River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-03-19
PARTICLES CRIMINIs.
'.Now. you're not a bit afraid, molliog"


''Now, you're not bit afraid, Mollie?"
'Afraid-of what? I'm not a baby"
'No, indeed; you're hundred" mocking-
ly.
"And if I've travelled all the way from Cincin.
natl to New York by myself, don't know
why cant go from bennington to London.
eyes, but this isn't America, you know.
And girls are SO silly / don't see what can
happen to you, unless you put your head oui
of the window too far and get it knocked off.
Now, don't be dignified I'm telling you this
to keep my spirits up. I'm afraid maybe the
mater might cut up about my leaving you, but
/ can't LET this chance for shooting slip, and
tho fellows won't wait Hellol here's the
train! First-class to London, guard Nobody
in the compartment? All right, Polly, jump
in. Make nay peace with the mater If she Is
yexed Ira ala, cried my brother, giving
me hug aud kiss.
The door slammed | was going to London
all alone, when it opened again. man rushed
in pell- mel-gun, bag and fishing tackle
Gust in time, guards
Here's a shilling for your trouble al
alone, CHI"
s'No sir; young lady, sir.
This time the door slammed securely thu
key was turned and the guard disappeared.
1t was half past four o'clock damp, dull
afternoon. | looked at myself in the little mir
ror opposite 1t reflected tall, brown eyed
brown haired girl, with pretty complexion an6
neat travelling dress. A very young person
eighteen at best, aud very strong and health.
one. We, my brother and /, had been to War
wick Stratford, otc and at the last momen
he received a telegram from some college mates
bidding him meet them in the north; they hae
formed a shooting party which was TO start thi
next day. Ny mother was in London; so We
determined, rather than destroy his pleasant
trip, that return to her alone
The train going at full speed, fifty five
miles an hour | could scarcely, in the dim
twilight of the December day, distinguish the
rapidly moving trees and houses as we Skin tee
along. After a little, turned my eyes on my
companion. He a tall, raw boned man
with gray eyes and long red hair, heavy rec
whiskers covered his face. He wore a shoot
ing jacket and loose flannel blouse. HI
fixed his eyes on me for five minutes wlthou
speaking At q certain station the guard, GU
guard thatwas, got out and passed the window
I saw another official get on Our guard touch
ed his cap and boarded an outgoing train
We started off with renewed rapldlty. / wa
feeling almost lonely, and the slightest degree
embarrassed by my close proximity to my un
sociable companion, when he got up from hi
seat, opened his travelling bag, took out PAL.
of shears, and putting his hand on my should
er, said:
81 want you to cut my hair
''Cut your hair" | cried, too amazed to b.
alarmed. care you crazy? Cut your hair?"
''Yes; cut my hair Immediately
81 will notlf exclaimed. Guard, guard
come to me! This man is crazy"
| rushed to the door. 1t was locked of course;
and the guard knew, and who knew us, wal
miles away, having changed at the last station
at is useless to make disturbance" said tn,
fellow 81 intend thatyou shall cut my hair!
you do not, will kiss you
Trembling | took the shears.
'Walt Put towel around my neck; there
Thanks, very much. Now, carefully"
For half hour | cutsaway. 1t had grow
quite dark, only the dim light of the railroa
lamp illumined the compartment
''fs it all off," he asked, producing his glas
and peering at the cropped crown.
eyes"
Not bad for beginner Now for my whis
kers | can't shave, you see, for my arm il
broken.
For the first time I saw that this membe
hung helplesslv at his side
''But / will mott" / screamed; Il will not?"
eyes, you will, said my prosecutor. You
will do just what tell you. Kneel down herr
in front of me and cut my beard
81 will not" ] will mott"
every we'll" and he advanced toward me-
INSTANTLY | was on my knees cutting away
at the forest of underground.
CAS- close as you can my dear. You will
ma the shears sharp. l. u0n DeileVed you We
left hair on my head"
This took me longer than my previous job
The beard was stubborn, and monsieur very
particular.
''All must go, he said, pensively; all my
long love-locks and my lady-killers. But
nocessity"-drawing sigh-"cruel necessity
knows no law"
He threw me kiss with the tips of his bony
fingers
4 shall always dub you Cruel Necessity ir
my own mind
His face being as clean shaven as my nipple
ment allowed, he babe me turn my back
Il viii not! oh, will not!' | wept. ''You
will kill me Oh, have mercy"
''You will turn your back Immediately" said
my tormentor. 'EBut first help me adjust my
arm in this sling"
Like whipped slave, 1 meekly tore the lin
en- handkerchief he produced from the valise
into two parts and bound it about his arm AL
least he was brave, for the drops stood on his
brow, but he did not culver
'sNow take this lead and pencil under my
eyes, and shadow my eyebrows; not too deep
", but as you would do your own, my dear,
were you dressing for ball.
trembled. s'I'he madmanm whispered,
below my breath. "0h, the madmanin Butt
did az / was bid One faltering look, and
folt his arm would be around me.
Now look ont of the window. Mind, if you
so much as move that pretty little head, on my
honor as a gentleman | must take my re-
venge,'
For twenty minutes Tor was it a hundred
years?) l sat gazing into the darkness without
The lightning rapi0ity of the train as we rushed
along made a leap through the window sulci
dial. I thought o. my mother and my homo
and, poor child, of my girllsh sins and neglI
gences. was too frightened then to cry, too
stunned TO make any resistance.
Look, my pretty dear" said gay voice.
heard the window open, and black bun
die fell Was | dreaming or mad? There, un.
der the light of the little oil lamp breviary in
his hand with duwncast eyes and reverential
air was young priest, in the full flowing
vestments of a fellow of Jesuit college The
fishing tackle, the gun, the vaiise, the shears,
the towel, with the bundle Of hair were all
gone; and with them the thief murderer, as
gassin-I knew not what he might have BEEN
Where is he?" | said presently, hoarsy-
was it my own voice issuing from my bloodless
lips? ''What has become of the mantle
murderer?
''You have been sleeping dear child" said
the father, gen thy. ''No one IS hero but my
SELF. You are under the spiritual and temper
al care of the church
He smiled and moved a little. ! recognized
the lately denuded crown and rudely shaver
beard. The bandaged arm was hidden under
his flowing sleeve.
s'Lonnon, sir! Az, ay! all right, sir First
class Yes, sir one gentleman and a lady
This way sir, cried the guard
! heard the door unlock, and two policemen
rushed In They gazed at us In blank surprise
Certainly, your reverence; pass by. There's
q mistake somewhere. Where's the warrant
Bill? Tall fellow in tishermen's get-up; long,
red beard, red hair, gun, yalise, fishing tackle;
got on at bennington. By George, he threw
himself out the window"
And they rushed to the side of the compart-
ment
But this young lady was here all the time
Say, young lady, did you happen to see a tall
fellow answering this description get on at
bennington? The guard changed at A. He
is Marshall, the defaulting bank clerk; he
scooped last week with $4,000 He was traced
to bennington to- day; they wired us from there,
Say, your reverence, did youhappen-- Hellowl
where's his reverence
When ! came to myself, / was lying on my
own little bed IN the London lodging house,
and my mother told me- slowly and by degrees
that when she entered the carriage moment
afterward / was In dead faint, living on tho
floor, and that | was i'll q long time afterward.
They found the gray valise, and shooting
clothes and my bundle Of hair on the railroad
track where they had been thrown, but his TN
willing accomplice had rendered such good
service to thor quondam owner that neither
we nor his detractors ever heard Of or In any
way traced him again.
a Lady's View of the Karen.
r n.