Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-10-05

we were but lily provided TO spend
the cold October night in the chilly
cars, a being lightly dressed and with
only our fall overcoats to protect US.
The cars we're not even heated by
the little warming pan that is usually
put into cars in the winter and we
suffered much from the cold, so that
we soon forgot some Of our fears Of
the strange man in our vain efforts to
keep warm. We would walk about
our small compartment like animals
in cage snd at stations we would
get out of the cars and run up and
down the platform We wanted to
get into another compartment but we
did not dare take our baggage out for
fear of arousing the man we wanted
to elude. Finally we lay down on the
car seat for 9 little sleep and it was
my fortune to be on the same seat as
the stranger and / lay down With my
feet to his. He appeared to be sound
asleep and though it was my turn to
watch, ] was soon sound asleep from
sheer exhaustion.
How long slept thus 1 do not
know but suddenly awakened with
start and looked at the stranger
before arising or making any motions.
Then l received genuine fright
aud my heart beat fast, for the
stranger was awake, though lying
just as be had been, and slowly his
hand was reaching behind him.
George was snoring just as though
there was no such thing as robbers
and feared that he would never get
a chance to wake. Not wishing to
be taken at too great a disadvantage
I jumped iuto the aisle facing the
stranger and ready to spring. The
train was laundering along, making
more than enough noise to drown any
struggles or cries, my friend was
asleep and / was benumbed bv the
cold. Besides, the stranger was halt
again my size and there was but little
doubt as to how the affair would end.
All this and much more went
through my mind in a remarkably
short space of time when the stranger
sleepily arose and pulling his hand
out of his pocket produced pint
flask evidently filled with whisky.
Just then George awoke.
Perhaps this will help drive the
cold away he said politely and in
good English, though with a slight
foreign accent.
! George and I looked at each other
in foolish sort of way, and then
both thought of drugs and we were
just as sure as ever that this was 0
robber and this the way in which be
! intended 10 overpower US. BY thii
time the stranger had poured out Q
liberal portion In the cup formed by
the top of the flask and when he Of
fered it to US, shivering as we were
in the opposite corner, it was too
, great a temptation and each took /
, good pullat the warming liquor. W.
watched closely and when the stran
ger himself took big drink out o
s the flask our minds were relieved
. somewhat and the liquor did tast
i. good and warmed us up SO that W
became quite cheerful. We evel
n went so far as to light our pipes anc
Q to gill that of the stranger with som
. of our American tobacco which h
t pronounced very good.
AS we warmed up we became NOR,
b sociable and as the stranger spok
Q English fluently we soon became bet
!. ter acquainted. The stranger sal
9 that he had come from Vienna ant
n that he was on his way to Marseille
= to ship aboard a vessel for trip t
It Brazil. He said that he had been
Q sailor, had visitedsAmerica and thu
d came to speak English. He confesse
,r to having followed us at the railwa
d station in order that he might be j
d the same compartment with us; b
= bad heard us speak English and as b
had not conversed IN that languae
10 for some three years he was anxiot
d to meet a pair of Americans. Th
If was all very plausible and tho Aus
1t TRAN had an endless fund of stor:e
l. to tell but our fears were not entire
Or allayed until we reached Paris an
.e parted with him. We were the
,r obliged to own that we had been bal
70 ly mistaken and that this man instes
t. of intending us harm had really hel
l. ed US to pass time pleasantly tn
re otherwise would have been miserabl
III La Grippe.