The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-07-13

eyes suddenly met those of the other man;
deep flush suffused his face, which seem
cd to find a reflection in the others
Dlbbs hastily took up book and affected
to read; tho man opposite simultaneously
did the same.
The tension was terrible, to remain in
active almost impossible. Dibbs had an
inspiration, as q man in extremitP some
times has. Though he was not armed, he
would pretend to be. That might do some
thing; produce hesitation or delay, at
least. Accordingly he deliberately as.
sumed bold, even threatening demeanor.
Casting a truculent glance across tho car,
he plunged his hand into his pocket, af-
fecting to grasp an imaginary revolver.
To his intense delight the ruse took i'm
mediate effect The man opposite gave
an unmistakable start and shrank back
into his corner. So far so good. But how
to keep up the pretense' What to do nextf
AT this crisis the whistling of tho engine
suddenly distracted Dibbs. Good heavensl
Ho had forgotten tho long tunnell They
were coming to 1t nowi His eyes, with q
quick, involuntary movement, sought the
lamp. 1t was not lighted
Entrappedl Doomedl The Widest
Thoughts rushed confusedly to his BRAIN
With shrek, the train plunged noisily
into the tunnel, into darkness. Every
railway murder Of which Dibbs had ever
read flashed before him with all the ghast-
ly details. Absolute panic seized upon
him. Hardly knowing what he was do
Ing, he tried softly to open the door. 1t
was locked, however. His movements
must have been heard. There was stir at
the other end of the car. The fatal mo-
ment had come; the assassin was advanc-
ing to the attack. In the extremity of his
terror Dibbs sank swiftly on the floor and
crawled under the scat.
For what length Of time he crouched
there, half stifled and scarcely daring to
breathe, Dibbs knew not. Agony cannot
measure time. A sudden and extraordi-
nary rush of air made his heart first stand
still and then sent the blood coursing
wildly through his veins. The far door
was swinging openi Something had hap
denedi And whatf
His straining ears detected no sound
but the outside rattle and roar Of the train
through the tunnel. Within all was si-
lence. He remained listening In intense
excitement and amazement until the hope
which had hardly dared to stir in his
breast grew into vigorous life. He was
alone in the carriagel Deliverance had
como miraculously-whya and how he
knew notl
Tho tunnel was coming to an end
Light began to stream into the car. eau
tiously and slowly Dibbs peeped from un-
der the seat. He was quite alone. The
man had disappeared
At the station, just outside the tunnel,
Dibbs-alighting almost before the train
had stoppcd-changed his place for one in
passenger coach. A few hours later the
brilliant was safely transferred from his
charge into that of Goldsmith's brother at
Pittsburg.
Dibbs' adventure made quias o sensa-
tion on hi return to New York. he was
the hero of the hour in his circle. Wheth-
er or not he related the circumstances ex-
actly as here set forth need not be men
toned. His friend Bodkin, among others,
gave dinner party In his honor. Dibbs,
with his usual punctuality was the first
of the guests to arrive.
by the way" Bodkin said chafingly
TO him as the two stood chatting together
on tho hearthrug, "you must look to your
lnurels tonight, Dibbs. Do you know
Leroy, your neighbor in Ninth streetp
''Never saw the man in my life. What's
the joker"
IA rival advcnturei In Pennsylvania,
too, and eliminating in a tunnel"
Dear moi What an extraordinary 90
incidencel"
''In his case It was lunatic, not rob
ber He was shadowed at hotels and In
trains. You must hear the story from his
own lips; he's dining here tonight The
climax is terrific. Shut in a railway car
riago alone with lunatic aforesaid luna
tic armed with a revolver. A long tunnel,
an extinguished lamp, the lunntio crawl
ing in the darkness to the attack, an es-
cape by the skin of the teeth. Leroy had
sufficient presence of mind to open the
door and pretend to get ont, in reality
crawling under the seat instead. The ruse
saved his life. He supposes that he tainted
in the sitting air, for when he was next
conscious the train had left the station and
he was alone in the car, from which all
traces of the lunatic had disappeared"
Bodkin was SO engrossed in telling tho
story he did not remark its curious and
startling effect on Dibbs. Just then the
door was thrown open, and the footman
announced, Mr.. Leroy"
Bodkin, springing forward with effusioE
to greet the newcomer, led him gushingly
up to Dibbs.
.You two must know each other" he
said.
And they did. The recognition was In
Simultaneous on both sides. With gasp,
Dibbs stared In speechless wonder on the
man with the black whiskers, while Leroy
started back aghast on enoountering the
gaze of the lunatic.-Exchange.