Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-03-28
touch upon my arm.

girl of my dream bending toward me with
scrap of paper in her ha:A But her face,
how terribly was it changed! Instead of the
dainty pink flush 1 had last seen there was
CHASTITY whiteness in her cheeks, and her eyes
seemed starting from her head with terror.
Holding up one finger, as if to command
silence, she passed me the paper, on which
were written the following words: ''Some
one is underneath the seat and has just
touched me-"
Was it the dream which filled me with the
thought that this was no idle alarm? l can
not tell; but this much know, that in an
instant there flashed across my mind with
overwhelming force the thought of the es-
capped wife murderer
Returning my companions silence signal
with gesture of acquiescence, I wrote upon
the paper: "It is probably only dog. Shall
look under the seats"
Her answer was short and to the point: "No;
do not look. 1t was hand"
Here, then was sufficient dilemma; but
by comparison with what had passed before
between my fellow passenger and myself, it
was dilemma that felt almost disposed to
welcome. The male sex in my person was
about to resume its rightful position of pro-
tector to its weaker, if would be Independent,
companion. 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 the mys-
FERROUS third occupant Of our carriage,
through the presumably accidental action of
having touched the lady's dress. Giving vent
to an audible yawn, although I had just
awakened from sleep, remarked i'll tone
of cool impertinence: "You really must ex-
cuse me for addressing you again. madam;
but will you permit me to smoke to enliven
this tedious journey?' AS 1 spoke accom-
panied my words with meaning glance, and
was favored with the reply: Certainly, if
you wish it; cannot prevent you"
Thereupon produced my pipe and tobacco
pouch and proceeded slowly to fill the former,
as I thought out the plan of action. On
reference to my watch I saw that the train
would stop in another ten minutes. Clearly,
the only thing to do was to wait till we reach
ed Blackeley and there get assistance to find
out who our unknown travelling companion
might be.
The longer I pondered over the problem
the more curious for its solution did | be-
come, and then, needless of the warning l
had received, l struck a match and inten-
tionally dropped it. STOPPING down with a
muttered malediction to pick it up, cast a
searching glance underneath the opposite
seat, and then my blood ran cold as the faint
CLEAN of the taper revealed the back of the
mans hand with the mark of the tattooed
arrow upon it. Chippy Watson then was
our companion-a doomed and desperate
man!
By mighty effort controlled my voice
sufficiently to say: Excuse me reaching
across you, madam but that was my last
TO lat
out"
The girl, into whose white cheeks the color
showed no trace of returning, murmured
some unintelligible reply, and for few mo-
ments we sat in silence. Again looked at
MY watch. Thank heaven! in five minutes
we should be in Blackeley and the awful ride
would be at an end. Scarcely had the thought
formulated itself when the girl opposite me
sprang up, trembling like leaf, and shrieked
ere I could stop her: sob, the hand has
touched my foot again"
The moment the words left her lips heard
sudden movement under the seat, and
quicker than thought figure appeared upon
the floor In that moment flung myself
upon the ruffian and clutched his throat with
the energy of despair, knowing that should
he once gain his feet it was all over with me,
the lighter and weaker man. Can ever for
get the horror of that five minute ride2 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 murderer's throat, and though l
streamed with blood and almost lost con-
sciousness still held on, while the girls screams
rang dimly through my ears. Suddenly the
train stopped, the struggle ceased and faint
ed across the body OF my captive.
r of lone
found myself lying upon a table in the
Blackeley station waiting room, with sym
pathetic crowd around me, and, best of all, l
saw face bending tenderly over me-the
face of the girl of my dream and my discom-
future. After making two or three efforts
managed 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."
EDO you know that he is an escaped wife
murderer?" inquired feebly.
eyes, we know" responded my honest
friend. s'The Burtown police telegraphed
after the train to have it searched, because
man answering his description had been seen
In the station before it left. The police have
got him safe, my lad, this time, and no mis-
take. Why. saw him handcuffed and his
arms pinioned behind him, and he a-lying
half dead the while, after the throttling as
you gave him."
Do my readers want to hear the rest ofmy
story, now that the catastrope is told? will
inform them that Watson, on breaking loose
from the police, after turning the corner Of
Shut lane-where, it will be remembered, he
isappeared--contrived by an almost incred-
ible effort to scale high wall and SO gain the
shelter of a railroad cmbankment. Along
this he crept until he reached the midtown
tunnel. where he had lurked all day, until late
in the evening he crept into the station and
contrived to secret himself in a carriage Of
the midnight mail, with the result before
mentioned.
There is one more incident in close connec.
ton with that journey to be told; it is this:
that there will be a marriage early this
spring. The name of the bridegroom will be
Knightly, the name Of the bride does lot
matter. She was never formally introduced
to her future lord and master, and therefore
It is unnecessary to tell the name she will
soon cease to bear to passing acquaintance
like the reader Chambers Journal.