Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-04-07
CHAPTER VII

A man pushed his way into the office,
and every eye was fixed upon this last
arrival.
Previous to placing before the reader
the evidence which this parsonage gave,
or recording Stuart Harland's explana-
ton as TO how the skeleton keys and
wax Impressions came in his possession,
we will relate certain adventures which
befen Harland after he left his room on
the night of the murder.
Stuart reached the depot and boarded
the train which he desired to catch just
as it was moving out of the station.
He saw several persons on the plat
form whom he knew, and he exchanged
greetings with them.
In the coach which he entered he rec
ognized no familiar face, but the train
had not gone far when he had struck up
acquaintance, as people sometimes will
on a railway train, though inclined to be
exclusive elsewhere.
4 yoCag gentleman who seemed in
clined to make himself agreeable found
an opportunity to open conversation
with Stuart, and the two young men
were eventually favOrably impressed
They were soon chatting Familiarity.
Finally, at the request OF the stranger,
Stuart accompanied him to the smoking
car, where, as it CHANGED as the coach
was overheated, they both removed
their OvercOats.
Excellent cigars were produced by
Stuart's new acquaintance, who, by the
way, represented himself TO be Bos-
tonian and scion of a wealthy family
whose name was familiar TO commercial
men.
For some time the new aequa ntances
smoked and chatted pleasantly, but as
the night drew on their conversation
gradually tagged, and both seemed in
clined to nap.
It was not long before silence fell be-
tween them, and soon Stuart's heavy,
regular breathing assured his companion
that he was sleeping soundly.
The young man did not awake until
the loud voice of the brakeman smote
upon his ears as he shouted:
Albany"
This was Harlan's destination, and he
sprang to his feet just as the train be-
gan to move.
AS he hurried on his overeoat he
glanced about for his recent companion
but he was gone, and then Stuart dis
covered that it was not his own but his
late companions coat which he was
donning.
But his own coat was gone, and sur
missing that his new acquaintance must
have taken it through a very ordinary
mistake, which there was no opportunity
to rectify Just now, Stuart buttOned up
the coat which was left to him by this
exchange of garments, and concerning
himself no more with the matter he
leaped from the train Just in time.
Meanwhile, Stuart Harland's recently
made acquaintance had not slept at al,
though for time, until he was sure Of
the formers somnOleney, he had feigned
to do so.
When he was confident that the obliv-
ion of sleep held Stuart's senses en-
thralled the young stranger cOOlly arose
and appropriated his coat.
There were but few other persons in
the coach, and they were all sound
asleep.
Deliberately the young man who had
secured II dOnned Stuart OVercOat, and
then removing his hat he threw it out
of the wineOw. From his pocket he
produced a skull-cap, which he drew
down over his eyes, and he turned the
collar OF Stuart's OvereOat up about his
ears.
The garment was a long ulster, such
as was then the prevailing style. and it
reached TO the strangers heels, com
pletely eoneealing his under suit.
The moment the train slowed up at
Albany, the stranger leaped upon the
platform, and turned to hurry away.
Two police officers were standing on
the watch at the depot landing, and
they advanced toward the young man as
he alghted from the train.
One of the officers flashed the light of
his lantern in the face OF Stuart Har-
lands late companion, and as the young
man saw the uniform OF the policeman,
which the light disclosed, he trembled
as with fearful chill, and turned pale,
IS though with fright.
He amt our man, Tom, said one
| policeman, as he scanned the young
strangers face by the light Of his Ian
tern.
No, he don't tally with the descrip.,
assented the other police officer.
The stranger seemed about to sink