The Dickinson press., 1892-01-16
WITHIN AN ACE
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.

THRILLING EXPERIENCE
Readers, have you V e come within
an ace OF numbering a man who never
did you the slightest harm? If you
have you will appreciate the follow.
ing true store; and if you have not
you will, nevertheless, admit that
nm justified i'll speaking OF my adven-
turs as "a Thrilling Experience"
A good many winters ago business
had taken me to Milan; and | intend.
ed, as soon as [ could get away, to
push further south, and bask in the
sunshine OF Genoa OF Naples. But
"L'homme propose, ct Dieu dispose"
and thus it came about that, in the
midst of my plans, the telegraph
brought me II message that matters
of extreme importance necessitated
my presence in London. Recognising
the urgency, | resolved to start at
once, but little did | dream how near
that resolution would bring me- to be-
ing a murderer. The great tunnel
under the st. Gothard was not then
completed, and, in spite of the bitter
weather, | decided to cross the Simplon
Pass, and go down the Rhone valley
to Geneva, where | had an hour or
two's business to transact.
When | made known my intention
of crossing the Silnplon, the landlord
OF the hotel where l had been staying
in Milan warned me against doing
any such thing, for the weather, he
said, was fearful, and aval:nches had
been falling for many days. How
ever, | was undeterred; for as an old
traveller | knew exactly what cred
ence to give to alarming reports of
that kind. And so, packing my traps
and paying my bill, took the after
noon train for Aroma, where | would
get the diligence for the Pass. Aroma,
as most people know, is superbly stu
ated at the foot OF sweet Lake Mag
giore.
In the long summer days it is a
scene OF constant hustle and confus-
ion. But as | emerged from the little
station on that bitter winter evening
the place was like the village of the
dead. a frozen stiffness was over the
land, and the steeI-blue lake was
maddening in its stony placidity.
The sky, Of a hard blue, was cloud
less, and the sun was Just disappear
ing behind the western mountains.
Then suddenly, as if the wand of a
magician had passed owe the scene,
all was changed. Warm, soft ~coloring
glowed where Il few minutes before all
was colorless. The blue sky famed
with q golden glory that blending into
emerald green tinged with crimson
where the regal sun had disappeared.
This coloring was suggestive of a
dream picture, for it was so utterly
unlike anything that art can produce,
and across the shining waters, ali
atlush now with q glowing light,
fioated i'll rich, mellow cadences the
poetic ''.Angelus," and above it rose
from various quarters the musical
voices OF the workers in the fields and
vineyards, as they paused in then
labors at the summons OF the bells
and solemnly mtoned a prayer.
In five minutes more another change
had come. The sunlight had entirely
gone, the coloring faded. The "Ange
lus" ceased, the voices We're flushed
the lake was like steel once more, anl
all Was cold and dead. Shivering anc
famishe1, took my way TO the soil
tary Albergo, and consoled mysel
with such barren comfort us it afford
ed, for | learned that the diligenc,
would not start till midnight.
1t had struck twelve when the old
numbering vehicle rolled out of tn,
courtyard of the diligence office, AM
went gathering over thoroughly paved
street OF the village. | was the sol
passenger, and occupied the coupe.
week before, this very diligence ha,
been attacked and robbed, ant
amongst other cheerful stories tina
the people OF the Alberso had told M
in order,t to beguile the tedious hour
away. was that OF a commercial
traveller who had been robbed nn,
murdered on the road Two veal
previous.
As | remembered these things in
stinrtlvcly felt for my revolver, whic,
/ invariably carried strapped roun,
my waist on such journeys. AS W
lett the friendly lights OF the villac
behind. and gained the dark, lionel
highway which skirts thelake iorman'
miles, | think all The stories that eve
had heard OF solitary travellers as
saulted and murdered passed throug
my mind.
The night was intensely cold. Til
road was frozen into iron, and tn
stars that shone in the deep blue SIX,
were duplicated in the sleeping lake
while the spectral-looking trees tina
loomed i'll the darkness helped t,
make up picture that had a Dan
tesque wehdness about it. Nestlin,
in my rugs, and soothed by the rvth
mical beat of The horses feet on tin,
iron road, | fell asleep. but was pres
emily awakened by voices in what
seemed to me deep and earnest con
versation. ThedilisenNee had stopped
could see nothing, for the glass O
the windows was whitened and rem
dered opaque with the frost.
l tried to let down one of the win
dows, but diligencetravelers will know
that l essayed a task that might wei
have taken the patience OF a Job anc
the strength of a Samson; while tc
open a diligence door from the insid,
is a feat that III human beinghas eve
yet accomplished. l therefore had nc
alternative but to await the unfoldin.
OF events: That a plan for Robin!
me was being discussed between thu
vlllalnops driver, the conductor, anc
some bloodthirsty bandits, l had not
the slightest doubt. and that nv dealt
| WAS a aafflod nnnoAa. ~