The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-07-30


night express, so strolled into billiar'
room. A man is just as safe with a for
tune in his pocket as if penniless, so tina
he is wise enough to hold his tongue
There was some clever playing going on
and / stood watching the players til
some one challenged me to have game
II / have one special vanity, it is m.
science with the cue; accepted, and a
did 50 a strange feeling which hat
been growing upon me took suddel
turn which startled me.
My challenger was the man whom
had noticed at the bankers. There wa
nothing strange in the fact OF his beins
in the room, one of his favorite resorts
but / was possessed with the vague
shadow Of single idea. | had reac
somewhere Of a man being followed ant
plundered in a train, and somehow l as
sociated the story with the man before
n.aS: ~. %,s:., '.%is. $50. s--<a Sse.e.se.
paid him any particular attention, but
/ gave him full observation now. The
more / looked at him the less | liked
him. He was handsome, gentlemanly
with fair form and elegant figure, full
of supleness and strength, His manner
was singularly unassuming, his face
frank and genial, but by looking closely
at him you could sec something sinister
looking in the depth and softness Of hi
eyes.
l never liked a stranger to be afabie
and progressing, 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, we'll 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, 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 antagonist at
billiards.
l thought there was something more
than mere coincidence in this second
meeting since we stood together at the
bankers. He was in a cigar shop oppo-
site.
Not a hundred yards from the Temple
gate stood a man whom | recognized
With very sselee nc ees!;ii 5. Was
George Vixen, the detective.
He was fashionable dressed, and looked
an aristocrat of the first water. | went
up, and greeted him as | should an old
familiar friend, held out my hand and
.aid: ..H
"Come and drink a glass of wine with
me, have something to say"
lie shook hands in the most natural
way possible. ] took his arm, and we
entered the public bar of an adjacent
MOTEL.
| told him my suspicion, told him of
,he sum in my possession, and of the
Journey had to perform by rail.
| saw that, watching through the glass
# 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
hat we have scented the game"
"And YOU" said, show will you
,ct?"
" shall travel to Liverpool by the
hight express"
He left me. | had no fear now-know-
ng him to be clever and determined
elbow.
Taking casual glance across the road,
saw my man with his companion. 1t
vas quite evident that they were track
ng me, though ! lost sight Of them be-
ore reaching st. PauPs.
strolled along the churchyard, wan
lering nearly TO Islington, then went
through the city again before ] made for
he station; my acquaintance of the bill
lard room did not come in sight, though
kept well on the alert.
took my ticket, lingering almost to
he moment Of, starting before I entered
he carriage; but my man did not APP
'ear. Two men were in the compart.
rent with me. l could not see the face
II one, and the other was a stranger.
The bell rang. The guard had just
ime to put bewildered old gentleman
n by my side, and we were off.
The man whose face | had not seen
urned toward me.
| could hardly repress an exclama-
ion. There was no mistaking that frank,
,enial countenance, nor the lurking
!eyil in those eyes, whose softness was SO
mister.
He had me then at last. Vixen had
'Eokken his promise, and / was left to
ravel that perilous journey alone, with
he man who had followed me so skill
uily-another who might be his con-
ederate, and an old gentleman, who,
.fter grumbling out his indignation
Igainst all railway servants and loco
motive travelling in general was fast
sleep in the corner.
That the intentions Of my billiard
player were bad were manifest by the
act Of his having assumed false mus
ache and beard. They added to the
neanty of his face hut left to his ewes
hat sleepy, cruel glitter that is charac-
,eristic Of the Asiatic.
He spoke to me, remarked the oddly
# our being travelling companions, and
grew unpleasantly familiar. answered
hin, not wishing 10 appear churlish or
afraid, knowing that l could trust some
thing to my own strength should the
worst come. *
We had made the last stoppage, and
were rolling swiftly through the ssleem,
when, among other topics, our converse.
ton touched on ;swelry1 hhe drew n
snowy ring from his finger, telling me it
was curious piece Of workmanship,
having secret spring, which he said I
could not discover.
II took it, searching in vain for spring,
then returning it to him. II dropped
and rolled under my feet.
stopped to pick it up, and 50 did he,
but in that moment, while nay head was
Town, he had me tightly by the throat,
and threw me to the carriage floor. e
x Il 3