The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-05-12

congratulating myself that oil had
gone we'll, when l saw Rudge deliber-
ately change his seat for the one
nearest the platform, exposing his
profile as he did so. At the same in
slant a tall, we'll dressed individual,
who had been lounging about the
platform, made a rush for the car
riage. Rudge, catching sight Of him,
darted back.
''Stand away there" shouted q
porter, catching man by the arm,
just as he was about to board the
train.
"You fool !" cried the man, 'I'm
police officer. / should have nsbbed
him if it hadn't been for you"
Every sorry, sir" said the porter.
'But you can telegraph"
"Thank you for nothing" said the
detective, as be turned and rushed to
the telegraph Office.
"Where will they catch him?"
asked the porter.
cat Harwick, sir. The train doesn't
stop till then"
went to SEQ Miss Saunders next
morning, introducing myself as
Ridges friend, and found her quite
broken-h hearted, and yet just little
bit hopeful at the idea that he had
escaped. With deep pity for her ]
was obliged to tell her what had hap.
pened. 1t was the last stroke of grief
for her, and she burst into tears. In
vain tried to cheer her with the hope
that he might have escaped, after all.
''No, no. I'm sure they've got him,
and he'll go to prison. Oh, you don't
think he is q criminal, do your"
''No, Miss Saunders; he's only very
weak. But he will have to suffer If he
is taken, and you must cheer him by
promising to be faithful to him."
ooh, l will. am content to wait
| if it comes to the worst"
l left her promising to see her again
in few days. AS / went home I
bought an evening paper, and the first
thing on which my eye lighted was
the following:
THE MARswoRTH FRAUDS.
Strange Disappearance Of the Man Rudge.
Last evening just as the $50 train from
| Liverpool street to Harwich was moving out
| OF the station. Detective Inspector Brett
suddenly recognized Rudge, one of the men
who is "wanted" in connection with the
| Marsworth frauds, seated alone in q first
| class compartment The inspector was too late
| to enter the train, but at once wired to Har-
wlch, and on the train arriving there force
| OF police in plain clothes wero ready waiting
to arrest tho criminal. Strange to say, how
ever, although the train was carefully
| searched no trace Of him was discovered. AS
there had been no stop between Liverpool
street and Harwich 1t is supposed that the
unfortunate man must have jumped from his
carriage In desperation. Nothing has since
been heard of him, however, and the affair
remains mystery.
"Poor Rudgel" I sighed, as il
dawned upon me that perhaps he was
lying crushed and mangled somewhere
along the line. was terribly upset
and only hoped that Miss Saunders
would not get hold of the paper.
The next evening the postmau
brought me a letter with a French
stamp and Paris postmark, and the
direction written in the sprawling fist
of Rudge! l hastily tore it open, and
read as follows:
Dear Old Chap: just line to tell you that
I'm neither dead nor In prison. How you
must have been wondering what had become
Of me! saw you noticed the detective had
spotted me- What fool was to move-and
| / wondered how on earth l should escape
for guessed they would be waiting for me
at Harwich. At first thought OF risking II
aud jumping, but suddenly a bright idea
struck me. 1 knew that, although the car.
riage was in did not stop before we reached
Harwich, that had once Travelled by this
very train to Ipswich and on puzzling II out
l remembered that there was "clip coach
In the rear which Is "slipped" at Colchester
and afterw8rd runs on to Ipswich. II could
get on board that coach / should be safe
and made up my mind to try 1t. opened
the door and got out on the footboard and
started on my journey to the rear of the
train. And II was journey! had to creeJ
along three carriages, and we were going al
q good speed; then had to duck my head
as passed the windows, lest people should
see me, and was PARTICULAR careful at the
guards van. At last found myself on the
footboard Of the last coach, and, to my Joy
discovered an empty compartment. We wert
slipped at Colchester, ana l managed e
evade the ticket collector, got bed for the
night, ran up to town the next morning
risking discovery, caught the IL a. m. boa
train from Charing Cross, and here / am
l am of to Hamburg tomorrow, and shal
take passage from there TO America. / have
written to tell Miss Saunders 1 am safe, anC
you shall both hear from me again as sooI
as reach America. With everlasting thanks
yours ever, CHARLES II. RUDGE.
This is the true history of Ridges
marvellous escape. He reached Amer
lea and gladdened the heart of hi
fiancee by getting an appointment
thereof course, under another name
Miss Saunders was talking of going
out to him, but / have just heard tha
Marsworth is taken, and has made Ger
tain confessions that clear Rudge ant
the other man from all share in tn,
frauds, except that of being Mars
worth's dupes. So 1 am IN hopes tina
all will be right yet. -Pearson's Week
ly.
Danger in Postage Stamps.