Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-03-31
ANNAPOLIS Md THURSDAY EVENING MARCH 81. 1892.
A TERRIBLE TEN MINUTES.

month OF November, that | received q
telegram calling for my presence in L.on-
don early the next morning on important
business To such summons there was
but one answer possible: so with just a
regretful thought for a card party |
should have 20 forgoe. wired this reply
AIr. j. Devon, Anderson Hotel. Lon
don. leave Burtown by the twelve to-
night. and will call on you tomorrow
morning at about eight. Kuighily.r
Having dispatched my message, fin
lshed up the days work with all speed,
and then returned to my lodgings to
make the preparations for my journey
The remainder Of the evening was
spent in skimmering over the morning
paper, wherein found little to interest
me- In disgust flung the thing on tho
floor II alighted at graceful angle, on
whose apex appeared the heading, con-
spicious as loaded type could make it:
Shocking wife murder in Burtown-ar-
rest of the murderer.
With mental apology TO the publish.
ers for the injustice had done them as
caterers TO the public craving for horrors,
picked up the paper and proceeded to
digest the narrowing details The
gist of the news was as follows: An abln.
doned ruffian, Chippy Watson by n >me,
after the fashion of his class, had beaten
his wife's skull with a mallet, in conse.
quence Of some domestic disagreement.
Having committed the deed, the man
coolly put on his hat aud coat, and was
proceeding to depart, when the neighbon
and police, attracted by the screams
Of the unfortunate victim. rushed in and
secured him.
This was ALL or nearly all the para.
graph contained, except for the usual in
formation that the prisoner would lie
brought before the magistrates charged
with causing the wilful murder of his
wife.
1t was now time for me to start for tho
station, which was about two miles from
my lodgings On reaching it | had
barely minute to secure my ticket and
seat. The only other occupant of the
compartment was a young lady, and ono
of no small beauty.
Now, am a shy man as far as the fair
sex is concerned. Among men | have
self-possession enough; but in the pres
ence of ladies lam ever i'll at ease. In the
presence OF ladies, yes but here there was
but one, who would keep me company
for whole hour, until we made our first
stop. So, as ! contemplated the girl OPP
posite me from behind my paper. a meas.
~ -
words of Mr.. Gilbert, / said to myself
"rll take heart and make fair start;
faint heart never won fair lady"
II trust you were not alarmed by my
unceremonious entry 2" REMARKED, with
some inward misgivings
For answer quiet stare and a slight
contraction of the pretty mouth. indi-
eating that had no right tospeak to herl
This, to any other male, was the mo.
ment for stragetic attack upon the fair
ones scraples; for me it was the exact
opposite-the moment for fight had flight
been possible. buried my face behind
my newspaper, and in few minuts
heard, to my relief. corresponding rus.
tie from the opposite side of the carriage
as my pretty prude followed suit. The
sense Of defeat aud disgrace fairly
overwhelmed me for while, and my
eyes wandered over the paper held in
my hand, seeing but understanding not
what they saw.
At length they lighted upon familiar
name "Chippy Watson, and their
owher recovered his sense and almost
forgot his grief as he read the follow.
ing lines: "The Burtown murder-Es-
cape of the Prisoner. After detailing
the incidents of the hearing before the
magistrates and the remand of the pris-
oner, 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 endeavoring to
keep back the crowd that pressed
around, the prisoner suddenly snapped
his handouts, in some inexplicable man.
ner, broke through the bystanders and
fed down the street He was seen to
dodge down a back alley, followed by the
crowd Of several hundreds. At the end
Of Shut Lane he disappeared around
corner, and, strange to say, has not been
seen since. There can be no doubt that
he will be recaptured; but his present es-
cape and disappearance are most myster.
ious. A reward of one hundred pounds
has been offered for his re apprehension.
Watson is about Ave feet nine inches in
height, strongly built, and when he es.
capped was dressed in a gray fustian
suit. with red scarf and soft hat. He
may further be distinguished by scar
across his chin, and by having an arrow
tattooed on the back Of his left hand.
This was about the extent Of the in.
formation contained ia the paragraph,
and my readers will agree with me that
the news was sufficiently exciting to oc-
cupy my thoughts to the complete exclu.
sion OF the unpleasant experience had
just passed through. As / lay back in
my seat to muse upon what had read,
my thoughts began after while to wan
der and my head to nod, according to
their won't at midnight, aud before long
fell asleep.
How long slept can not tell--prob-
ably for a few minutes only -butin those
sew ni.nses /. Underwent most discom-
forting dream. dreamt that Chip2y
Watson stool over me. maIlet in hand,
and that my travelling companion was
holding his arm TO avert the threatened
blow She struggled in vain. and the
maIlet fell, yet with strangely light
touch uton my arm