New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-02-29
A DREAD TEN MINUTES.

LII happened one afternoon last
gear, during the month of December,
that | received a telegram calling for
my presence in London the next
morning on an important business
matter. To such O. summons there
was but one answer possible, so with
lust a regretful thought for a card
party l should have to forego I wired
back this reply:
Mr.. j. Devon, Anderson's Hotel, Lon
dom Shall leave Burtown bv the i 2 to-
night, and will call on you tomorrow at
8:15. KNIGHTI,Y.
Having dispatched my message I
finished off the days work with all
speed, and then returned to my lodg-
lngs to make preparations for my
Journey. These. as the masculine
reader need not be told, consisted
principally ofcraming a soft cap and
a spirit flask, together with a. few
other necessaries, into carpet bag,
after which followed the discussion OF
q hearty meal and the delivery Of an
exhortation to my landlady to iced
my fox-terrier, Grip, at his usual
hours.
The remainder OF the evening was
spent in skimming over the morning
papers, wherein found little to inter
est me. In disgust | flung it on the
floor. 1t alighted alta graceful angle,
on whose apex appeared the heading,
conspicuous as loaded type could
make it: Shocking Wife Murder in
;. BurtoWn-Arrest Of the Murderer"
With a mental apology to the pub
fishers Of the Chronicle for the must
ice had done them as caterers to the
public craving for horrors, | picked
up the paper and began to digest the
narrowing details"
The gist of the news was as follows:
An abandoned ruffian, Chippy Wat
Eon by name, had, after the fashion
OF his class, beaten in his wfe's skull
with mallet, in consequence Of some
domestic disagreement. Having COM
mitted the deed, he colly put on his
coat and hat, and was proceeding to
depart, when the neighbors and
police, attracted by the screams
OF the unfortunate victim, rush
: ed in and secured him. This
was all, or nearly all the paragraph
contained, except for the usual infor-
nation that "the prisoner will be
brought up before the magistrate this
morning, charged with causing the
willful murder OF his wife,
It was now past l1-time for me to
make my way down to the station;
rather more than time, in fact, since
the imposing structure was distant
from my lodgings by FULL two miles.
Fortunately my bag was light, and
shared In it's pleasing characteristics
OF beins 'unburdened by superfuous
weight. None the less, on reaching nv
destination there was only one min
ute left wherein to take my ticket and
secure a.seat. The latter operation,
thanks to,the sloWness OF the booking
clerk in handing me my change, had to
be accomplished by running the gaunt-
let OF the guards and porters as the
train began to move.
No sooner had | ascertained that
my limbs were uninjured by the'uncer-
monious fashion in which the,railwav
officials had assisted" me tony seat,
than [ discovered that the only other
tenant oftthe compartment in which |
was enseonsed was young lady, and
one, moreover, OF no small beauty.
Now, anna shy man as far AS the
fair sex is concerned. Among men,
have self-possession enough and to
spare, but in the presence OF ladies
thaJ self-Dossession Vanishes with
most uncalled for rapidity. In the
presence of ladies, yes but here there
was but one, who was bound to keep
me company for a whole hour, until
the train should make it's first stop.
So it happened that, as contemplate
ed the charms of my VISA from he
hind the evening paper, which / had
time to buy ON my flight to the sta
tion, a measure tof my courage retunn-
ed, and in the inspiriting words OF Mr..
Gilbert, said L to myself: 4'Pll take
heart and make "a start; faiint heart
never won fair lady"
81 trust you we're not ALARMED by
my unceremonioas entry?' remark
ed with some inward misgivingss but
mach outward assurance.
For answer, a quiet stare and a.
slight contractors OF the pretty
mouth of my coEapanion-indicating
her opinion that, as stranger and
unintroduced, had NO right to speak
to her.
This to the ordinary male animal
was the moment for strategic attack
upon the fair ones seruples; for me it
was the exact opposite-the moment
for flight, had flight been possible. Os-
trich-like, l buried my face behind
my newspaper-there being no sand
available and in a few moments
heard to my relief, a corresponding
rustic from the opposite side Of the
carnage as my pretty prude followed
suit The sense of defeat and dis
race fairly overwhelmed me for a
while, and my eyes wandered over the
paper held in my hand, seeing but
understanding not what they saw.
At length they lighted upon a familiar
name, "Chippy Watson" and their