The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-05-29
A TRAVELLING COMPANION.
BY TERESA ". BROWN.
"a first to Kings Cross"

YORK SUaUlOQ, dWdlllIS Tic uSpetd oo1 {
Iof the night mail for London, when the
above words caused me to turn round
with a start. There was something
weird and uncanny in the tone OF the
voice which impressed me with an in
defnable feeling of apprehension l
could not account for. Turning round,
I found myself face to face with the
speaker.
He was a remarkably tall and mas
sively built man, possessing every IN
dication of great personal strength.
He was enveloped from head to foot IN
a long black cloak, buttoned closely
under his chin and reaching almost
down to the ground, which concealed
the whole of his person with the eX-
ception of a large, bony hand OF a
strange, unnatural, almost cleaning,
Wilderness The face also riveted my
attention; a broad, massive forehead,
firmly set jaw, high cheek-bones,
deep, sallow complexion, and pair OF
coal black eyes which seemed to glow
with unnatural brilliancy-these were
the most striking features of the
strange individual who staod before
me.
AS l confronted him, his eye rested
upon me for a moment with a dark,
malevolent expression, but it was in
stantly averted; whether it was fancy
or not l cannot explain, but | felt as
though under the influence of some
mysterious power of fascination, which
required the exercise of all the self
control l possessed to overcome. The
sound of the bell announcing the de-
parture of my train had the effect OF re-
calling me to my senses, and fastened
away, not little relieved to see my
strange fellow-traveler, instead of fol-
lowing me, move toward the ether end
of the train.
After 1un of some three hours the
train drew up at Peterborough. Here
my companion and l alighted and at
tempted to swallow a cup of boiling
coffee in the five minutes allowed
Scracely had we taken our places again
when, CHANGING to look out of the car
rage window, l beheld the Identical
figure in the black cloak Again the
old feeling came over me, for although
he averted his eyes the moment they
met mine, and moved away, felt con.
WINGED he was watching me. My
startled look must have been noticed by
my fellow traveller, for he Immediately
asked
"Are you acquainted with the gentle
man on the PLATFORM"
1t was only by great effort that L
I ~, no Two a66
with assumed unconcern:
"What led you to think sop
Because" returned my friend, II
have observed at every station where
we have stopped during our journey,
he has walked past our window and
looked in at you as if expecting you to
recogI ize him. His appearance Is so
remarkable that l do not think could
possibly have been mistaken
A cold shudder ran through my
limbs, and, as ] wiped the thick, clam
my perspiration from my forehead, l
could not help recalling all the wild
stories l had heard or read respecting
the power of the evil eye, and the mys
terious influence of mind upon mind.
What was the meaning of the subtle
fascination which that dark stranger
seemed to exercise over me that night?
Was it only the effect of an excited
imagination? 1 tried to persuade my
self that it was delusion-a nightmare
Ia horrid dream, but it was of no avail.
/ was wide-awake; there was my
companion opposite me. evidently dis
turbed by my strange demeanor. My
brain was in a whirl; felt sick and
giddy, and remained entranced in Il
kind of morbid stupor out of which
/ was only awakened by the stopping
of the train at Hitchin.
"Well, good-by," said my fellow
traveller; there's the end of my jour
ney," adding. hastily: 'FBy Jove! here
he is
| have a dim recollection of his leav-
ing the carriage and some one else en-
tering. Who it was l knew we'll, al
though some time elapsed before I
could muster sufficient courage to raise
my eyes. At last looked ur. 1t was
as / had foreboded. There, opposite to
me, in the far corner of the carriage.
sat the tail figure in the black cloak,
the same wild look in his restless eye,
the same evil expression in his forbid
ding face.
Directly our eyes met, he leaped from
his seat with the yell of a wild beast.
Something bright flashed in the dim
lamp-light, and as he paused for an
instant as if preparatory to spring,
I saw that his hand grasped clasp
knife, whose long, glittering blade was
stretched towards me. In a moment
the terrible truth burst upon mel
was alone with raving maniac, the
train going at express speed, and no
stoppage nearer than London. Escape
was next to impossible. l saw at a
glance that in a struggle for life and
death 1 should not stand the slightest
chance against my gigantic adversary
Under the impulse of the moment
I stretched out my hand to seize the
handle of the door, determined to risk
a desperate leap rather than await GER
tain death by remaining where 1 was.
a burst of fiendish laughter greeted
the futile attempt.
"Locl1ed!" he Yelled. Then modulat-
ing his voice ny strong effort. he con-
tinued: "Now entreat you to be rea-
sonable, my friend. Let me explain.
Of course, you must see that you have