Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-05-13

previously smooth and unpuokere(
brows gathered themselves together init
two diagonal wrinkles that met abov'
the nose, which bad in the meantime
become beaklike, and the effect recalled
in some curious way bird of prey. III
was soon all smiles again, but once on
twice throughout the journey, when hil
thoughts were presumably unpleasant,
caught the same expression, and it wal
the fact Of my seeing in the photograph
this same unmistakable expression on
the face of a man who was apparently
different person which had set me
fumbliDg with such uncertain hand
among the dog cared pages Of the past.
The eyes, the hawklike wrinkling Of
the brows and tho nose and nostrils
were Of course the same, but the addi.
tion of the beard, the evident swarthi.
ness Of the skin, and the darkening OF
the hair led to my failing at first to
connect the portrait with my fellow
passenger to Southend. But the missing
link was no sooner found and the con-
nectiot established than l felt that the
identity of Mullen with the man 1 had
seen in the train admitted of no uncer-
tainty, especially as, after examining
under powerful lens the photograph
which the informer had given to the
police, | satisfied myself that the beard
was false.
Ny next step was to set on foot an
inquiry into Mullen's family history
and antecedents. hoped, and, in fact,
believed, that tho clew which l held to
his identity would in itself enable me
to trace him, but at tho same time /
fully recognized that circumstances
might arise which would render that
clew useless and throw me back upon
such information as could be ascertained
apart from it. That l should not be un-
prepared for such a contingency was
very necessary, and therefore commits
stoned private detective named Green,
whom l knew to be able and trust
worthy, to ferret out for me all that
could be discovered of Mullen's past.
Having wished him goodby and good
luck, l started for Southend, whittier
intended journeying in the COM
pany Of the little talkative man with
whom Mullen had had the brush about
the fusees. l thought it more than likely
that he was commercial traveller, part
ly because Of the deferential stress and
frequency with which he interpolated
the word ''sir" into any remarks he
CHANGED to make, and partly because Of
the insinuating politeness with which
he addressed Mullen and myself-po-
liteness which seemed to suggest that
he had accustomed himself to look upon
every one with whom he came into con-
tact as possible customer, under whose
notice he would one day have occasion
to bring the excellence of his wares,
and with whom, therefore, he was anx-
ious to be on good terms.
That he lived at Southend I knew
from an observation he had let fall,
and after watching the barrier at Fen
church street station for couple of
hours saw him enter an empty third
class smoking compartment five min
utes before the departure of an evening
train. Half crown slipped into the
guards hand, with request that he
would put me into the same carriage
and reserve it, effected the desired re-
suit, and when the train moved out of
the station the little man and myself
had the compartment to ourselves.
knew from what had heard of my
companion's remarks on the occasion
when l had journeyed to Southend with
him that, though talkative and inquisi-
tive, he was also shrewd and observant,
as men of his occupation generally are;
and as it would he necessary to ask him
two or three pertinent questions I
thought it advisable to let the first ad-
vance come from him. That he was al
ready eying me in order to ascertain
whether an overture toward sociability
was likely to meet with welcome I
could see. The result was apparently
satisfactory, for after an Introductory
cough he inquired whether would like
the window up or down.
Always beware on railway journey,
when you wish to be left to the COM
pany of your newspaper, of the man who
is unduly anxious for your comfort.
'Twere wise to roar him at once into ST.
lence, for your gentle answer instead of
turning away wrath is often too apt to
beget it. Speak him oivilly, and you de-
liver yourself bound into his hands, for
you have scarce made your bow of ac-
acknowledgement, sunk back into your
place and taken up your paper again, be-
fore his tongue is hammering banalities
about the weather at the thick end of
the wedge he has inserted.
In the present instance, as the little
man sat facing the engine and with the
wind blowing directly in his face.
whereas was on the opposite and shell
tered side, the window rights were, ac-
cording to the unwritten laws of the
road, entirely at his disposal. But as it
suited my purpose to show q friendly
front to his advances / protested with
many thanks that l had no choice in the
matter and awaited with composure the
inevitable observation about the proba-
bility Of rain before morning. From the
weather and the crops we got to the re-
suits of wet summer to seaside places
generally and thence to Southend. re-
marked that | thought of taking house
there and asked him about the residents.
"Oh, Southend is very much like 9TH
er places of the sort" he answered.
"It's got great many pleasant and
few Objectionable folks. There are the
local celebrities (eminent nobodies, I
call them), who, it is true, are very i'm
portant personages indeed, their impor
tance in Southend being only equaled
by their utter insignifcance and total
extinction outside that locality. And
there's good sprinkling Of gentlemen
with sporting tendencies. I must tell
Al. II. l.. L.. Il.