Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-23

you III 4 have seen you - Z pace oL
safety. know al. have heard all, !
added in explanation, for her expression
was one of mingled terror and bewilder-
ment You may rely upon me i'm
phcitly"
AT tins instant l saw orr enemy sp-
preaching and moved hastily back 10
my seat. trying 70 look - though had
merely been awakened from my slum-
bers by the stoppage. As the train
started again | subsidized with sundry
yawns into my former attitude.
Noticed that the girl gazed al me
with startled. perple1ed expression,
and ! feared that the poor child's i'm
prudence would attract'th the attention Of
her companion. | longed to make her
Il sign 10 be more cautious. but thought
il better not 10 DO SO, and was cossider-
ably relieved when the young man nm
folded his newspaper and became appar-
emily absorbed IN It's contents.
Presently, 10 my amazement and hor-
ror. saw the girl suddenly lay her hand
upon the mans arm, put her lips close TO
his ear and proceed, as felt certain, 10
inform him of my discovery and offer OF
assistance. The man. after listening TO
her with look Of blank incredulity,
turned and glanced at me with the most
yindictive malignity in his eyes. could
not hear the words with which he APP
parently treasured the girl; but one
painfully significant sentence reached
me-''l'll soon make short work of him.
Here was pleasing situation! knew
that the train would not stop for nearly
an hour, and in the meantime / was
shut in with and practically helpless in
the hands of a cold blooded murderer.
who. knowing me 10 be in possession of
his secret, was scarcely likely to let me
escape. The girl. in spite of her tears
and prOtestations, was evidently COM
pletely under his influence and could
not be relied on 10 aid me with even her
feeble strength.
For a moment | contemplated des-
perste leap from the carriage, but the
prospect OF almost certain death was too
appalling. Then / thought of the com
municator, but the railway authorities,
with fine perception of the fitness of
things, had placed this last resource Of
the desperate outside and above the
window of the carriage.
Suddenly an idea flashed through my
mind. In few minutes we should
enter another short tunnel, and it was
Just possible that under cover of the
noise and darkness | might succeed ii
grasping the cord communicating with
the engine driver or the guard.
Putting my arm stealthily ont Of the
window pulled the cord with desper-
ate force, sinking back into my seat just
as we emerged from the tunnel, and
then, with thrill of intense relief, /
felt the train begin to slacken speed and
gradually come to a standstill. The
next moment the guard made his ap-
pearance, looking wildly round the COM
partment for signs of bloodshed or
violence.
"Mr. Murray he exclaimed, touch
ing his cap differently to my enemy.
"Was it you who stopped the train,
sir?'
"No," l gasped, half choking with
fear and anger, 'it was l! That man is
murderer, who has escaped justice.
and he has threatened me with violence!
NV life is not safe, nor is that young
lady's," added, pointing to the girl who
was gazing at me with well feigned as
constituent.
"Lor bless you, sir" cried the guard,
with broad grin, there must be some
mistake, That's Mr. Murray and his
good lady. Mr.. Murray is one of our
directors"
"What has that to do with it?'' | al
most shrieked. what if he were fifty
directors? | tell you the man is muir
derer and has threatened my life! Fetch
policeman"
Benson cried the young man before
the guard could answer, put that old
lunatic into another carriage. He has
already been annoying my wife with his
idiotic iInpertinence. He's evidently
either intoxicated or as mad as a hatterr'
Certainly. SIR responded the guard
/ obsequiously. Come, sir,"-to me, in
a coaxing tone which nearly maddened
me-''oome into the next carriage.
can't keep the train waiting any longer,
you know, and you can explain it all to
the inspector when we stop. Yes-quite
so. sir. We knows all about it; wequite
understands how it appened.' And be-
/ fore | had realized the situation found
myself half dragged, half lifted into al
/ empty compartment, and at the mock
+ ing suggestion of my enemy the door
locked upon me.
I Did | get any justice or satisfaction:
\ Not in the least. The circumstances
/ were investigated, with the result
4 that my would be assailant got off SEQ,
! free. while was fined five pounds for
T stopping the train without reasonable
I cause. He and his wife had the audacity
/ 70 declare that the conversation | had
overheard referred to little spaniel be-
! longing TO the lady. which. having been
bitten by mad dog. had been poisoned
/ by her husband against her wishes. IN
vain pointed ont the impTobsbility OF
+ the story. and explained that my sus
/ picions We're based on the unerring evi.
denc2 Of physiognomv. The wretches
took refuge in the unphilosophical con
. clusion that ! must he "a little cracked.
n statement which my enemies did not
fail to supplement- with the suggestion
that | must have been more than little
screwed" Such are the gross miecon
coprons into which a coarse nature and
sucuitivated Iufeliirence can bptrav the