The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-04-22

Ductoo, Ashantee = anywhere - every
where. 1 have been near the North
po and quite at the South"
Indeed, you must be q very great
traveller, sir" sale.
"I have never been to the moon. No
man can be great traveller who has not
been there"
"Then am afraid that, with the ex-
ception of those famous heroes of Jules
Verne, there are very few about"
"Just so, just so And yet trip up
above this detestable fog beyond the
clouds would be enjoyable. In night
like this it would be peculiarly SO don't
you agree with me ?"
"Not quite" / said; "for my own
part I'd much rather be at my fireside."
"You would, would you? Look at
that, smell that, taste that cursed fog"
He threw open the window, and certain
ly the fog that poured in was bad
enough in all conscience.
81 grant you it is not pleasant, either
for eyes or throat" said.
81 knew you would" continued my
strange companion. Any one would be
glad to get out of it. The man who could
free you from it would deserve your
thanks, would he not ?"
There was . light in the speakers
eyes oh | did not like, and there was
a movement at the corners of his
mouth the opposite of pleasant. While
not feeling the least dread of him, was
yet not without strong desire to reach
Spa road. AS bad luck would have it,
while yet we had not made half the short
journey, the train again came to a sud-
den stop.
eyes, he would bea public benefactor
who could deliver the people of London
from fog" said.
He would, would he not? ?" whis.
pered my companion eagerly. "Then
am the man."
As he spoke he crouched down and
looked up at me with glare that made
me start. He buttoned his coat and
pulled up his sleeves, as he whispered
again, 81 am the man. / can free you
from these fogs-I can free myself"
For the first time the thought now
flashed into my mind that was alone
with mailman. 1 recognized now that
wild light In his eyes, that strange
twitching at the corners of the mouth.
do not suppose that 1 am constitution
ally more timid than most OF my neigh
bors yet at this moment felt cold
sweat break all over Ihe, and know
that 1 locked eagerly out in the dark
ness, hoping that as now the train was
slowly moving we wore near the station.
[ saw only the thick fog and the feeble
light of here and there lamp.
Yes, the man was mad, raving mad.
There could he no doubt about it. Only
maniac could laugh the mirthless
laugh which now came from his throat.
as he drew two steps nearer me and
Missed at me, eve shall travel together
to the moon. Adieu to the fogs say
with me, adieu to the fogs."
L was now erect, watching my COM
panion iptently, nerving myself for
struggle, which, it was easy to tell, was
very near. could easily see was no
match for such an antagonist. My hope
was that / would hold my own for the
few minutes necessary to reach Spa
road, where plenty of assistance would
be available.
"Your balloon would scarcely travel
on such night" said, with affected
indifference. "The atmosphere is too
thick u
"Too thickl Do you think so?" he
said.
81 do. Consider the density of the
Jog: How can we possibly get through
it?"
Well, there's something in that" he
said sitting down. "Yet the effort is
worth trial. Yes, it is worth trial"
He sprang anew to his feet, and ap-
preached me. He threw out his strong
hands, and made clutch at my throat.
This is how we begin, this is how
get the gas for the trip. XIII you first
TO give You start. Then L start myself
and follow YOU" One shout gave for
help, but it was lost in the report Of
fog signal; then we were swaying back
ward and forward in the carriage in
struggle which was literally for life or
death. The madman's breath came hot
on my face, his strong arms held me in
fierce embrace. There was fierce 10y
in his eyes.
The foam worked out of his mouth.
and his teeth CRASHED angrily against
each other.
Life is dear, and felt no inclination
to yield mine without desperate strug-
gle. tore my antagonists hands from
my throat, and for moment forced him
to act on the defensive. shouted again
and again for help, and how longed
for Spa road no words can describe.
The train was now running at good
rate and knew the station could not be
far off. If only could hold my own for
one half minnie all would be safe.
Pausing in his exertions for moment
the mailman suddenly quilted me- Just
then, to my horror, the train rushed
through my station without even slack
ing speed. / was in the wrong train,
and there was no hope of assistance till
we reached New Cross. It was evident
that my fellow-passengers had not heard
my shouts for assistance.
Without word of warning my COM
panion again threw himself upon me,
this time with fury SO resistless that /
was borne to the floor.
eve shall go to the moon," he
shrieked. 81 have knife-we can cut
our way through the fog"