The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-04-05

one OF MS IaNOTltc resorts, Dut was POSSESSED
by the vague shadow of single idea, hat
read somewhere of man being followed an(
plundcred in train, and, somehow, | asSoci
ated the story with the man before me- 1t wa'
the first Tune had ever paid him particular
attention, but gave him full observation now
iThc more looked AT him the less liked him
He was handsome, gCntlcmanly, with "A fail
form and elegant figure, full of supplcncss anC
strength His manner was singularly unas
sumiLg, his face was frank and genial, but by
looking closely AT him you could see something
sniSter.looking IN the depth and sottncss OF
his eyes.
II never like IA stranger TO be ailablc and
prcpoSsessing, and my friend was the very
pink of aflablity and grace We played Tor
an hour with alternate success; hc was IN
amusing companion, wcll-iniormcd, and had
travelled, but was shy of conversation. LEFT
him. and still having some time to spare went
to see a friend in the Temple.
when, at the expiration of some thirty or
forty minutes, emerged into Fleet street, al
most the first person on whom my gaze fell
was my late antagonist at billiards. thought
IT was not u mere coincidence in this second
meeting since we stood together at the bank
er's. He was IN cigar shop opposite, talking
with a companion.
Not hundred yards from the Temple gate
stood man whom recognized with very
welcome feeling II was George Vixen, the
detective. He was flShionably dressed, and
! looked like an arlstocrat of the first water
went up to him, and greeting him Is | would
an old family acquaintance, held out M hand
and said:
Come and drink glass of wine with me-
| | have something to say
"IIe shook hands in the most natural way
possible | took his ann, and we entered the
| public bar of an adjacent hotel. ! told HIM
my suspicious told him Of the sum of money
/ had IN my possession, and of the journey
had to perform by rail. saw that watching
through the glass Of the door he was taking
mental photographs of the two men across the
way.
"'They mean business said Vixen, quietly,
bur | will be with you. We must part at the
door, or they will see that we have scented the
game
And YOU said, how will you act:'
81 shall travel to Liverpool by the night
express
"IIc then left me / had no fear now
knowing him To be clever and determined
fellow Taking "a casual glance across the
road, | saw my man and his companion. IT.
was quite evident that they Ncre tracking me
although lost sight Of them before reaching
ST. Paups | strollcd along 10y the graveyard,
wandered nearly to lsington, and then went
through the city again before made for the
station; my acquaintance ot the blIlard-room
did not come in sight, though | kept well onI
the alert
II took my ticket, lingering almost to the
moment OF starting before | entered the car
riagc, but my man did not appear Two men
were IN the compartment with me. could
not see the face of one and the other was al
stranger The guard had just time to put I'M
a bcW ildcrcd old gentleman by my side, anu
we were off The man whose face had not
seen turned toward me. | could hardly re-
press an exclamation. There was no mistak-
ing that frank, genial countenanCc, nor the
lurking devil IN those eyes whose soitness was
so sinister.
He had me at last Vixen had broken has
promise, and was LETT 10 travel that pcrllous
Journey with the man who had followed mel
so skilliully, another, who might be his con.
lcdcratc and an old gentleman who,after grum.
bling out his Indignation against all railway
servants and locomotive travelling III general,
was fast asleep IN the corner That the ntcn-
non OF my billiard player was bad was mani
tested by the fact of his having assumed a taseI
mustachc and beard They added to the beauty
Of his face but left to his eyes that sleepy, cru
cl glitter that is characteristic Of the Asatlc.I
llt SDDht W llt, ltIltlhfN lllt bNlillth VI
our being travelling companions, and crew
pleasantly familiar. | answered him. notI
wishing TO appear churlish or afraid, knoWingI
that | could trust something to my own
strength if the worst happened
I'VE had made the last stOppage, and were
rolling swiftly through the gloom, when,
among other topics, our conversation turned
upon jcwcry; he drew u snowy ring from his
finger, telling me it was very curious piece
of workmanship, having curious spring,
which he said could not discover. | took It,,
searching in vain for II sprlAg then returning
it, it dropped and rolled under my feet. /
stopped to pick 1t up, and so did hC, bat i'll
that moment while my head was down, he
had ne tightly by the throat, and threw me to-
the carriage floor His confederate was upon
me in an instant ! could scarcely breathe,
and could not struggle, for Il heavy knee was
upon my chest, and two strong, brutal hands
were crushing the life ont OF my throat Al.
| though the terror of the situation did not last
IA minute, it seemed an eternity to me felt
the ruilian'S hand searching for my pocket
book, and | struggled desperately for Il chance
OF resistance
Their work was nearly done, Crampcd IN
| that small space | was pUwcrlcSs and the VEINS
in my throat and head were swelling like sin.
uous bars, when the old gentleman IN the cor
! ncr aWoke and came to my assistance | heard
| the low whirr of some weapon in its descent
and my first aSSailant rcelcd from me stunned
! Then the old gentleman, with Il strength and
rapidity Of action wonderful To see in one of
! his age, seized the other scoundrcl, lifted him
away, and pushed him down on Il seat There
was brict struggle, and then | heard II sharp
click sCoundrcl the second had Il pmr of
handouts on his wrists!
They were more prompt than | expected
said the old gentleman, removing his wooden
comforter, with which he fastened first a,sail-
ants hands behind him, and a railway car
riage does not afford much scope for a Strug-
gle
The pockct-book was safe The mfians
were securely bound, and the gentleman. who.
without his spectaccs and mufiling stood out
in bold and pleasant relief in the shape of the
detective kept guard over them Al the sta
ton they were handed over into the custody of
the police was all right by that time Xix.
len rode with me gs far us the upnrp.t hnt.I