The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-01-12
BILL SMILEY'S SCARE.


Bill Smiley was light-fngered, 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-
las, handbags and other portable ar
ticles which were insuf1iciently guarded
by their owners. He had an innocent
way of rushing from railway carriage
Just as the train was moving of, seiz-
ing, in his hurry and confusion, some
body else's nat-box or umbrella from
the rack. On the comparatively rare
covered before it was too late to rectify
it, his profuse apologies were generally
accepted with more or less credulity.
But, as a 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 Oh 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 a
carpet-bag, which he carefullvplaced 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 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, he came
to the conclusion that the mysterious
stranger was not easy in his mind about
having the bag in his possession, from
which ii 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 confu-
sion which ensued, he saw the stranger
take step forward and accost pass
ing guard. A few words We're eX-
changed between them, during which
Bill yielded to a 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 st 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 q
cold perspiration, for familiarity with
the danger Of being apprehended for
robbery had not bred contempt for the
ordeal. But by degrees he began to
breathe more freely as he recollected
the strangers evident retcence. IT,
as Bill suspected, the man had reasons
for desiring to conceal his identify 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 not
attract the attention of the guard in
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, mate?'
mo" replied Bill, with a grin,
though he was secretly vexed at his
movements having been noticed. ''It's
the coat I'm agoin to wear tonight
when | have supper with the Prince of
Wales and the rest of the royal fami-
ly"
But, strange to say, the facetious re-
mark of his fellow-passenger made an
uncomfortable impression upon Bill
Smiley by suggesting to his mind n
very disquietlng suspicion. He had
hitherto assumed that the BAG con-
tanned valuables of some kind or other;
but on that point, of course, he had no
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 ou:landish appearance. Bill was
familiar, like every one else, with the
recent Fenian outrages. Surprising the
stranger belonged to the dastardly gang
who went about causing death and des-
olation by means of internal machnes
Bill could not help shifting uneasily
in his seat when he thought of the bag
reposiug snugly underneath him. 1t
was very easy to scoH at the notion of
its being the instrument of diabolical
outrage. For some reason or other he
found it,impossible to dismiss the sus-
picion from his mind. His felow-pas-
senger's aimless remark seemed to have
acted upon him like revelation, and,
in spite of himself. his suspicious began