Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-10-24


compartment is e.s--- E-'-vthing
depends on how you carry yo,..s"if
through the next 90 minutes. A single
false step, word too little or too much,
will surely prove fatal TO all. "
In accordance with our prearranged
plan, stopped the carriage opposite the
station, it being still dark Mac ahght-
ed, went straight inside, ard in 4 few
minutes saw his passenger come
putting in, nearly ont of breath Tn
questionably supposing Macs baggage
to be already on the train, he purchased
a ticket, and after seeing his intended
victim enter compartment got in:O
another himself just as the train began
to move.
This was the vital moment for which
Mac had been waiting, and having pre-
viously unlocked with his master car key
the door opposite he stepped off on that
side, hastily crossed to the other plat
form Of the dimly lighted station and
made his way unnoticed into the street.
While this was passing l sat i'll the car-
riage, and it was not many minutes be
fore l had the satisfaction of seeing Mac
coming back to me- But for the benefit
Of the driver we then had dialogue
somewhat as follows:
"It is too bad. Our friends have not
arrived. What shall we do?''
well, suppose We must 60 back to
the hotel and wait for the afternoon
train, - l answered.
'But have paid my bill there, - said
Mac, "and do not care to go back. "
"Then," l replied, "meet me at the
station, and l will look after the lug
gage
In case they recovered the trail the
information obtained from the driver
would cause confusion and delay suffi-
cient, 1 hoped, to enable us to get Mac
out Of Rio.
then told the coachman to drive me
into the city. 1t was not yet daylight,
but after awhile / saw a sort of eating
house and tavern combined and had the
carriage halted there. Alighting, en-
tered and said to tho person in charge
that did not wish to disturb my friends
at so early an hour and would pay him
for taking care Of my baggage, as l
wished to discharge the carriage. The
offer was of course accepted, the bag
gage housed and the carriage dismissed.
In the meantime Mac was waiting for
US in an appointed place not far away,
where joined him, and we went to the
obscure tavern, where the room had
been engaged. George was awaiting us.
So far our plan was successful. Mac
was safely hidden away, while his
clever friend was speeding miles away
ON a wild goose chase. There was only
one train day each way, and we knew
the detective could not get back to Rio
until late. We felt certain when he
found Mac was not on the train he
would think his intended victim had
slipped off at some way station-pos-
sibly with q view of making his escape
into the interior Even if he sent dis
patch to the bank--an unlikely thing for
a Brazilian to dot would doubtless
be to the effect that his quarry had left
Rio on the early train that morning
with him.
We epassed some trying hours together.
Then George left to take Macs baggage
off to the steamer. He engaged two stall
wart porters. They stand on every corner
busily engaged in plating straw for
hats while waiting for job. Dividing
the baggage between the two, he had it
carried TO the wharf. and taking IA small
boat quickly had it slowed III the hold
and the small articles carried to the
stateroom. Soon after he joined rs on
shore
1t was but 10 O'Clock when George
Joined us, and it was with something
like dismay VIC realized that the whole
day was before us. Until the day be-
fore, when Mac was in the bank, had
never known how long an hour was, but
this day we all came to know how long
a day could be.
At last the long day drew to an end,
and the shadow, to our intense relief,
began to darken in our little room,
where we were holding our watch The
tropic night closes quickly in. Soon the
city was shrouded in darkness, and we
sailed out to the beach at the head OF
the bay to find relief in movement. The
time passed quicker then, and at last we
sat down on some wreckage there and
watched the tropio night as 1t revealed
its wealth Of stars, and sitting there we
moralized upon the destiny of man and
his relations to things seen and unseen.
upon spiritual force, most Cf all upon
divine Justice, which Ill the end evens
up all things. But like so many other
philosophers who write the style Of the
gods and make a pish at fortune we
6. ,,o-.ant1al aroTN1Jpatinu nf
our philosophy.
We sat for an hour longer, and then
securing be D with two negro rowers
we pulled for the ship. Three or four
small boats were fastened to the COM
panion ladder, and our arrival attracted
no attention. Two officials III uniform,
probably customs Offices, stood at the
companion way. 1t was an anxious
moment, but we slipped through the
dimly lighted cabins and passages and
were soon safely i'll the stateroom. Bid
ding both goodby and promising to be ON
board again at in the morning, went
ashore and straight to bed and soon was
dreaming of starlit seas, of tropic woods
and summer bowers white and sweet
with May blossoms.
NV health then as now was perfect,
and / awoke fresh and hopeful. After
breakfasting on dish of prawns and an
other of soft shelled crabs l was off
across the bay. Soon after knocked
softly at the stateroom door, was ad-
mitted and presented the lunch had
brought. They gave me warm greet
ing, but neither had slept. The room
had been hot and stuffy, and the noise
Of slowing cargo had helped to Danish
sleep. Both were unnerved somewhat,
but had just come off shore confident
and cheerful, and my confidence and
spirits proved infectious.
knew by sight the chief of police
and those just under him. also knew
Braga, the bank manager, by sight.
They of course did not know me, and l
could uususpected be q locker on in
Vienna Soon the shore passengers, their
friends and many idle visitors came off
in boatloads, while l Of course scruti-
nized every boatload as it came up the
side of the ship
At 8 80 l saw boat coming, which,
when half a mile away, recognized rs
containing the chief Of police and sew
eral of his subordinates. Ten minutes
after Braga and one of the bank officials
came, the only passengers in their boat,
and at once joined the police ON the aft