River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-05-29

/ Starting
jouraey for town. / thought the woman
| seemed little taken aback at my invi-
tatiCn; however, it was acceeded to, and
we entered the inn parlor, where | re
quested the landlady to produce plenti-
full supply Of ham and eggs; and, as the
| pair preferred ale to tea or coffee, l or
dered them pint apiece. L had, OF
| course, td unlock one hand in order to
| allow my prisoner the free use of his
knife and fork: and, after what | had
heard the night before, | thought it was
rather a risky thing for me to do, as,
though he might not attempt to do me
any mischief he might try to infict some
sericus mischief on himself. All, however,
passrd off safely, and when breakfast was
| finished. ! told him he must bid his wife
| pood-bv. as | did not want to attract any
attention at the railway station. 4 kiss
was accordingly exchanged, the bracelets
were again adjusted to his wrists, and we
set off at brisk pace.
When we got to the station, learned
that the next up" train was an express
and that | would have to look sharp, as it
might be expected Immediately, and
made but brief stopplge. The train, In
fact, came in almost to a minute after the
information was communicated to me,
and | hurried across the platform, got
my man into a sccond-class carriage
the compartment | had only just time to
notice was empty. The whistle sounded,
and the tram was beginning to move,
when the door was flung violently open,
and in jumped the prisoners wife, taking
her seat right opposite me. There was
but time for the porter to slam to the door
when we were off. 1t need not be said
that / was very far from being satisfied
with the look of things, and that had
made up my mind to be carefully on my
guard. | said nothing, being fully de
tcrmined not to betray any uneasiness,
though it must be owned | felt much.
Before we had gone any great way, my
prisoner turned sideways to me, and said /;
Master, my missus and me have some
small matters of our own we would like
to talk over, and, as they don't concern
you N the least, p'raps you wouldn't mind
looking out o winder for a minute or two
while we have our talk"
That could not possibly do" was my
immediate answer. my duty is to keep
you always under my eye and control /;
and, beside, as you have just said, your
domestic arrangements can be matter
of no concern to me, so you can discuss
them as freely as you please without
minding my presence
This answer seemed to discomfort both
Of them; but, as if by way of compromise
| at ihc same time leaned toward the
winGow of the carriage for a moment, and
GLANCED outside. Ny hearing is sharp
enough now, but at the time | speak of
was even more acute. just as | turned
my head heard, or fancied | heard the
man whisper the words "BUth together"
Instantly the suspicion flashed across my
mind that these words related to myself,
and | turned round and faced the couple
in moment What | saw in the ex-
precision Of each of them seemed to war
rant my acting with immediate decision.
| seized the man between his manacled
wrists so that he could not raise his hands.
With an instructive thought, | plunged
my light hand into the pocket of my pilot
coat, pulled out the pistol my mate had
handed to me, cooked it with my thumb,
and holding it within few inches of the
face Of the woman opposite, | looked
steadily into her eyes and said, with en-
phasi5, ''Tf you attempt to stir before we
reach the next station, you will certainly
be dead woman
1t was something fearful to notice the
immediate change on that woman's coun-
tcnance. She became of pallid white
ness, and her lips had the purple blush
tinge that indicates so unmistakably an
- In, J., II dr.
matte positions | have Just described we
sped on until the next stopping station
was reached, and that occupied more
than twenty minutes. The moment the
train came to a stop | thus addressed the
woman, keeping her covered with the
muzzle of my pistol leave the carriage;
and, if you value your liberty, make what
speed YOU can to get into hiding
She disappeared instanter; and l felt
heavy load of anxiety lifted off my milu
as She left us, for all the encounter |
most hate, an encounter with woman is
so be classcd foremost. From the moment
| saw the change in her face, indicative
Of such intense fear, knew | was master
of the situation; but still was glad to be
rid of all further risk of a struggle. Not
a word passed between my prisoner and
me during the remainder of the journey
to London, which we were no great while
in reaching, and where | duly delivered
him into safe keeping at the Bow Street
police office.
Next morning had to conduct my
prisoner to WoOlwich, there to deliver
him to the authorities of the hulks, from
whom he had obtainedhis ticket of leave.
He seemed to have recovered from his
scare of the day before, and on our jour
ney spoke freely enough, and with an
carncstness that left no doubt of the
TRUTH Of his communication.
Master" said he, II am main glad
you kept your head yesterday, and did
not lean out of the winder Had you
done 50, missus and l meant to have
pitched Won out and taken our chances
after of getting off"
j was not very likely to be SO easily
put off my guard was my laconic
answer.
"Ay, but, master, your danger was not
over then; for missus and | had made it
up that she was to pin your arms-and
she could a done it easy-while was to
smash your head with the 'darbies We
SliptAiil tiltil u tboh iilC htNf Gbl bii INC
bracelets and heaved you out a winder
aforc you could come to yourself. That
pistol fairly put US out, for it cowed mis-
sus, and she isn't easily cowed, ] tell We. :
But the pistol was not loaded, y said
nothing but cap and an empty bar
rel"
"All the same, master. I'm glad we
| failed. Now I've thought it over, | know
could not have escaped. 1t was known |
was left in your charge, and that missus
joined US. When your body was found,
we'd been spotted at once,
and most likely both on
us would a swung for it. I'm main glad
/ | tell you, that you got out o the mess
and | dent bear YOU no ill-will foi
/ having done your dooty as a man and a
/ hotficef.
/ Never before to my knowledge, had
/ been in such dcadl~ peril, and truly
thankful did inwardly fsel for the provi-
DENTAL escape learned | had Just made
/ / was glad to give my murderous- minded
/ charge over to the care of the officers OF
+ the Defence; and | am thankful to add
! that ! never heard more Of him, or wished
! t. do SO.
Babylon.
! Ii is usual for travellers 10 dwell upon
| the utter desoiation of Babylon, and IL
/ p,iDt It's site As a Striu of desert espeCially