Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-01-08

others see things from their gloomy
point OF view. He admired the dia-
mond, as in duty bound, but when I
was expressing my pleasure at having
brought it over in safety, he said, with
sinister smile:
"Ah! my dear sir, don't exult be-
fore you are out of the woodI You
have some Mills farther to carry yonr
treasure, and there is time for many
things to happen on the roadW
Mr.. French watched me critically
for few moments, and then inquired
if I carried fire arms. I replied that
I had not done SO since I went OIL
board the steamer. He assured me
that this was great mistake. He was
so positive about it, tnat I was in.
duced to go out with him and pur'
chase o revolver before going to the
train. parted from my new friend
with sense of relief. and tried tc
shake off the gloomy fears with which
he had infected me. / went to
the railway book-stall and laid in 6
stock ofpapers to beguile my journey.
chose my seat in the traln-a
small, second-class compartment-and
then decided to secure the carriage to
myself. l flung my rug and papers
upon the seat and walked down the
platform in search of the guard. Slip
ping something into the hand of that
intelligent individual, I desired him
to see that I was left undisturbed. He
came back with me and, when Z had
taken my seat, locked the carriage
door, and settled myself. comforta-
bly, in corner, feeling sense of secu-
rity that I had not experienced for
some time. Many an impatient hand
tried the door before the train left the
station, but without being able to
effect an entrance, and steamed out
of southampton in solitary state.
There was still sufficient daylight for
me to read by. I turned over my
papers and selected my favorite, and
leant back on the cushions to enjoy il
at my leisure. As I did so, it seemed
to me that the revolver in my pocket
stuck out at an unpleasant angle. ]
drew the weapon from my pocket and
placed it on the seat beside me. 1t
was not wise thing to do, as a sud-
den lurch of the train might have sent
it flying of, when the mischief would
have been done. However, this was
what I did. and then l resumed my
reading with rsdoubled relish.
For some quarter of an hour was
buried in an article. but at the end of
time I laid the paper down and glanced
about me. Then I became aware Of
an extraordinary fact: the revolver
had disappeared. At first 1 was in
creduloua. Hooked on the seats on
either side of me, felt in my pockets
to see if could have replaced it there,
but it was not to be seen. Aud as 1
sat dazed and bewildered, the horrible
conviction forced itself upon me that
I was not alone, that some one was
concealed beneath the seat and had
been looked in with me. 1t was a
hideous thought. I sat motionless,
making no sign, trying to face the
position I was in as brayely as / could.
told myself at last, that whoever
was in hiding could have no
possible designs on me. It was
but q chance that I had selected the
carriage where some unfortunate crea-
ture was already concealed some one,
perhaps, who was being pursued and
in want of weapon Of self defence,
and VINO, therefore, had beeu unable
to resist the temptation offered by my
revolver. That must be it My hopes
began to revive as I reasoned out this
theory. I did not touch the alaim
bell, not knowing in what quarter { e
the carriage my mysterious compani,
might be, thinking he would dou
less spring upon me to prevent y !
making the signal. If my notion of
the felon wishing to escape were cor
rect, I felt that by keeping still 1
might reach the place where the train
stopped for the fri rin safety.
need not say that was unable to
continue my reading. I sat with &
paper held in my hand, staring fixedlI |
before me. I don't know what length
of time passed when, suddenly, felt
something touch my foot. Without
moving my body in the least, bent
my head and looked down, and what ]
saw sent thrill through me, that was
felt in every nerve. On the floor. close
to my foot, was a hand, and the hand
was black!
Then for certainty knew that ]
was in the deadliest peril; that I was
alone and unarmed at the mercy Of
the malignant wretch who had fol-
lowed me from the far East with the
fixed determination OF securing the
diamond. I felt that he was trying 10
slip a cord about my feet and SO rem
der me more helpless. 1t was q
hideous dream, grim nightmare from
which each moment I expected to
awake. But I seemed doomed. No
chance of escape was possible. Death
stared me in the face. Still, whatever
my failings may be, am no cowar
therefore I resolved that if die I .musH
I would die game.
I gathered all my strength together
and, with sudden movement, caught
that dusky hand and dragged the In
dian from hiS hiding-place. My at
tack was SO unexpected that he had
not time to get at the revolver, which
he had evidently thrust into his breas st
while he was busy with the cord. ]
saw my advantage in this, and clu3g
to his right hand with despeg tie
energy. But the brute was on DE
like panther. he was o big. powe r.
full man, with far more physical
strength than I possessed, and fro 20
the first I saw that my case was hope
less; nevertheless, the struggle was,
fierce one.
In reality. I suppose, it lasted but
few seconds, yet I had time to a$k
myself, more than once, what the eh ID
would be, little imagining the strange