The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-04-03
CUPID ON THE RAIL.

last December. 1 was sitting in my
little snuggery, back of my Office, be-
fore a blazing CRATE, with my feet in
slippers and my body in a warm dress
ing gown. / had mug of hot punch
and cold mince pie on the table be-
side me. along with an uncut novel
and a genuine Havana, with which l
intended to regale myself presently.
This telegram was from my chief,
who. might as well say. was detect
i've; and | had followed that thankless
aud precarious business for several
years
This same Jorlette had given us a
great deal of trouble. We had never
had SO cunning a spirit to cope with.
Perhaps it would be well to explain
that Pierre Jorlette was murderer
upon whose head was set price of
1000 pounds by the crown A French
man and noblenan by birth. gem
tieman by education, he had when
very young married beautiful Eng
lish girl, with whom he passed Two
years of unalioyed happiness. At the
end of that time some fearful shadow
came between them-none knew of
what nature-and the inhuman hus-
band stabbed his wife to the hearth
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 hundredfh time took Jor-
lette's photograph from my pocket
book and examined the features of the
murderer. Il was a singularly hand
some face that saw-clearly cut, with
large hazel eyes. shaded by long dark
lashes; month delicate and sensitive
as a woman's; a high, rather narrow
forehead, half hidden in clustering
curls of auburn hair; form rather
spare. yet well knit, and a hand SYM
metricaf and rounded as a woman's.
changed my slippers for boots. got
myself inside my fur overcoat. stuffed
valise with brown paper and black
ing brushes. that l might appear re-
spectacle traveller. and. looking at my
watch. found had just time to reach
the station.
The train stopped ten minutes for
refreshments. aud taking the guard.
who was an old friend of mine. sufii-
ciently into my confidence, | was
given an opportunity of looking
through the carriages previous. to the
starting of the train.
1t WAS full train. but. singularly
enough. there was not a red-headed
man on board of it. Jorlette was red
headed, and aside from that eircuni-
stance he had face which fiattered
myself could not readily mistake.
As / stood irresolute and feeling
very much as if I had been fooled,
there came toward me from the dining
room an individual, tall and spare.
with slouch hat, a white cravat. a
hage piece of game pie in his hand
and this person had red hair and dark
eyesi
watched him closely. There was a
certain dogged, skulking look about
him; he would not meet my eye. and
he walked off to the extreme end OF
the platform by himself, ard remained
there munehing 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
seat.
l 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
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
nodding blandly over its fascinating
columns; a pair of rural lovers loung-
ing on each others shoulders and dis
cussing peppermint drops together:
and presently we were reinforced by
an old lady in very prim bonnet with
brown ribbons. ard bearing luggage
in the shape of a bird-cage, basket
with a cat in it, an umbrella and a
very large carpet-sack.
Jorlette had produced another Sec
ton of pie, and was demolishing it
vigorously. Seemingly he enjoyed it.
Well, / suppose even a murderer may
enjoy eating pie.
Just as the train began to move the
door opened. and a young lady came
hesitatingly forward. You know what
helpless creatures women are on their
feet in bouncing, swaying railway
car, and this young beauty was no ex-
ception. She tottered, and would have
fallen; but l 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 1ovelier face | had never seen.
The skin was clear and fair, the mouth
sweet, sensitive and a little sad; the
ewes dark and melting. and the beauti-
full dark brown hair, which hung over
her shoulders in the prevailing style,
was soft as floss silk. and rippled like
the bosom of meadow brook when it
flows over bed of pebbles.
But SO lost was I in contemplating
the charms of this fair creature that /
suddenly remembered l was not ..look-
ing sharp" as Cathcart had ordered
me. and / turned to regard my very
unsuspecting Jorlette.
If a criminal, he was a very self
possessed one. He had finished his
pie, and was picking his teeth with a
quill and furtively regarding his boots,
which, by peculiar tightness and
stiffness of look. l judged were new
ones. Occasionally he felt them, as if
perhaps his corns were pinched, and
once was sure he muttered something
like an oath as he rubbed his long
white fingers over the locality of his
great toe.
There was nothing to be done with
him until we reached Liverpool, unless