Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-01-31

exception of shaving my upper lip, had
made no change in my personal appearance.
| And the features which stared from every
boarding in London were very much like
| mine.
was mistaken, however in my omnibus
| companion. He had no suspicion of One prize
so near him. Ho spoke at last, and he said
| what ten mon of his class would have said
on that particular night:
"Strange affair, that on the Liverpool
| line. Do you think they'll catch him?
II hope" he went on, not waiting for my
| answer, they won't, because that would
make it rather unpleasant for ma Lord bless
| you ] could tell 'em something about that
affair." | could let daylight in. But what
says is this-so long rs that chaps at large
why should mix up with police courts OF
| course, if they catches him it's different
matter 1t 'ud he ray duty then, as an honest
man, to go forward. For, mark what | say,
| he's innocent and eau prove it,
could almost hear the thump thump of
| my own eager heart.
| started and cried: "Have you not seen
the evening paperS?"
Yes" replied my working friend, and
| produced Globe.
| glanced at it anxiously. "Pooh! That
is the first edition My good man. you must
make your statement this very night Blph
| is arrested
| He dropped his pipe in sheer amazement.
| "You don't say soi Then I'll Get down here.
there is a police station in Henry street. Joe
Williams isn't the man to keep his mouth
shut when there's any good to be done by
opening it,
volunteered to go with him, and we clam
hered or the roof of the omnibus together.
! was determined not to lose sight of him.
All my future hung on the lips of that man.
"What do you know of the afTairt0 asked
curiously, a. we went along
"Nevor mind, = he replied with exaggerat-
ed caution, you'll know soon enough"
Arrived at the station my first care was to
enlighten the inspector rs to the ruse had
practiced on my companion.
This done, Joseph Williams platelayer,
told what he knew.
1t is not necessary to quote him exactly.
his mode of telling "A story was a slow and
bewildering one. Suffice it to say that he lad
Travelled in the compartment ad Joining that
in which were Andrews and myself. He
heard our raised voices, he heard n scuiIlc
and he opened his carriage door and crept
along the footboard till he could look in at
our window. There he saw me on the floor
and Andrews with the pistol pointed at his
head. He heard the report as Andrews
fired, and saw him fall dead.
just then train was rapidly approaching
on the up line. Williams saw his danger and
returned as quickly he could to his own
carriage. Here he thought over the tragedy
he had just witnessed. Clearly it was his
duty to give information at the next stop
ping place. But his inclination ran in an OPP
posite direction. His past was not a blame
less one, and he shrank from entering the
witness box and running the risk of having
that little escapade of years ago dragged into
the light Of day. He reasoned thus-here am
|, respectable, hard working man. | have
a wife and children. all OF whom are ignor-
ant of this dark chapter in my life. Ny
mates too, would look aslance at me if they
knew had seen the inside of one of her ma
jesty's prisons
Finally he COMPROMISED with his conscience
If, at the end of the Journey. or at any time
/ was arrested, he would come forward. if
not, he held to the proverb: "A still tongue
maketh wise head
SO was proved innocent. and. the neces-
sary formaltles over. was a free man
And the first use | made of nv liberty was
to call at the red brick Kensington house to
see Betty.
What happv evening we snenti Nv