Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-08-14

8 ill had his arm over the back ol
the seat, and he appeared to be
gazing steadfastly IN my direction.
| noticed he was not in the sane
seat as before. but IN one three el
four nearer my end of the car.
was just wondering how long | had
been asleep and how long he had
been watching me when saw him
stealtbiIy step into the aisle and
sink into the next seat in my dlrec-
ton, his arm over Its back and his
face toward me as betoIe. | was
thoroughly awake aud curious
now, and little uneasy to boot.
He had gotten into the dark shad.
ows of the car, and all l could dis
cern was bis torn and the indlstinct
white disk of his face. Two mln.
utes, and again a cat like move
ment and change of seat. | leaned
back, felgned sleep, and watched
him through partly closed eyelids.
This, however, seemed to reassure
him, for he advanced two seats In
quick succession. / counted the
backs of the seats. He was still
SIX away from me. For a moment
l felt inclined to get up and leave
the car. would not have admitted
that l was afraid, but there was
something decidedly uncanny about
the mysterious approach of the
stranger IN that dsI kened car, and
began TO develop rather healthy
anxiety. Besides, had forgotten
my revolver when leaving home
Had the conductor entered would
haYe been grateful. Still l was
determined to see what the mans
object might be. AS the rays from
the light 10 my end of the Car fell
upon him, was better able to
make bin out. could see he was
a man of about my own age and
physique, with piercing black eyes
in which | thought | could detect
a suspicion that | was not asleep.
As watched him advance, seat
by seat, | wondered if be would at
tack me, and, If so, how 1 should
repel 1t. My nerves are pretty
good, but they we're being sOrely
tried. Strange as it may seem,
even during those critical moments,
while / watched him as slertly as
de did me, the mOnolOnOus rattle
of the train got into my head and
compelled me to keep note of its
regular but unmusical time-b beat:
Clack, clack, clickity- -clack; click,
click, clackltv- -cllck-he was bat
two seats away-clack, clack,
clickity .clack-be was in the seat
Immediately iu front Of me, his face
not three feet from my own-click,
clackity--
could stand 1t no longer; l
opened my eyes and met his gaze.
A long moment and then:
'WellI from me,
you are my brother william
1t was not question bat an
affirmation, solemnly and slowly
made.
You are Mistaken began, In
messnrably relieved, 4
You are my brother William
repeated hercely, 'and l shall
punish you as you punished me-
AT this luncture, without any
accountable reason, he paused, as
If listening inteniy, arose, and
walked swiftly back to his seat at
the extreme end OF the car. There
upon the door opened and the
conductor stood beside him. At
once he gaye him a long and ap-
parently animated recital. Several
times he pointed TO me.
The railway official came down
the aisle, stopped, and looked at
me curiously.
Conductor said |, shat man is
lunatic.'
In few words, l detailed the
actions and the declaration Of my
fellOw.passenger.
The conductors expression of
curiosity changed to one of amase-
ment.
'WhS,' said he, Il have just been
told you did all that yourself. Are
you both lunaticsP
Twas so astounded that I could
think of nothing to say, and sat
there looking at The conductor in
anincOmparably studied way. That
functlonary stupid me obviously
for awhile, glanced back at the
other man, and then, evldenly con
cIuding we were both harmless,
left the car.
The extraordinary passenger
now renamed psssively 10 dis seat,
with his back teward me. In