Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-26

times this led to nothing. but occa-
sionally the results were absolutely
amazing.
That was the case once when Mr..
BustOn went to spend a day or two at
FOlkestOne, where his friend and fellow
wine merchant, Mr.. Ginner, was staying.
1t was Mr.. Buston's custom when about
to enter a train to walk along the
platform and keenly scrutinize the pas
sengers, to see if among them he could
find one whose appearance of bearing
suggested suspicion. On the present
occasion he was thus engaged when his
eye fell upon person who at once ar
rested his attention.
The individual was a tall, rather
slight man, and was dressed in a rough,
light-colored tweed suit, and wore a
pair of blue spectacles. In face he was
rather good lOolling-fairish mustache
and side whiskers, nose slightly snub,
a firm, determined mouth and large,
strong chin. The suspicious things
about him were the spectacles-ever
since the cashiers arrest a suspicious
circumstance with Mr.. BustOn-and
his bearing, which to Mr.. Buston
seemed TO be that of man DESTROYS of
escaping observation.
Mr.. Buston's detective instincts were
at once aroused, and he resolved to
follow the suspect up. Watching him
keenly the wine merchant marked the
compartment into which he entered.
After waiting until the train was just
about to start, Mr.. BustOn hurried up
and jumped into the same cOmpart-
ment. The seat Immediately opposite
the suspect was by good luck unOc-
cupied, and into it the amateur detect
i've at once flung himself.
As soon as he was comfortably seated,
the wine merchant fixed his keen gaze
on the suspect. That person was por-
ing over a newspaper in such a way
that Mr.. Buston could not see his face.
Until, therefore, a change of position
should reveal his features, Mr.. Buston
had to be content with turning his at
tention to the suspects belongings.
These appeared to consist merely of a
bundle OF newspapers, heavy stick
and black bag. To the ordinary OBJ
server nothing could look more innO-
cent than these; but Mr.. Buston was
not an ordinary observer, and to his
mind they were full of suspicion. First
of all, he noticed among the news
papers no other than the Freeman
Journal Now to Mr.. Buston the pos
session of this Irish print was cOnvinc-
ing evidence that its owner could not
be- respectable. Again, to his keen
glance it was clear that the heavy stick
was nothing more nor less than a sword
stick! And in some way or other, with
out being able exactly to tell why, to
his mind the black bag was most Omin-
Gus of all. 1t suggested to him thoughts
of treasons, felonies and murder!
For a long time Mr.. BustOn had to
be content with studying these things,
and drawing differences from them;
the stranger remained engrossed be-
hind his paper without once allowing
the wine merchant to get a glimpse at
his face. Atlast, however, he lowered
the paper, apparently to reflect upon
what he had read, and Mr.. BustOn got
a full view of his face. He gazed on it
keenlv and carefully, and what he read
there agreed completely with what he
had already guessed from the mans
general surroundings.
"Ah, yes, coarse and brutal" Mr..
Buston said to himself, capable of
any crime, incapable of the slightest
tenderness; fierce, overbearing and
deceitful. Heartlessness and ferocity
are written in every line of your face
so plainly and clearly that a child
might read them. Whether or not you
have as yet been guilty of crime, it is
not love of the right that prevents you
from being a criminal. Yes, young
man, see in you not perhaps an actual
felon, but felon in posse-a man who
may yet tread the scaffOld."
All the time that Mr.. Buston was
thus in his mind apostrophizing the
stranger, he was gazing intently in his
face. At first the stranger was so lost
in thought that he did not notice the
stare-a stare of mingled interest, con-
tempt and aversion. Suddenly he OBJ
served it, and the moment he did so he
gave a violent start. For a second or
so his face appeared flushed with fear
or anger, the next moment it was hid
den from his fellow-passenger's view
by the newspaper being again held up
before it.
Mr.. Buston was startled by this con-
duct. He had just concluded that the
stranger was capable of crime-was it
possible he was guilty of it? Recollec-
lions of the bank cashier entered his
his mind. If the stranger was not
guilty of some Offense why did he
tremble under Mr.. Buston's scrutiniz-
ing gaze? If he was not afraid of
recognition, why did he hide himself
behind his paper? No wonder MIR.
Buston was startled and excited.
The stranger kept his paper care
fully before his face, and effectually
prevented Mr.. Buston from obtaining a
glance at it until the train arrived at
Folkestone. Then hurriedly rising to
his feet he seized his stick and black
bag, and, before the train had quite
stopped. jumped out on the platform
and hurried away. But he was not
quick enough to escape from Mr..
Buston. That gentleman sprang out
of the carriage after him, and without