Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-04-17
No. "


only dog. Shall I look under the
seat p
Her answer was short and to the
point. No, do not lo,k. 1t was a
hand
Here, then, was a sufficient dilemma
but by comparison with what had pass
ed before between my fellow passenger
anil myself it was dilemma that felt
almost disposed to welcome. The male
sex in my person was about to resume
its righttul position of protector to its
weaker, if would-be independent CON-
panion. Sweet was my revenge, and
yet the revenge scarcely promised to be
wholly pleasurable.
My first action was to remove any
suspicion that there might be in the
mind of mysterious third occupant
Of our carriage, through tle prtsama-
bly, accidental action OF having touch
ed the lady's dress. Giving vent to an
audible yawn, although had just
awakened from sleep, I renlrked, in
tone Of cool impertinence: You real
ly must excuse me for addressing you
again, maIam but will you permit me
to smoke to eoliven this te,lous Jour
ncy::' AS / spoke l accompanied my
words with meaning glance, and was
favored with the reply, Certainly, if
YOU wish it, cannot prevent YOU
Thereop"n, produced my pipe and
and tobacco pouch and proceeded slow
ly to fill tie f,rmer, as | thought out
the plan Of action. On reference to my
watch saw hit the train would stop
IN another ten minutes. Clearly, the
on ly thing 10 do was to walt till we
reached Dlackeley and there get assls-
tance to find out who our unknown
travelling companion might be-
The longer Iponlercl over the prob
lem the more curious for its solution did
become, and then, Needless Of the
warning I had received, | struck a
match and Intentionally dropped It.
Stopping down with a muttered male
diction to kick it up, cast a searching
glance underneath the opposite seat,
and then my blood ran cold as the faint
gleam Of the taper revealed the back of
the mans hand with the mark of the
tattooed arrow upon it. Chippy Wat
son, then> was our companion-a doom
ed and desperate man
By Almighty effort | ;oatrolie | my voice
sufficient to say, Excuse me reaching
across YOU madam, but that was my last
match, and could not afford to let it
90 cut.
The Girl, into whose white checks the
color showed no trace Of returning,
mnrmurel some unintelllgible reply,
and for Il few moments we sat in silence
Again | looked at my watch. Thank
heaven. . In five minutes we should be
ia BIackley, and the awful ride would
be at an end. Scarcely had the tho't
formulated Itself when the girl opposite
M sprang up, trembling like a leaf,
and shrieked ere could stop her 'Oh,
that hand has touched my foot again
The moment the words left her lips l
heard II sudden movement under the
seat, and quicker than thought figure
appeared on the fl ,or. In that moment
| flung myself upon the ruflian and
clutched his throat with the energy of
despair, knowing that should he once
gain his feet 1t was all over with me,
the lighter and weaker man. Can 1
ever forget the horror Of that five min.
utes' ride? The whole compartment
seemed to be falling upon me. Teeth
nails. feet, all were attacking me at
once, but through all I kept my grip
upon the murderers throat, and tho
| streamed with blood and almost lost
consciousness still held on, while the
girls screams rang dinIy through my
cars. Suddenly the train stopped, the
struggle ceased ana | tainted across the
body o.! my captive.
" hen | recovered Consciousness at
length found myself lying upon ta-
bic in the Black ley station waiting-
room, wish sympathetic crowd around
me, and best Of ali, saw q face bend
ing tcnderiy over me Che flce of the
g,rl of lny dream ana my discontinue.
After making two or three efforts did
manage to ask : Where is Watson ?
Very nigh dead replied rudy
faced farmer who stood beside me.-
You three quarters strangled the life
out Of his ugly body, he was black in
the face when they lifted you off him.
DO you know that he is an escaped
wife murderer | inquired feebly.
| Yes, we know responded my honest
fri,nd The Burton police teleprauh.