The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-04-21

have seen them scatter Ha, ha, ha l''
Good gracious 20 l exclaimed. you
don't mean it %
"Oh, yes, do. But do not be alarmed :
never am so dangerous unless I happen to
assume that character
Then ne sat quiet, and 1 was thankful for
a little peace. On looking at my watch
found that we had yet another quarter of
an hour before the train would stop. How
I wished the time way for fully intend.
ed to change my carriage at the next stop
ping station. Al at once. to my alarm, he
said quite unconcernedly:
81 feel it my solemn duty to inform YOU
that l am changing, and that in a few min
utes I shall be the King of Siam"
Instinctively I looked around for some
means Of escape at the sa me time craepinc
my umbrella firm, resolved at least 70 sell ma
fingers dearly. Never shall 7 forget the feel
ing Of thankfulness with which I heard the
whistle Of the train announcing our approach
to the next station. I collected my things to-
gether near me, so as TO be prepared for a
hasty exit, the more so as I noticed the feel
ings Of his Majesty Of Siam were heinz
worked up to pitch of excitement. and the
riied a far less nervous man than myself.
As we neared the station the train slackered
its speed, and at last stopped. Just as :
jumped ont the maniac made a spring at
me but I fortunately avoided him. and
slammed the door in his face 7 got into the
next department, which was empty and.
as the guard closed the door. 7 called out
"Here, / say, guard, there is a madman in
But the whistle drowned the rest of nv SEN
teuce, and the train moved off before bad
time to complete it. I sat still in a horrible
state Of nervousness, expecting I hardly
know what.
At last the train stopped at the station for
which / was bound, and l jumped out As
passed the carriage I could see him sitting
there quietly and I went into the station
masters room and told him shortly what had
happened, advising him to take some means
of securing him. He promised to telegraph.
but said it was no business of his: and with
this assurance I had to be content.
I then went off to my friends house. where
1 arrived just in time for dinner. suppose
the traces of my fright still remained, for no
sooner did I enter the dining-room than my
host exclaimed
''Why. what is the matter, old man .?
You've rot met a ghost on the road, have
you?"
I told him I had seen somebody a good deal
worse than a ghost and, during dinner. I
related my adventure, upon which they all
congratulated me on my lucky escape. At
Ter dinner I went off early to bed, pleading
fatigue and the next days business as nv
excuse.
When | awOke in the morning ! found nv
host ready for breakfast, and Joined him at
once, as my train left in an hours time As
1 shook hands with him at the station he re-
marked that he should like to hear Of She
man being caught.
1 transacted my business, and, as I had
time to spare, turned into the first hotel I
came to, and walked uD into the billiard
room, where I met Fred Charlton, an old
schoOlfell0w Of mine, who was PLAYING bill
liards win three other fellows. He seemed
surprised to see me, and asked me how GOT
there. I told him lad come down there
early that morning, and then proceeded to
give him a sketch of my adventurous Journey
of the night before. Fred smiled, and said
"Ah, yes; old man. I heard something
about it,
You heard something?" said. s'From
whom ?''
"Well," he replied, IN tell you all about
it, for the benefit Of the company. Old Har-
ris, the diamond merchant told me last night
that he had just come down from London.
When he had taken his seat in the carriage
at Euston all alone, just as the train started
some fellow rushed at his carriage and Jumped
in. Harris said he did not much like the
look Of the fellow, and, as he had about eight
thousand pounds worth Of diamonds with
him in a small box he began to feel uncom.
Portable. He said the stranger was a strong,
active man, and that if il had come to a strug-
gle for the diamonds Harris would have had
no Chancellor he evidently felt sure the fell
low meant robbery so he determined to try
and frighten him out Of the carriage by pre-
tending madness, which ne says he did so eff
fectuaiy that the fellow, in sheer fright.
bolted ut the first stoppage, and left him to
finish his journey here alone. But we did
not know that you were the hero old man.
said Fred, as the whole four burst INTO such
a shout Of laughter as 1 never heard before
''You must stay and be introduced to him
afresh; he viii be here tonight"
did not stop to hear anything more.
rushed down stairs, thoroughly realizing that
| had been made fool, caught the first train
home, and have not shown myself in that
neighborhOOd since.-LondoH Society.