Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-15

come from the creature which was IOO-
bling ne-the CRY or bark Of some wild
beast. 1t came once-one short. quick,
gaspiu0 bark, then all was still.
looked round, fearing to see knew not
what. Nothing was in sight. Yet, al
though nothing could be seen. l felt
that there was something there. But,
"a the silence continued, l began to
laugh at myself beneath my breath.
had not supposed that was such cow
ard to be frightened at less than a shad'
ow. Moving away from the walk, | was
about to resume my walk, when II came
again-she choking, breathless bark
so close to me that seemed to feel the
warm breath upon my cheek. Looking
swiftly round, l saw, almost touching
mine. the face of the creature which
had seen, but only for an instant, in the
train.
II.
"Are you ill?" ~
al am little tired"
"You look as though You had seen a
ghost. am sure you are not well.
l did not feel well. felta as though l
had seen a ghost, and something worse
than a ghost. had found my way back
to the hotel-how, / scarcely know.
The first person met was Mrs. Jaynes.
She was in the garden, which ran all
round the building. My appearance
seemed TO occasion her anxiety,
"I am sure you are not well. Do SIT
down! Let me get you something to
drlnk?"
Thanks. I think will 90 to my own
room. l have not been very we'll lately.
A. little upsets me-"
She seemed reluctant to let me go.
Her soicitude was fattering; though II
there had been a little less OF 1t should
have been equally content. See even
offered me her arm. That 1 laughing
" declined. I was not quite in such q
piteous plight as TO be ia need OF that.
At last escaped her. As entered my
sitting room soma one rose to greet me.
1t was Mr.. Davis.
"Mr. Fountain, are you not weil"'
My appearance seemed to strike him
as it had struck the lady.
~ have had shock. Will you ring
the bell and order me some brandy"
"a shock?" He looked at me curious
~. "What sort of a shock?"
"I will tell you when you have ord
cred the brandy. 1 really am In need
OF something TO revive me. fancy my
nervous system must be altogether out
OF order"
He rang the bell. sank into an easy
chair, really grateful for the support
which 1t afforded me. Although be sat
still, was conscious that his eyes were
on me all the time. When the waiter
had brought the brandy Mr.. Davis gave
reIns TO his cur osity.
II hope that nothing serious has hap
pened." =,
cit depends upon what you call
serious" | paused to allow the spirit
% take effect. IL did me good. "Yor
remember what 1 told you ABOUT the
strange sound which was uttered by
the creature which robbed me in the
train. have heard that sound again"
"Indeed?" He observed me attent-
lively. I had thought he would be
sceptical; he was not. "Can you de-
scribe the sOund?"
cit is difficult to describe, though
when it is oace heard it is Impossible
not TO recognize it when 1t Is heard
again" shuddered as l thought OF 1t.
alt Is like the cry of some wild beast
when in state OF frenZy-Just a short,
jerky, half-strangled yelp."
"May | ask what were the circum-
stances under which you heard it?"'
Il was looking at the sea Ia front oil
Hesketh Crescent. l heard it close be-
hind me, not once, but twice. AT the
second time IL saw the face which
saw in the train"
took another drink of brandy.
fancy that Mr.. Davis saw how even the
mere recollection affected me.
do you think that your assailan'
could by any possibility have been a
woman?"
"a woman?"
WAS the face you say anything like
that?"
He produced from his pocket peck
etbook, and from the pocketbook pho
tograph. He handed it to me. l re.
Rarded it intently. 1t was not a good
photograph, but it was strange one.
Tee more l looked at it the more il
grew upon me that there was likeness
a dim and fugitive likeness, but still
q likeness to the face which had glared
at me only half an hour before.
"But surely this is not a woman"
"Tell me, first of all, if you trace In
1t any resemblance.
al do, and 1 don't. In the portrait
- I In io HatfpF.
ed, and yet in the portrait it is sufficient
" hideous."
Mr.. Davis stood up. He seemed
little excited.
al believe 1 have hit it!''
"You have hit it?"
"The portrait which you hold In your
hand is the portrait Of criminal luna
tic who escaped last week from Broad
moor"
"a criminal lunatic"
Ash looked at the portrait perceived
that II was the face of a lunatic.
"The woman-for IL is woman-is
utrfect devil, as artful as she is wicked.
She was there during Her Majesty's
pleasure for murder which was
attended with details Of horrible
cruelty. She was more than suspected
OF having had hand In other crimes.
Since the portrait was taken in she de-
liberately burned her face with a red
hot poker, diSfgurlng herself almost
beyond recognition"
''There is another circumstance
which l should mention, Mr.. Davis.
Do you know that this morning l saw
the young gentleman, too?"
The detective stared.
"What young gentleman" -
"The young fellow who got Into the
train at SwiAdon, and who offered me
ais flask"
"You saw him? Where?"
"Here, in the hotel"
aLal IA AL. q