The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-11-19

kaWleS."
The
He was going to say something
naughty know he was but he stopped
short, and stared at him with all his
eyes. Either Alt overheard NE, or else
the same idea occurred to him at the
same moment, for he stopped dead in
the middle of a stroke, and inspected
the man on the steering seat. Tom and
Alf went on staring at him for minute
or more. l kept my head turned the
other way to avoid his eyes. All at
once felt the boat give great throb.
! turned; there was the stranger leaning
halt out of his seat, looking at Alf in a
way l shouldn't have cared to have had
him look at me.
Whats the meaning of this inso-
lencep" he said.
The question was not unwarranted:
it could not have been pleasant to have
been stared at as Alf and Tom were
staring then.
AZ beg yow pardon" said ALI, cool
as a cucumber. "To what insolence do
you referp"
Tom actually chuckled; I couldn't
have chuckled for good deal; it tseemed
to me not only impudent, but risky;
couldn't forget DR.. Rawle's words about
his homicidal tendencies. He turned
red as lobster; never saw such an
expression come over a mans face be-
fore--perfectly demoniacal. To my sur
prise he sat down and spoke as calmly
and deliberately as possible.
THANK you" he said; 81 shall not
forget this"
There was a sound about his "I shall
not forget this" 4 did not relish. Alf
said nothing. Tom and he set off row.
ing as coolly as though nothing
had happened. / extemporized seat
in the bow and tried to make things as
comfortable US possible.
Noticed, although Alf and Tom were
so cool, they hardly took their eyes off
him Tor more than second at a time.
His behavior before their furtive glances
was peculiar; he saw. he was being
watched he couldn't sit still; he looked
first at one bank, then at the other; his
eyes travelled everywhere, resting no.
where; his hands fidgeted and trembled;
he seemed all of culver. expected
him to break into paroXysm every sec
ond. If l hadn't called out he would
have run us right into the shore; when
l called he clutched the other string vio-
lently, jerking the boat almost round.
heartily wished him at Jericho before
he had come near us.
No one spoke. We went slowly along
watching each other. At last he said
something.
IL will get out" he said, in an
odd, nervous way.
with pleasure" said Alf; "in a
why not nowP Why not now,
sirP"' ne said, seeming to shake from
head to foot.
"Where are you going to getP-into
the riverP" / admired Alfs GOODNESS;
| envied him. only hoped he wouldn't
let it carry him too far.
The man glowered at him; for mo-
ment he looked him full in the face. l
never saw look in mans eyes like
that in his. Alf returned him look for
look. Slightly, almost imperceptibly, he
-quickened his stroke. A little lower
down was a little hamlet with we'll
known inn and a capital landing-stage.
When we came along side, the stranger
said, "This will do; I'll get out here
He turned the boat ashore. No sooner
were we near enough than he rose in his
seat and sprang upon the beach. There
were several people about, watermen
and others. Alf was after him in an in
slant; he rose almost simultaneously
and leaped on shore; he touched him
on the shoulder.
"Now come" he said, "don't be fool
ish; we know all about it"
The other turned on him like flash
of lightning.
"What do you meanP"
But Tom was too quick for him; he
was on the other side, and took his arm.
Gomez he said, don't let's have a
row."
The stranger raised himself to his full
height and shook off Tom with ease.
He then hit out right and left in splendid
style. Tom and Alf went down like
ninepins. But my blood was up.
scrambled on shore and ran into him,
lodged his blows, and closed. | am
pretty strong. He was old enough to be
my father; but found / had met my
match and more. was like a baby in
his arms; he lifted me clean off my feet
and threw me straight into the river.
1t was a splendid exhibition of strength.
Tom and Alf, finding their feet, made
for him together, and, scrambling out as
best | could, l followed suit. You never
saw such a set-out. We clung to him
like leeches. The language he used was
awful, his strength magnificent; though
we were three to one, he was match
for all of us. OF course the bystanders,
seeing q row, came up; they interfered
and pulled us off.
Here's pretty gom said one.
whats all thisP"
"Stop him! lay hold of himn said
Alf; "he's lunatic"
A whatm said the man.
Hes a luuatic, escaped from Dr.
Rawle's asylum"
Instead of lending hand, the man
went off in roar of laughter, and the
others joined. The stranger looked lit
orally frantic with rage. A gentleman
stepped out from the crowd. "There's
some mistake" he said; "this gentle
mansis Mr.. Travers, ofTollhurst Hall.
You could have knocked us all three
down with a feather. l do believe.
Could it be possible? Could we have
been such consummate idiots as to have
mistaken a sane man for lunaticP and
chat man Lillian Travers' father! l