The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-01

It better not to do so, and was CONSIDER
ably relieved when the young man un-
folded his newspaper and became appar-
emily absorbed in its contents. p.
Presently, to my amazement and hor-
ror, 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 ap-
parently treasured the girl; but one
painfully significant sentence reached
me-"I'll soon make short work of himl'
Here was apleasing situationl 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 a moment l contemplated des-
perate leap from the carriage, but the
prospect of almost certain death was too
appalling. Then 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 l 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.
"Mr. Murrayp he exclaimed, touch
ing his cap differently to my enemy.
"Was it you who stopped the train,
STRIP
NO." ! gasped, half choking with
fear and anger, "it was II That man is
murderer, who has escaped justice,
and he has threatened me with violencel
lady's," l 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, there must be some
mistalel That's Mr.. Murray and his
good lady. Mr.. Murray is one of our
directors"
"What has that to do with itT" al
most shrieked. "What if no were fifty
directors? tell you the man is a muir
derer and has threatened my lifel Fetch
a 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 or as mad as hatterr
Certainly, sir" responded the guard
obsequiously. Come, sir,"-to me, il
a coaXing tone which nearly maddenet
me-''come into the next carriage.
can't keep the train waiting any longer
| you know, and you can explain it all I,
the inspector when we stop. Yes-quit,
so, sir. We knows all about it; wequit,
understands how it 'appened.' And be
fore had realized the situation fount
myself half dragged, half lifted into N
empty compartment, and at the mock
ing suggestion of my enemy the doc
| locked upon me.
Did get any justice or satisfaction
Not in the least. The circumstance
were investigated" with the result
that my would be assailant got off SEQ
free, while l was fined five pounds fo
stopping the train without reasonable
cause. He and his wife had the audacit,
TO declare that the conversation | hat
overheard referred to little spaniel be
longing to the lady, which, having beer
bitten by mad dog, had been poisoned
by her husband against her wishes. Il
vain l pointed ont the improbability o
the story, and explained that my sus
picions We're based on the uncrring evi
dence of physiognomy. The wretche
took refuge in the unphilosophical con
clusion that must be "a little cracked,
a statement which my enemies did no
fail to supplement with the suggestion
that must have been more than littl
screwed" Such are the gross miscon
ceptions into which coarse nature an
uncultiyated intelligence can betray tn
unscientitic. Posterity, as Napoleon
Bonaparte remarked, will do me jus
tice.-New York Recorder.