The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-05-28

y S1Rt UUIE EOR LIE T..
1t happened one afternoon last year.
during the month Of November, that
| received a telegram calling for my
presence in London early the next
morning on an important business
matter. To such Il summons there was
but one answer possible; so with just a
regretful thought of card party /
should have to forego, | wired this re-
ply: Mr.. j. Devon. Anderton's hotel.
London. Shall leave Burtown by the
II Tonight and will call on you to-
morrow ut S:15. Knightly."
Having dispatched my message /
finished on the days work with all
speed, and then returned to my lodg-
ings TO make preparations for my
journey. These, rs the masculine
readers need not be told consisted
principally of examining n soft cap and
a spirit flask, together with a fe w other
necesSarIcs. into carpet-bag. after
which followed the discussion of a sub
stantial meal and the delivery of an
exhortion TO my landlady to feed my
foX-terricr, Grip, at his usual hours.
The remainder of the evening was
spent in skmming over the morning
paper, wherein found little to inter-
est me- In disgust | flung the thing
on the floor. 1t alighted at a graceful
angle, on whose apex appeared
the heading, conspicuous as the loaded
type could make ii: Shocking Wife
Murder in Burtown-Arrest of the
Murderer" With mental apology to
the publishers of the Chronicle for the
injustice done them as caterers to the
public craving for horrors, | picked mp
the paper and proceeded TO digest the
narrowing details" The gist of the
news was rs follows: An abandoned
ruilian, Chippy Watson by name after
the fashion of his class, lad beaten in
his wife's skull with mallet in con-
sequence of some domestic disagree
ment.
Having committed the deed he coolly
put on his coat and hat and was pro-
ceeding TO depart when the neighbors
and police attracted by the screams of
the unfortunate victim. rushed III and
secured him. This was all, or nearly
ALI, the paragraph contained. except
for the usual information that 1.-THE
prisoner will be brought up before the
magistrate this morning and charged
with causing the wiIlful murder of his
wife"
1t was now past 11-time for me to
make my way down to the station,
rather more than time, in fact, since
that imposing structure was distant
from my lodgings by fully two miles.
Fortunately my bae, was light, and |
gbap.nl ItG ,,l,.,S nt, Of
not being burdeued by superfluous
weight. None the less, on reaching
my destination there was only one
minute left me wherein to take my
ticket and secure Il seat. The latter
operation, thanks TO the sIowness of
the booking clerk in handing me my
change, had To be accomplished bv
running lhe gaHatict OF guards and
porlers As Inc train began to move.
The only other tenant of the COM
partmcnt in which. was ensconsed was
a Vouag ladv and one. moreover, OF
no small beauty, Now. | am a shy
man as far rs the fair sex is concerned.
Among men | have sclf-possession
enough and to spare; but III the pres
cnce of ladies' that SGIf-poSscSsion van
isheS with most uncalIcd-Gor rapidity.
In the presence of ladies, yes; but here
there was but one. who was bound to
keep me company for a whole hour
until the train should make its first
stop. So it happened that. as | con-
templatcd my VIS-a-yiS from behind the
evening paper whicl lad found time
to buy on my flight to the station, Il
measure Of my courage returned, and
in the inspiring words of Mr.. Gilbert
said to myself III take heart and
make start; faint heart never won
fair lady"
Il trust You were not alarmed by
nv uuceremoniouS entry?' | remarked,
with some Inward misgiviugs, but
much outward assurance.
For answer. 4 quiet stare and a slight
contraction Of the pretty mouth Of my
companion-indicating her opinion
that. rs a stranger and unintroduced, |
had no right 10 speak to her.
This, to an ordinary male animal,
was the moment for strategic attack
upon the fair ones scrup!es; for me it
was the exact opposite-thc moment of
flight, had Hight been possible. l
buried my face behind my newspaper,
and in few moments heard to my re-
lief a corresponding rustic from the
other side of the carriage. as my pretty
prude followed suit. The sense of de-
feat and disgrace fairly overwhelmed
me for awhile and my eyes wandered
over paper held in my hand, see
in@ but understanding not what they
saw.
At length they lighted upon a
familiar name; "Chippy Watson" and
their owner recovered his sense and al
most forgot his grief as he read the
following lines: The Burtown Muir
der-EScape of the Prisoner" After
detailing the incidents of the hearing
before the magistrates and the remand
of the prisoner pending the inquest.
the paragraph went on as follows:
''On leaving the court Watson was
conducted between four officers to the
van. just as he was stepping in and
when the policemen were endeavor-
Ing to keep back the crowd that pressed
around, the prisoner suddenly snap
ped his handouts in some inexplicable
manner. broke through the bvstanders.
and fled down the street. He was seen
10 dodge down n back alley known as
Shut lane, followed by crowd of
several hundred.
AT the end of Shut lane he diSap-
peared round corner. and. strange
10 say. has not been seen again. There