Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-01-10

doubt, complete success.
The day went on--an uneventful and
hungry day, for thought it due to my
assumed character to buy no refresh
ments but doughnuts and sausages, two
things cannot cat. Toward night I
changed to branch road. There we're
few passengers, but among them des-
cried for the first time an object of sus-
picion--a young man whom | had no.
ticed covertly cycling me at the junction,
and who now sat across the aisle
He was very well dressed, had the un-
mistakable bearing of the city. and would
have been the last person in the world to
cause any anxiety but for his Watching
me whenever wasn't looking, and his
pretending to read q small-type newspa-
per in light too din for the correct de-
cipheriug of circus poster whenever
he caught my eye.
seemed, should have feared nothing
worse than his scraping an acquaintance
with view to our future cooperation in
petty larcenies but for man like him
to take an interest in such a seedy figure
of insolvency as presented was most
suspicious. suddenly recollected the
money coming from Boston, and then.
with flash of insight, I understood the
stranger.
He was plainly one of those thieves
who, always spying about, collect sur
prising fund of information relating to
bank affairs. The First Nationals parti-
cipation in the Shovel Brothers pay
ment was of course we'll known to its
Boston correspondent, and might easily
have leaked out when Reichsmarks,
Guiders & Co. dispatched their we'll
guarded messenger. Powerless against
him, the rascal had turned his attention
to me
just then we reached the terminus
where must spend the night before
starting on forty mile drive to the con-
struction camp AS left the car, the
young man fingered in his seat, feigning
to be occupied with a shawl-strap he
carried, so that might go first Look
ing back, | saw him spring quickly up
to follow
During the dark walk to the hotel he
kept close behind me, until began to
grow uneasy. | gripped the precious
valise with one hand and kept the other
ready for action in case an attempt was
made to snatch away my burden. But
other passengers were before and behind,
and the chance seemed too desperate for
him He finally passed me and went on
| found tho little hotel. which would
have been the worst in the place had it
not been the only one, enjoying an I'M
wonted run Of business caused by some
kind of gathering then in session, My
company did not appear ardently desired,
and advance payment alone secured a
shelter Even then was told | must
be "doubled up" with another guest.
This sleeping in the Same bed with a
total stranger by no means suited me,
but il could not be helped After supper
was shown to "36," or rather directed
there by boy who saw 10 mo no little
prospect of fec that he neither took
the Journey nor apologized for ordering
me, $50 up two flights and turn to tho
left"
entered the room, Before the bureau,
half-undresscd, stood my late fellow
traveller gave an involuntary start.
"Hello, you fellow" exclaimed he.
"Wbat do you want in this room p
"It's 80, isn't it p added |, bound to
stand my ground. "Well, I'm going to
sleep here Didn't they say you'd be
doubled up?
Eyes" he rejoined, angrily, "but |
didn't know =" He stopped abruptly
and turned his back.
Didn't know it would be with you,
he meant TO say, thought; when it
was precisely what he did know and
wanted !"
rapidly reviewed the situati on. II
| refused to stay he would at once be
convinced Of my IDENTIFY point on
which, had inferred from his constant
staring. he was not yet perfectly sure.
Besides, should | abandon the sole OBJ
tainable bed should have to spend tho
night on the veranda or in the haymow
"a much more dangerous arrangement
than to remain where I could keep an
eye on him.
Nevertheless, two things was firm
upon-I would not go to bed before be
did, and would not go to sleep at all.
| sat down 10 one Of the two chairs
near the bed with the valise on my
knees. My robber, as | called him.
after fidgeting around the room for few
minutes, sat down in the second chair
on tho other side of the bed.
Having noticed that he had no visible
baggage except the shawl-strap, fan
cied might deceive his expectations by
treating my valise as an ordinary one
Opening it carelessly took out what
ever happened to come to hand, whist
ling unconcernedly the while Bot the
scheme had exactly the contrary effect
to what intended The young man
observed my every motion-his whole
body stiffened with strained attention.
Then saw what silly blunder | was
making.
The idea of valise like that contain
ing a neat-hair-brush, toothbrush and
manicure set The toothbrush in itself
was enough to betray me, but the man
icure set was utter condemnation. |
crowded the things back into the val Use
and set it down again.
My roommate had not lost any move
ment of mine-G could see that in his
eyes-and those eyes followed the valise
to the floor, and its key to my pocket. |
now looked over and found him peril
ously muscular 81 wish had re-
volver," | fretted, mo, | don't-he
might take it away from me and shoot
me with it -
"Come," said the robber, aaron yol
going to bed p