The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-10
throat with one hand, he drew a dagger
from his lrca yt vii I, h, atl,1...

throat with one hand, he drew a dagger
from his breast with tho other
retchr' he Kissed, rather than spoke,
GO you suppose am going to let u miser-
able scoundrcl like you battle me in &, lore
affair? You've been following me long
enough, but I'll stop your amusement
now!'
NO" 1 gasped; you are really mis-
taken. 1t was nothing but chance that
threw me in your road, and don't even
Know who you are, while do not seek to
harm you"
said this with the object of modifying
and ut the same time humoring him, it, as
it appeared he thought that l had been
following him. while l watched for any
chance that might offer to free myself from
his grasp.
"Liarw he exclaimed "Do You think 1
haven't seen your Why, you've been
vcritable shadow to me, DIGGING my steps
everywhere, for I've been following her.
and you've been watching me all the time!
Presllmptuous wretch, do you suppose she
cares fig for you? Look at her''-and to
my surprise he pointed to the third occu-
pant of our cOmpartment-"and say if Il
dog like you is worthy of such beauty us
that! You, II mere commoner and uglier
than sin, while am Il perfect Adonis and
peer of the rcalml But-bah! / am not
S'itSS W aISNe WIFI Sltcn rs YOU! Spc-l
VII! give you II through ticket for the next
worldr
In an instant he raised the dagger and
prepared to strike. But an unexpected
movement on the part of the fair passen-
ger caused my assailant to turn his head
Stay" she said, 81 will help you! 1t
will he such fun, you know. Listen! I'll
count twenty, and while l am doing SO
you hold the dagger suspended over him,
ana when | come to nineteen strike. But
you must Keep your eye fixed upon him. or
he may struggle and balk you yeti"
Good Heaven, | thought, was she going
to assist him, or was it only a ruse to gain
time for met
Waltz he cried. in turn interrupting
her You are II good little woman, and
I'll do as you say, but l must first get u
firmer hold of him."
He frightened his grasp around my throat,
thrust his knee deep into my chest and
babe her commence TO count.
'Ready!' he cried, and once more raised
the dagger.
Then commenced what l thought was
my deathkncll Slowly she began to
count, "Onr-two-thrce;" Mt the same
time [ cast an imploring glance ut the
woman who was thus assisting ut my as
sisslnatlon, and who was standing behind
the aSS;llhnt, when to my surprise / no.
tlced that 81. was stealthily removing her
shawl and twisting it up rope fashion.
Observation-Disclosures BY this time she
had crcpt Il step nearer, and before off
teen" was reached the neck of the would
be assassin was encircled by the twisted
shawl, and s,c himself dragged backward
striking at the air.
The moment was free | spranr TO nv
feet, and SEEING the madman's wrists |
was enabled while my fair assistant
frightened the shawl, to put on the hand
cuils, bur net till after n desperate strug-
gle, accompanied 10y some nasty wounds
from the dagger. Then bound his ankles
together with my neckerchef. which was
long one Of the old fashioned kind but
as had nothing with which to secure his
elbows to his side deemed it imprudent
to allow him to rise until such time rs
had gotten further aid; so, sitting astride
of him, took charge of the shawl ends.
| just holding them sufficiently tight, MS oc-
casion required, to enable me to keep him
| down till the train rolled slowly into the
! terminus Mt London.
w hen the guard, by our cries for helm.
discovered our prcdicament, strong arms
soon secured the mailman and conveyed
him to the waiting room, where, upon be-
ing searched, we discovered by means of
his cardcase his name and address, and OH
Inquiry III turned out that he had been for
some time the inmate of II private asylum,
but had recently made his escape.
Of course no time was lost in reconyey
ing him thither, but the strongest part of
the affair WIS his meeting and falling i'm
love with the lady who was then being
sought for by myself And it was while
silently admiring ut Il distance that he con-
ceivcd the idea that !, who had also an in
terest in Keeping her in sight. was dogging
his steps.
Certainly he evinced n remarkably good
taste and Il keen eye for pretty face, for
the fair one was by no means devoid of
personal attractions, though think that,
had he known But l forget myself. 1t
is not my intention to say more than | can
possibly help concerning the lady in uues-
ton.
Did the bracelets" afterward adorn her
wrists, do you ask? Well, no, for strange
us it may seem, for some incxplicable rei,-
son l could never trace her after that
dreadful affair in the train, and my hone
| is that nothing more harsh than the trim
kets sold at II jewelers. has ever rested
| upon her arms since that terrible fifty
| minutes ride.-W. S. in New York Jour
nal.
The Meaning Is Simple.
a correspondent asks, what is the ORR
Il