There was
nothing strange in the fact Of his being
/ in the room, one Of bis fayorite resorts.
but was possessed by tie vague shaG'
ow of a single idea. 1 had read some
where ola man being followed and
olundered il train, and somehow /
associated the story with the man be-
fore me. 1t was the first time l had ev-
er paid any particular attention. 1ut /
gave him full observation now. Inc
more [ looked at mm the less | liked
him. lie was handsome. gcntlcmaniy,
with a fair form and elegant figure, fall
of suppleness and strength. Ills man
ner was singularly unassuming. his face
frank and genial, but by looking close
! " at him you could see something SIN
| ister locking in the depth and soitness
OF his eyes.
never liked stranger 10 be alablc
and prepossessins, and my friend was
the very PINK Of aaability and grace.
We played for an hour with alternat-
lng success he was an amusing COM
panion, well-informed, and had Travelled
but was ssly OF conversation. l lefI
him. and, still having some time to
spare. went to see friend in the
Temple.
When, at the expiration o. some
thirty or forty minutes, l emerged into
Fleet street, almost the FIST person on
whom my gaze fell was my late anita
gonist at billiards.
thought there was something more
than mere coincidence in this second
meeting since VIC stood together at the
bankers. He was in a cigar shop op-
| poslte.
Not hundred yards from the Tenn
pie gate stood a man whom l recosniz-
cd with a very welcome feeling. Il
was George Vixen. the detective.
/ lie was lashionaJly dressed, and
looked an aristocrat Of the first water.
I went up, and greeting him as l should
an old familiar friend, held cut my
hand and said:
Come and drink a glass oi@iuc with
NE; have something to say
lie shook hands in the most natural
way possible TOOK his arm ana We
entered the public bar Of an adjacent
hotel.
told HIM my 'u'p.c.oh' anu Oh ''''
journey had 10 perform oy i''''
sa" lhal' ""'c'''-7 vi '''''- - ''''
glass OF the door, nc was '"""'9 ID ''i'-
tai photograph o. The two Men' -.
1hey mean BUSINESS ''''" ~. N.Y.
quieuy' O"' l ''''''' ~ W ''.' -,
must i'a'' '' '''' ''0,' 70 ''~' "
tNa' We ""'o '01'''''' '''' 7''
Ana you' S''N' "'" ''' ''
act:
/ ''i"'' ''"' ''' ~
night express.
lie lett me. | had no fear now
knowing INN TO be a clever and de-
termned fellow.
Taking a casual glance across inc
road, | sawmy man with my companion.
1t was quite evident that they tracking