The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-01-12
BILL SMILEY'S SCARE.

4 q
Bill Smiley was light-fingered. en-
terprising young man, who improved
his leisure by appropriating other peo-
pies property whenever he got the
chance. He was jobbing carpenter by
trade, but his chief occupation was that
of railway theft The method he
adopted was to travel short distances
on the different suburban lines, with
the object of picking up stray umbrel-
,ss, handbags and other portable ar
tieles which were insufliciently guarded
by their owners. He had an innocent
way Of rushing from railway carriage
just as the train was moving off, seiz-
Ing, in his hurry and confusion, some
body else's nat-box or umbrella fro N
the rack. On the comparatively rare
occasions when his mistake was dis
covered before it was too late to rectify
it, his profuse apologies were generally
accepted with more or less credulity.
But, as rule, he managed to get clear
away with his spoil, and, so skillfully
and cautiously did he conduct his oper-
ations, that he has never yet been con-
victed, though he was painfully con-
scious that the police had their eye
upon him.
One evening, feeling inclined for a
little excitement, he took third-class
ticket at the Charing- Cross station on
the District Railway, London, and
strolled down On the platform. Keep
ing sharp lookout as he lounged about
waiting for train to the West End, his
attention was attracted by the suspi.
cious demeanor of a tall Yankee-look-
ing man, who seemed anxious to avoid
observation, and made his way to the
far end of the station. He carried q
carpet-bag, which he carefully placed on
the ground, while he walked up and
down in front of it. Bill remarked
that, when any one CHANGED to APP
proach, the man mounted guard over
the carpet-bag in a very resolute man.
ner. He tried the experiment himself
and felt convinced that the contents OF
the bag must be valuable. As the re.
suit of deliberate observation, be came
to the conclusion that the mysterious
stranger was not easy in his mind about
having the bag in his possession, from
which it was not difficult to surmise
that he had not come by it lawfully.
While these reflections were crossing
Bills mind, a train came into the
station, and, in the midst of the confr-
sien which ensved, he saw the stranger
take step forward and accost pass
ing guard. A few words were ex.
changed between them. during which
Bill yielded to sudden impulse which
prompted him to seize hold of the
strangers bag and make off with it.
Before there was chance of his de-
linquency being dicovered, Bill had
leaped into the train, which was already
beginning to move. He felt little BIT
dismayed at what he had done, for he
was accustomed to act with much more
circumspection. The chances were that
the stranger would Immediately com.
municate his loss to the railway off.
Gals, who would at once telegraph
down the line. This uncomfortable
prospect caused Bill to break into 9
cold perspiration, for familiarity with
, the danger of being apprehended fol
robbery had not bred contempt for the
ordeal. But by degrees he began te
breathe more freely as he recollected
the strangers evident reticcnce. If
as Bill suspected, the man had reasons
for desiring to conceal his identity, he
might prefer to put up with his loss
rather than create disturbance.
But still Bill did not feel at all com
Portable, and he fastened to stow the
bag under the seat, SO that it might moi
attract the attention of the guard ir
case he was warned to look out for it
While he was thus occupied the passen'
ger who was seated opposite to him OBJ
served facetiously:
THAT amt dynamite, is it, mateP'
mo-" replied Bill, with a grin
though he was secretly vexed at his
movements having been noticed. ats
the coat I'm agoin' to wear tonight
when have supper with the Prince o.
Wales and the rest Of the royal fami
ly."
But, strange to say, the facetious re-
mark of his fellow-passenger made ar
uncomfortable impression upon Bill
Smiley by suggesting to his mind q
very disquieting suspicion. He haC
hitherto assumed that the bag con
tanned valuables of some kind or ether
but on that point, Of course, he had nc
actual knowledge. Now he came to
think of it, it was possible that the con.
tents of the bag might be very differ
ent from what he had bargained for
This view of the question assumed an
ominous significance when he recollect
ed the demeanor of the stranger and
his outlandish appearance. Bill was
familiar, like every one else, with the
recent Fenian outrages. Supposing the
stranger belonged to the dastardly gan g
who went about causing death and des
citation by means Of Internal machines
Bill could not help shifting uneasily
in his seat when he thought Of the bag
rsposing snugly underneath him. 4
wss very easy to scott at the notion Of
its being the Instrument Of diabolical
outrage. For some reason or other he
found it impossible to dismiss the sus.
pieion from his mind. His fellow-pas
6enger's aimless remark seemed to have
acted upon him like a revelation, and
in spite of himself, his suspicious began
TO grew into = SORT of dreadful forebod
ing. He now recollected that when he
lifted the bag he heard strange rat
tie inside it, and the sound was repeated