The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-01
TWENTY MINUTES OF TERROR.

1t happened one afternoon last year. during
the month of November. that received tele-
gram calling my presence in London early the
next morning on an important business matter
I wired back this reply:
leave Burtown by IL tonight and will call on you TO-
morrow at SIS. kNIGHTYL
The remainder of the evening was spent in
skimming over the mornings paper, wherein 1
found little to interest me. In disgust flung
the thing on the floor 1t alishted at graceful
conspicuous as loaded type could make 1t:
Shocking Wife Murder in Burtown-Arrest OF
the Murderer" picked up the paper ana pro
ceeded to digest the narrowing details Inc
gst of the news was as follows:
An abandoned rufian. Chippy watson oy
name. had. after the fashion of his class, beaten
his wlfe's skull with a mallet, in consequence OK
some domestic disagreement. Having commit
ted the deed, he cooly put on his coat and hat
and was proceeding to depart. when the neigh
bors and police, attracted by the screams OF the
unfortunate victim, rushed in and secured him.
1t was now past eleven-time for me to make
my way down to the station; rather more than
time in fact since that imposing structure
distant from my lodging by fully two miles
None the less. reaching my destination there
was only one minute left me wherein to take my
ticket and secure a seat The latter operation,
thanks to the slowness OF the booklng-clerk In
handing me my change. had to be accomplished
by running the gauntlet OF guards ana porters
No sooner had I ascertained that my limbs
were uninjured by the uncerenonious fashion In
which the railway officials had assisted" me- to
my seat than discovered that the only otner
tenant of the apartment in which was en-
sconced was young lady, and one moreover, OK
no small beauty. Now, am shy man as Iar
as the fair sex is concerned. So 1t happened
that, as contemplated the charms of my vls-vis
from behind the evening paper, which mad
found time to buy on my flight to the station:
measure of my courage returned. and In the IN
spiriting words of Mr. Gilbert, said | to myself:
''Ill take heart and make a start; faint heart
heart never won fair lady"
II trust you we're not alarmed by my uncere-
monious entry?' remarked, with some inward
miseivings. but much outward assurance
For an answer, quiet stare and slight con-
traction of the pretty mouth OF my companion
indicating her opinion that. as a stranger and
unintroduced had no right to speak to her.
The sense of defeat and disgrace fairly over
whelmed me for while, and my eyes wandered
the paper I held in my hand, seeing, put
not understanding what they saw. At length
they lighted upon familiar name, "Chippy
Watson" and their owner recovered mis- senses
and almost forgot his grief as he read the follow
ing lines s'The Burtown Murder-Escape OF
the Prisoner" After detailing the Incl dents OF
the hearing before the magistrate and the re-
.nand of the prisoner pending the inquest the
paragraph went on as follows: "On leaving the
court, Watson was conducted between four Off
GERS to the van. JUST as he was stepping In and
when the policemen were endeavoring TO Keep
back the crowd that pressed round, the prisoner
suddenly snapped his handouts, in some lnex-
bes who threw themselves upon him, broke
through the bystanders and fed down the street.
The whole affair took place as 1t seemed In a
second. One minute, and Watson, vigorously
guarded, was quietly walking into the van IN the
midst of the officers; the next and he was free.
tearing down the street with the police and the
populace at his heels. He seen to dodge
down back alley, known Shut lane, and FOL
lowed by the crowd of several hundreds. AT
the end of Shut lane he disappeared round
corner, and, strange to say, has not been seen
again. There Gan be doubt that he Will De
recaptured, but his present escape and disap-
pearauce most mysterious We understand
that the fellow possesses singular strength ana
agility, but none the less, it will be a standing
disgrace to our police authorities that prisoner
should thus, in broad daylight, and in the midst
of a crowded thoroughfare, effect his escape
from the hands OF justice. He may be dlstin-
guished by across his chin, and by hav-
ing an arrow tattooed on the back of his lett
hand"
AS lay back in my seat to muse upon what
had read, my thoughts began after awhile to
wander and my head TO nod, according to their
wont at midnight and before long fell asleep
How long slept cannot tell-probaby for
few minutes only-bur in those few minutes
underwent most discomforting dream. l
dreamed that Chippy Watson stood over me,
malet in hand and that my travelling compan
ion was holding his arm, to avert the threatened
blow. She struggled in vain, and the rcallet
felI-yet with strangely light touch-upon my
arm. With start awoke. and then saw the
girl of nay dream bending toward me with
scrap OF paper in her band. But her face. now
pink flush had last seen. there was CHASTITY
Wilderness in her cheeks, and her eyes seemed
starting from her head with terror Holding up
one finger as il to command silence, she passed
me the paper, on which were written the follow
ing words: ''Some one is underneath the seat,
and has Just touched me-"
Was it the dream that filled me with the
thought that this was no idle alarmi cannot
tell; but this much know, that in an instant
there flashed across my mind with overwhelming
force the thought of the escaped wife murderer.
Returning my companions silence signal by a
gesture of acauiescence, wrote upon the paper
sit is probably only dog. Shall l look un-
der the seatss
Her answer was short and to the point: "No;
do not look. 1t was a hand"
Here. then, sufficient dilemma: but by
comparison with what had had passed before De-
tween my fellow-passenger and myself 1t was
a dilemma that I felt almost disposed to well
come The male sex in my person was about to
assume its rightful position of protector to Its
weaker, If would-be independent companion.
Sweet was my revenge, and yet, the revenge
scarcely promised TO be wholly pleasurabe.
My first action was to remove any suspicion
that might be in the mind of the mysterious
third occupant of the carriage, through the pre-
sumably accidental action of having touched the
lady's dress. Giving vent TO an audible yawn, as
though had just awakened from sleep, re-
marked in a tone of cool impertlnence: You
really must excuse me for addressing you again,
madam but will you permit me to smoke TO en-
liven this tedious journeyP AS spoke, &C.
companied my words with a meaning glance,
and was favored with the reply: Certainly, II
you wish it; cannot prevent you"
Thereupon I produced my valise and tobacco
pouch, and proceeded slowly to fill the former as
l thought out the plan of action. On reference
to my watch saw tina: the train would STOP In
another ten minutes. Clearly, the only thing
to do to wait till we reached Blackley, and
there get assistance to find out who our un-
known travelling companion might be.
The longer [ rendered over the problem the
more curious for its solution did become. ano
then, Needless OF the warning / had received. l
struck a match and intentionally dropped It.
STOPPING down with a muttered malediction, to
pick it up, cast searching glance underneath
the opposite seat. and then my blood ran cold,
as the faint CLEAN of the taper revealed the back
of mans hand with the mark OF tattooed
arrow upon 1t. Chippy Watson, then was our
companion-a doomed and desperate man!
By a mighty effort controlled my voice suf-
fcentiy to say: Excuse me reaching across
you, madam. but that was my last match, and
could not afford 10 let it 60 out"
i'll ~. rol0