The Portland daily press., 1892-10-31

| AtoAA
station and the train stopped. Mutter-
ing that he wanted a paper, the young
man sprang out of the carriage and
walked quickly toward the bookstall
My opportunity had come. Throwing
aside my handkerchief | arose and leaned
toward the girl, who started violently
and then shrank timidly back.
'Don't be alarmed, my poor child" l
said quickly, laying my hand reassur-
ingly upon her shoulder; ''you have a
friend close at hand. | will not leave
you till have seen you to place OF
safety. know all; I have heard all, l
added in explanation, for her expression
was one of mingled terror and bewilder-
ment. "You may rely upon me i'm
| plicitly."
At this instant saw our enemy ap-
preaching and moved hastily back to
my seat, trying to look as though | had
merely been awakened from my slum-
bers by the stoppage. As the train
started again I subsidized with sundry
| yawns into my former attitude.
noticed that the girl gazed at me
with startled, perplexed expression,
| and I feared that the poor child's i'm
prudence would attract the attention of
her companion. I longed to make her
| sign to be more cautious, but thought
| it better not to do so, and was consider
ably relieved when the young man I'M
folded his newspaper and became appar-
emily absorbed in its contents.
Presently, to my amazement and hor
ror, I saw the girl suddenly lay her hand
upon the mans arm, put her lips close to
his ear and proceed, as felt certain, to
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
vindictive malignity in his eyes. could
| not hear the words with which he APP
parently treasured the girl; but one
painfully significant sentence reached
me-''I'll soon make short work of himr'
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 cold blooded murderer,
who, knowing me to 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 to aid me with even her
feeble strength.
For moment 1 contemplated des-
perate leap from the carriage, but the
prospect OF almost certain death was too
appalling. Then l 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 in
grasping the cord communicating with
the engine driver or the guard.
Putting my arm stealthily out 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 APP
pearance, looking wildly round the com
partment for signs of bloodshed or
violence
tsMr. 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, sit was I! That man is
murderer, who has escaped justice.
and he has threatened me with violence!
My 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, 'sthere 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?'' I al
most shrieked. "What if he were fifty
directors? tell yoa 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 impertinence. He's evidently
either intoxicated OF as mad as a hatterw
Certainly, SIR" responded the guard
obsequiously. Come, sir,'-to me, in
coaxing tone which nearly maddened
me-ecome 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.
Did get any justice or satisfaction
Not in the least. The circumstances
were investigated" with the result
that my would be assailant got off scot