Smyrna times., 1885-01-28

lids kept a sharp eye upon the stranger.
When l again turned to meet his eye,
was more than ever convinced that lie
was bent upon mischief, though he had
not spoken, for his hand was clutching
at something III the breast
pocket of his coat, and his gaze was
Iiveted upon me.
Was it pistol he had i'll that pocket9
l wondered Such a thing was not at
all unlikely, and, coupled with the fact
that the man himself had every appear
ance of maniac, my position was any
thing but agreeable, for we had fifty |
minutes run before us without stop
page.
However, to have let him know my
suspicious would but have been to place
myself at q disadvantage; SO, settling
myself down for nap, L so arranged my
hat that l could watch his hand without
his knowing it. No sooner had 1 appar-
emily fallen asleep than he jumped from
his seat with the evident intention of
springing upon me; but, quick as he
was, 1 was quicker, and Ill an instant
had him by the throat and hurled him
ON his back Before l could thoroughly
master him he had turned the tables,
and L was down upon the floor of the
carriage, with a mailman sitting upon
my chest
All this occurred III moment, and the
first sound that reached my ear was q
piercing scream from the lady whom 1
was about to arrest; but she did not
faint or might not have lived to tell
my story. With admirable presence of
mind, she stood watching for my oppor-
tunity to render me any aid she could.
Brave little woman! wonder
whether, if she had known 1 had pair
of bracelets in my pocket intended
us temporary ornaments for her wrists,
she would have acted as she did.
But l am depressing. No sooner had
the superior strength OF the maniac
stretched me upon my back then,
clutching my throat with one hand, he
drew dagger from his breast with the
other
Wretch" he Missed, rather than
spoke, "do you suppose am going to
let a miserable scoundrel like you bafle
me in a love affair? You've been follow
ing me long enough but I'll stop it
now!"
mo" I gasped; you are really mis-
taken 1t was nothing but chance that
threw me i'll your road; and I don't even
know whom you are, while do not seek
to harm you"
l said this with the object of molify-
ing, and at the same time humoring him,
if, as it appeared, he thought that had
been following him, while 1 watched for
any chance that might offer to free my
self from his grasp.
"Liar!" lie exclaimed. "Do you
think haven't seen you2 Why, you've
been a veritable shadow to me, dogging
my steps everywhere; for I've beer
following her, and you've been Watching
meall the time! Presumptuoius wretch
do you suppose she cares fig for youi
Look at her and, to my surprise ht
pointed to the third occupant of on
compartment-"a and say if a dog lik,
you is worthy of such beauty as shat
You, a mere commonor and ugly as sin
while am perfect Adonis and peer o
the realml But-bah-I am not goiny
to argue with such as you. See-I vii
give you through ticket for the mex
worldr" Aud in an instant he raise,
the dagger and prepared to strike.
But an unexpected movement on th
part of the fair passenger caused my as
sailant to turn his head.
Stay" she said-"I will help you
It be will such fun, you know Listen
I'll count twenty, and, while am doin
so, you hold the dagger suspended owe
him, and, when 1 come TO nineteer
strike. But you must keep your ey
fixed upon him, or he may struggle an
balk you yet %
, Good heaven, thought, was she &c
+ ing to assist him, or was it only a rus
to gain time for me?
, "Wait!" he cried, i'll turn interrupt
ing her "You are good little woman
and III do as you say; but must fir
f get IL firmer hold of him." and. tighter
} ing his grasp round my throat, he thru
. his knee deep into my chest and bat
$ her commence to count.
D Ready" he cried, and once mo,
: raised the dagger.
f Then commenced what l thought vi
s my death-knell Slowly she began to cou
"One-twO-three;" at the same time
/ cast an imploring glance at the WON'T
d who was thus assisting at my assas,
o nation, and who was standing behil
!. my assailant, when, to my surprise,
J. noticed that she was stealthily removii
@ her shawl and twisting it up roI
fashion.
n "Nine-ten-eleven by this tir
II she had crept step nearer, and, befo
J.; ''fifteen " was reached, the neck of L
J. would-be assassin was encircled by t
g twisted shawl, and he himself dragg
70 backward, striking at the air.
d The moment l was free 1 sprang
le my feet, and, seizing the madmal
1t wrists, was enabled, while my f
IS assistant frightened the shawl to !
IS on the handouts, but not till after
h desperate struggle accompanied
id some nasty wounds from the dagg
le Then bound his ankles together W
as my neckerchsef, which was a long c
70 of the old-fashioned kind; but, as
lc had nothing with which to secure
rt elbows to his side, deemed it imp
IS. dent to allow him to rise until su
re time as had obtained further aid;
sitting astride of him, took chal
to of the shawl-ends, just holding til
ng sufficiently tight, as occasion requil
n to enable me to keep him down till
in train rolled slowly into the terminus
ci- London.
ny When the guard, by our cries for he
discovered our predicament, strc
IN, arms soon secured the mailman and C
'as veyed him to the waiting-room, whC
.,..,., 49,,