The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-02-26
CUPID ON TIE RAIL.

"Jorlette will be on board the 7:30 mail
trala. Follow him to Liverpool. VIII meet
you there. Look sharp. CATHCART.'
This was the wording of the tele-
gram | received one wet. ugly night
last December. | was sitting in my
little Snuggerv, back of nv Office, be-
fore blazing CRATE, with my feet in
slippers and my body in Il warm dress
ing gown. | had Il mug of hot punch
and cold mince pie on the table be-
side me, along with an uncut novel
and genuine Havana, with which l
intended to regale myself presently.
This telegram was from my chief,
who, | might rs we'll say was detect
i've; and had followed that thankless
and precariOus business for several
years.
This same Jorlcttc had given us a
great deal Of trouble. We had never
had so cunning Il spirit to cope with.
Perhaps it would be we'll to explain
that Pierre Jorictte was murderer
upon whose head was set price of
1000 pounds by the crown. A French
man and Il nobleman by birth gen.
tleman by education, he had when
very young married a beautiful Eng
lish girl, with whom he passed two
years of unalloyed happiness. At the
end of that time some fearful shadow
came between thcm-none knew of
what nalure-and the inhuman hus-
band stabbed his wife TO the heart!
Her confidential maid witnessed the
deed, and attempted to save the life of
her mistress, but JOrlette fell upon her
with savage ferocity and left the two
corpses lying together side by side.
] had only to follow instructions.
For The hundredti time | took Jor-
lette'S photograph from my pocket
book and examined the features of the
murderer. 1t was Il singuIarly hand
some face that | saw-clearly cut, with
large hazel eyes, shaded by long dark
lashes; Il mouth delicate and sensitive
as Il wUmau's: 4 high, rather narrow
forehead, half hidden H. clustering
curlS of auburn hair; form rather
spare. vet well knit. and a hand svm-
mctrical and rounded as woman's.
| changed my slippers for boots, got
myself inside my fur overcoat, stuffed
a valiSc with brown paper and black
ing brushes. that | might appear a re-
spectacle traveller, and. looking at my
watch, found | had just time to reach
the station.
The train stopped ten minutes for
refreshments. and taking the guard,
who was an old friend of mine suili-
cieully into my confidence, | was
given an opportunity of looking
through the carriages previous 10 the
starting OF the train.
It was a full train. but, singuIarly
enough, there was not a red-hcaded
man on board of it. Jorlcttc was red
headed, and aside from that circum-
stance be had face which | battered
myself could not readily mistake.
As | stood irrcsoiutc and feeling
very much as If | had been fooled,
there came toward me from the dining
room an individual tall and spare,
with Il slouch hat Il white cravat, a
huge piece of game pie in his hand
and this person had red hair and dark
eyesl
| watched him closely. There was a
certain doggcd, skulking look about
him; he would not meet my eye, and
he walked of to the extreme end of
the platform by himself. and remained
there munching his pie until the last
bell rung; and then he hurried on
board with the air of one who felt that
"A great deal depended on his getting a
seat.
was convinced that he was my
man. though he was not altogether
like the photograph. Still, faces and
photographs differ a good deal, since
to the picture there is little expression
and no color.
He entered car No. III, and at a
hint the guard put me in the same van.
There were three persons already there
besides my pie-eating friend and my
self. An elderly gentleman, who was
reading the Times wrong side up. and
uodding blandly over its fascinating
columns; Il pair of rural lovers loung-
inr on each others shoulders and dis
eussing peppermint drops together;
aud presently we were reinforced by
an old lady in a very prim bonnet with
brown ribbons, and bearing luggage
in the shape of bird-cage, a basket
with 4 eat in it. an umbrella and
very large carpct-sack.
Jorlctte had produced another Sec
lion of pie, and was demolishing it
vigorously. seemingly he enjoyed 1t.
Well, suppose even 4 murderer may
enjoy eating pie.
just rs the train began to move the
door opened, and Il young lady came
heSitatingly forward. You know what
helpless creatures women are on their
feet in bouncing, swaying railway
ear, and this young beauty was no ex-
ception. She tottered and would have
fallen; but | put out my arm and
caught her. at the same time Offering
her the unoccupied seat by my side.
She blushed rosily. thanked me in
the sweetest voice | had ever heard
and sunk down ON the cushions. max
ing me feel-well. not many removes
from the gates of paradise.
A lovelier face | had never seen.
The skin was clear and fair. the month
sweet, sensitive and little sad; the
eyes dark aud melting. and the beauti-
ftll dark brown hair which huny oyCr