The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-03-15
BILL SMILEY,s SCARE.


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 a 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 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 from
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 a rule, he managed to get clear
away with his spoil, and, so skillfully
and cautiously did he conduct his oper-
atoms, 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 demeauor of tall Yankee-look-
ing man, who seemed anxious to avoid
observation, and made his way to the
far end of the Station. He carried
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 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 it was not difficult to surmise
that he had not come by it lawfully
While these reflections were crossing
Bills mind, train came into the
station, and, in the midst of the confu-
sion which ensued, he saw the stranger
take step forward and accost q pass
ing guard. A few words were 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 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 ct once telegraph
down the line. This uncomfortable
prospect caused Bill to break into a
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 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 not
attract tho attention of the guard in
case he was warned to look out for il.
While he was thus occupied the passen-
ger who was seated opposite to him OBJ
served facetiously:
THAT amt dynamite, is it, mateP"
NO replied Bill, with q grin.
thoagh 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- |
w."
But, strange to say. the facetious re-
mark Of his fellow-passenger made an |
uncomfortable impression upon Bill |
Smiley by suggesting to his mind q |
very disquieting suspicion. He had |
assumed that the bag con-
tanned valuables Of some kind or other: |
but on that point, of course, he had no |
nctn"@ huoW4coScs NOW no caH6 10
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 !
[amilia {. ike every one else, with the
recent fenian outrages. Surprising the !
stranger belonged to the dastardly gang
who went about causing death and des-
,lation by means Of internal machines!
Bill could not help shifting uncasily
n his seat when he thought Of the bag
opposing snugly underneath him. Il
vas very easy to scott ct the notion of !:
Is being the instrument of diabolical
outrage. For some reason or other he
ound it impossible to dismiss the sus-
'icion from bis mind. His fellow-pas-
enger' Stainless remark seemed to have
cted upon him like . revelation, and,
. spite Of himself, bis suspicious began