Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-05-20

go to sleep as soon as the train should
have started. had but small diff
Guilty in finding what sought, and a
little wel-timed liberality to the guard
secured me what l then considered the
additional privilege of being locked in.
1t was about o'clock on a late No
vember evening when we started quite
dark, with a freshness in the air that
speedily clouded the windows of the
carriage with hoary moisture. The
lamp in the roof of the compartment
burnt with small, clear flame. ex-
changed my hat of latest metropolitan
build for warm fur cap, raised my
feet on to the cushions of the opposite
seat, and in this posture drew stout
travelling blanket about me, and COM
posed myself to sleep.
presume that | must have fire.
quenly dozed off, for the roaring of
the train seemed to grow faint and dis
tant, like the subdued sound of surf
heard afar But my nap was of short
duration, and | was soon wide awake
again, gazing out through little space
which l rubbed clear upon the frosted
window pane.
On sudden my eye was taken by
something stirring under the seat in
the far corner of the carriage. |
thought at first it might be shadow,
caused to move by the oscillation of
the train. But, continuing to watch it
with dull kind of curiosity, was ex-
tremely startled to perceive man S
head thrust ont of the obscurity; a
pair of fierce-looking eyes glared at me
for moment, and then, whilst ] still
sat motionless with surprise, a man
scrambled out, and getting upon his
feet stood surveying me.
He was burly-looking fellow, with
coarse, ugly face, immensely square
shoulders and close-cropped hair He
wore loose, clumsilv-f fitting suit OF
some gray material that looked sus-
piciously like prison dress, He was
without cap, and | noticed that his
jacket was torn and his face good deal
SCARED. | gazed Mt this uncouth ap-
paration in silence for little while
with an expression, | do not doubt, OF
considerable dismay; then / instinc-
lively looked around me for some
means of communication with the
guard. The fellow understood my
gesture, and his eve swiftly dsrted
around the carriage with an insolent
leer of satisfaction as he perceived that
the compartment was not furnished
with the usual appliance for signaling.
"All right, gunner, said he in d
coarse voice mo need to trouble yer.
self. Yer surely don't want to hincon-
venience the rest of the passengers by
delaying the train -
"Who are you and what do you
want?" said /, slowly clearing my
limbs of the folds of the rug which en-.
veloped me.
''Who am |, an what do | want ??
he repeated. That's sxking, sir,
amt it? However, | amt a-goin9 to
tell you who | am, an as for what
ant, you'll be finding that out before
very long"
His manner and the looks of the man
made me feel uneasy. Judging from
his appearance i guessed him to be
more than my match in. point OF
strength, end l was quite unarmed.
He turned and let down the frame OF
the window against which he stood
then thrusting his arm out tried the
handle, but found the door was locked
He uttered an inarticulate curse be
twixt his teeth and pulled up the win
dow with vehemence
Lets try the door at your end
guy'nor, said he, coming along the
compartment. hastily rose as he ap
preached and backed away a step OF
two while he lowered the window ane
leaned out to turn the handle The
door proved to be unlocked. Peopl,
TO whom | have told this story assur,
me that il ought not to have been un
locked, as the off doors of train ar,
always locked. | believe this is so, bui
the fact remains. He drew in his neat
again with the exclamation of satisfac
tion. leaving the door unfastsntd