Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-02-17

hliltNu UIu tNe Tram ltOnNol. lLNttcr-
ing that he wanted a paper, the young
nan sprang out Of the carriage aud
walked quickly toward the bookstall
lily opportunity had come. Throwing
aside my Handkerchief I arose and leaned
toward the gin, who started violently
and then ahrauk timidly back.
Don't be alarmed. my poor child" !
said quickly, laying my hand reassur-
ingly upon her shoulder; ''you have %
friend close at hand. / viii not leave
you til / have seen you to a place Of
safety. know al; I have heard all" I
added ia explanation. for her expression
was me Of mingled terror and bcwildcr-
ment. "f,u may rely upon me inn
plicitly,"
AT this distant / saw our enemy ap-
proceeding and moved hastily back to
NY seat, trying to look as though l had
merely been awakened from my slum-
bers by the ~stoppage. AS the train
started again l subsidized with sundry
yawus into my former attitude.
Noticed tAat The girl gazel at me
with o startled, perplexed expression.
and 1 feared that the poor child's inn
prudenco would attract the attention Of
her companion. l longcd TO make her
a sign to ba more cautious, but Thought
it better not to do SO, and was consider
ably relieved when the young man I'M
folded his newspaper and became appar-
emily absorbed in its contents.
Presently, TO my amazement and hor-
ror, / saw tho girl suddenly lay her hand
upon the mans arm. put her lips closeto
his ear and proceed, as | felt certain. 60
Inform lin Of my discovery and offer Of
assistance. The man, after listening TO
her with a look of blank incrcdulity,
turned and glanced at me with the most
vindictiye malignity in his eyes. l could
not hear the words with which he ap-
parently treasured the girl; but one
painfully significant sentence reached
me-'Iu 500 make short worlpof hin!'
Here was apleasing situatiOnl / knew
that the train would not stop for nearly
an hour, and in the meantime l was
shut in with and practically helpless in
the hands Of a cold bloodcd 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 pro|tcstations, was evidently o nl
plctely under his influence and could
not be relied on TO aid me with even Lor
feeble strength.
For a moment l contemplated a des-
porate leap from the carriage, but the
prospect Of almost certain death was too
appalling. Then I thought of the COM
~municator, but the railway authorities,
with a 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 q few minutes we should
enter another short tunnel, and it was
just possible that under cover Of the
noise and darkness l might succeed len
grasping the cord communicating win
the engine driver or the guard.
Putting my arm stealthily out of the
window / pulled the cord with despcr-
ate force, sinking back into my seat just
as we emerged from the tunnel, aud
then, with a thrill Of intense reli f, .
felt the train begin to slGc1eu speed and
gradually come to a s|tandstill. The
next moment the guard made his ap-
pearauce, looking wildly round the COM
partment for signs OF bloodshcd or
violence.
"1Ir. Murrayr' he exclaimed, touch
ing his cap differently to my enemy.
"Was it you who stopped the train,
sirg'
"No," l gaspel, half choking with
fear and anger, lit was II That man is
a murderer, who has escaped Justice,
and he has threatened me with violence.
My life is not safe, nor is that young
lady's, added, pointing to the girl, who
was gazing az me with well feigued as
constituent.
"Lor' bless you, sir" cried the guard,
with a broad grin, "thcro must be some
mistake! That's Mr. Murray and his
good lady. llr. Murray is one of our
directors
"What has that to do with IT," al
most shrieked. "What If he were fifty
directors? / tell you the man is a muir
dcrer and has threatened my life! Fetch
r policeman
Benson cried the young man before
the guard could answer, put that old
/ luuatic into another carriage. He has
already. been annoying NY wife with his
idiotic impcrtinence. He's evidently
either intoxicated or as mad as a hattorr'
Certainly. Sir" responded the guard
/ obsequioualy. Come, sir,"-to me, in
a c~oaZing tone which nearly maddeued
me-"come into the next carriage. l
can't keep the train waiting any longer,
you know, and you can explain it all TO
the inspector when we stop. Yes-quite
so, sir. We knows all about il; wequite
understands how it 'appancd." And be-
fore j had realized The situation / found
myself half dragged, half lifted into al
empty compartment, and mt the mock
ing suggestion Of my enemy the door
locked upon me.
Did / get any justice on satisfaction.
Not in the least. The circumstance
wore investigated with the result
that my would be assailant got of scot
free, while ! was fined five pounds for
stopping the train without reasonable
cause. He and his wife had the audacity
20 declare that the conversation / had
owe heard referred to a little spaniel be
longing to the lady, which, having been
bitten by a mad dog, had been poisoned
by her husband AGAINST her wishes. Ia