The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-11-25

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;oIs ,o5sn ~ NV ~ sbouss M VII IN NJ nOo,oe "Ss
80 -. =, .h;rt,- .r5, u, nV%e'S.; W. ne
seemed %.aI % to wate % nm IND snddanla 'To IL ao n,o
rant ha nnlIaJ III borso -, H.. ~.
tnrnod i ran;Jlv ro,nJ anS p.lIonoJ | o~ou r
from me as hard as he conld I e,'VP'- 90 ""
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''''Tn III ninn up DaG - "'s ~ saln.
I'll ~ ...o.. - e.. - 80 1sJ ~J' ~ 11y
;..an1aS Wv" ln "tl" 10 ,n ,v I J i;e. .t. J. n
ss snn,a D.. .n:,osLr III g..
~ - 4o,..S'S forso..Oe ~. "H@s 10
,aved IN conv;et dress ta tba aortsT,s S o .c,;on
was easily accounted for
was rather Glad ON. second tbouohts
that he had avoided me There is no
knowing what he might have felt it his
du.y to do. Perhaps. on the whole. it was
be ter that should plod on. YEARLY though
it might be. and hone to meet no one at
all until was safe in Farmer Russelps
house.
On tnrpine the next corner, 20 NV sur
prise [ again saw the cart. but this time
approaching me, and in it were seated two
men.
They approached me warily. walked
straight on with the consciousness of inno-
cence, although, at the same time, | felt
considerable uneasiness.
When they were within twenty yards of
me, tley stopped.
walked towards them, and asked them,
in as ordinary tone as | could assume, If
they would direct me towards Farmer Rus
sells house.
They whispered to each other aud then
both left the cart.
l did not much like the way in which
they approached me, but | tried to appear
as nonchalant as possible,
They did not come quite close. Proba-
bly, the sight of the crowbar which still
carried made them cautions.
Look here, my men" l said, 81 have
met with an unfortunate accident. What
will you drive me to Farmer Russells for?
Instead of replying directly to my ques-
ton, they again whispered to each other.
Then one of them, who had been addressed
by the other as Peter, invited me to step
INTO the cart
obeyed; thinking that as we drove
along might explain the situation to them:
No sooner, however, had seated mysei1
than Peter seized me from behind, while
his companion wr>nched the crowbar from
my hand, and In another minute a rope
was passed round my arms, and found
myself firmly pinioned.
"Look here, my men, l cried angrlly,
''dont make fools OF yourselves. tell you
l am tourist, who has lost his way, ana
convict whom met has made me chanse
clothes with him.
All right, SAID Peter; "yon IL have TO
tell that story to the magistrate. There's
reward out for the capture ofthe escaped
convict
But surely you don't think | am
convict? Do | look like one p
"Your hair is pretty short, said Harris,
my other cantor.
1t was unfortunate that | had had my
hair cut only couple of days before at
the village, where the hairdresser was by
no means too skilful. As l wore no hat,
it was impossible 10 conceal this evident
sign of euilt
[ did nv utmost to persuade the men
that they had made mistake, and that it
would he far better for them to acknowledge
it now. Rut soon found that all nv ar
euments were in vain. The carriers were
most obtuse specimeps of the Deyonsbire
rustic. They seemed to have but one idea
in their head. and that was that they might
secure a reward by taking me before the
magistrate.
Finding arguments, persuasion. and
threats ali of no avail 7 RESIGNED myself to
INV situation. and kent silent.
We iolted over the rough road. and at
last reached the neighboring town, lust as
drenching rain began to fall,
[ was the observed of all observers as [
was driven through the streets tothe police
Office. There | was duly unbound and
brought before the Inspector.
! at once demanded to be brought be-
fore magistrate. 1t seemed, however,
that there was no magistrate Immediately
available; and the Inspector seemed to
think himself quite capable of managing
this case without the assistance of any
higher official.
"You'Il see plenty of magistrates to-
morrow morning, my man" he said to me
in tone that was somewhat exasperating,
and certainly far from being reassuring.
"The less you say now the better for YOUR
self, so | warn you,
Ii the rustics were obstinate and obtuse,
this wretched Inspector was ten times
worse He seemed 10 imagine that all my
explanations and excuses were but clever
devices for trying to put him of the scent.
Evidently he regarded himself as prefer
naturally acute, and smiled pitylngly on
me as | brought forward some convincing
arguments of his mistake.
Seeing that 1t was absolutely impossible