The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-05-20

Judge by the smuts on your face" Here
he broke into a maniacal laugh. When
he had finished laughing he said: do
you want to know who l amp"
Isaid / thought might as well know
his name, if he did not mind.
Well,n said he, leaning forward, and
peeping into my eyes, keeping one hand
on the box, when you first jumped into
the carriage was the Khan of Tartary,
but the wonders of electricity are such
that 1 am even now changing; Imay be
anybody in few hours, or even min
utes." suppose l Hooked surprised, for
he went on: "Ah, you look surprised,
but perhaps you will hardly believe that
my temper depends on who may hap
pen to be. Not long ago was convers-
ing with some friends, and / suddenly
changed into the King of Siam, and be-
fore they could get out of my way bit
three of their fingers of. You should
have seen them scatter. Ha, ha, har'
GOOD graciousl' l exclaimed. "You
don't mean it!'
40, yes do; but do not be alarmed,
/ never am so dangerous unless l hap
pen to assume that character"
Then he sat quiet, and / was thankful
for little peace. On looking at my
watch l found that we had yet another
quarter of an hour before the train
would stop. How l wished the time
away! for fully intendedt to change my
carriage at the next stopping station.
All at once, to my alarm, he said, quite
unconcenedly:
II feel it my solemn duty to inform
you that am changing, and that in a
few minutes l shall be the King Of
SIAM"
Instinctively / looked around for some
means of escape, at the same time
grasping my umbrella firm, resolved at
least to sell my fingers dearly. Never
shall 1 forget the feeling of thankful
ness with which / heard the whistle Of
the train announcing our approach to the
next station. l collected my things to-
gether near me, so as to be prepared
the feelings of his Majesty Of Siam were
being worked up to a pitch of excite
ment, and the way he showed his teeth
would have terrified far less nervous
man than myself. As we neared the
station the train slackened speed, and at
last stopped. Just as 1 jumped out the
maniac made a spring at me; but for
tunately avoided him, and slammed the
door in his face. got into the next
compartment, which was empty; and,
as the guard closed the door. l called
out: Here, l say, guard, there is a
mailman in" But the whistle
drowned the rest of my sentence, and
the train moved off before had time to
complete it. l sat still in horrible
state of nervousness, expecting hardly
know what.
At last the train stopped at the station
for which was bound, and l jumped
out. As l passed the carriage ] could
see him sitting there quietly; and Invent
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
ance had to be content.
then went off to my friends house,
where l arrived just in time for dinner.
suppose the traces of my fright still
remained, for no sooner did / enter the
dining-room than my host exclaimed:
why, what is the matter. old man?
You've not met a ghost on the road, have
you?"
/ told him l had seen somebody a
good deal worse than ghost; and, dur
ing dinner, related my adventure, upon
which they all congratulated me on my
lucky escape. After dinner went of
early to bed, pleading fatigue and the
next days business as my excuse.
When awoke in the morning, found
my host ready for breakfast; aud | joined
him at once, as my train left in an hours
time. As shook hands with him at the
station, he remarked he should like 10
hear OF the man being caught.
l transacted my business; and, as ]
had time to spare, turned into the first
hotel came to, and walked up into the
billiard-room, where l met Fred Charl-
ton, an old schoolfellow of mine, who
was playing billiards with three other
fellows. He seemed surprised to see me.
and asked me how got there. / told
him had come down there early that
morning; and then proceeded to give
him sketch of my adventurous journey
of the night before. Fred smiled, and
said:
'.Ah, yes, old man; heard something
about it.
q You heard something's" 1 said.
From whom?''
"Well," he replied, "rll tell you all
about it, for the benefit of the company.
Old Harris, 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 the 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 dia-
monds with him in small box. he began
to feel uncomfortable. He said the
stranger was a strong active man, and
that if it had come to a struggle for the
diamonds Harris would have had no