Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-04-24

escaped. With deep pity for her l
was obliged to tell her what had hap.
pened. 1t was the last stroke of grief
for her, aud 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 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."
"Oh. | will. lam content to wait
il it comes to the worst"
left her promising to see her again
in Il few days. As I went home l
bought an evening paper, and the first
thing on which my eye lighted was
the following:
THE MARswoRTH FRAUDS.
Strange Disappearance of the Man Ru1gc.
Last evening just as the $50 train from
Liverpool treet to Harwich was moving out
of tho station. Detective Inspector Brett
suddenly recognized Rudge, one OF the men
who is "wanted' in connection with the
-
class compar rtment. The inspector was too late
| to enter the train, but Mt once wired to Har-
| wich, and on the train arriving there force
of police in plain clothes were ready waiting
| to arrest the 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 Hnrwich it 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 Rudge!" I sighed, as it
dawned upon me that perhaps he was
lying crushed and mangled somewhere
along the limo. I was terribly upset
and only hoped that Miss Saunders
would not get hold of the paper.
The next evening the postman
brought me letter with French
stamp and Paris postmark, and the
direction written in the sprawling fist
of Rudge! hastily tore it open, and
read as follows:
Dear Old Chap: Just Il 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 Il fool was TO move-and
wondered how on earth should escape,
for guessed they would be waiting for mo
at Harwich. At first thought Of risking 1t
and jumping, but suddenly a bright idea
struck me. [ knew that, although the car
riagc was in did not stop before We reached
Hurwich, that l had once Travelled by this
very train TO Ipswich, and on puazling it ont
| | remembered that there was u "clip coach"
in tho rear which is "slipped" at Colchester,
and afterward runs on to Ipswich. II could
get on board that coach l should bc safe,
and made up my mind to try 1t. l opened
| the door and got out on the footboard and
started on my journey to the rear OF the
! train. Aud 1t was Il journey! had to crcs p
along three carriages. and we wcre going at
II good speed; then had to duck my hea
| as passed the windows, lest people should
SEQ me, aud was particularly careful at the
guards van. At last found myself on the
| footboard Of the last coach, and, to my JOY,
| discovered an ,mply compartment. we were
slipped ut Colchester, ana | managed to
cvade the ticket collector, got Il bed for the
night ran up to town the next morning
risking discovery, caught the II Il. IN. boat
| train from Charing Cross, and here am
am off to Hamburg tomorrow, and shall
take passage from there to America. have
written to tell Miss Saunders am safe, and
| you shalt both hear from me again rs soon
as I reach America. With everlasting thanks
| yours ever, CHARLES IL. RUpGE.
This is the true history of Ridges
marvellous escape. He reached Amer
lea and gladdened the heart OF his
fiancee by getting an appointment
thereof course, under another name.
Miss Saunders was talking of going
out to him, but have just heard that
Marsworth is taken, and has made Ger.
tain confessions that clear Rudge and
the other man from all share in the
frauds, except that of being Mars
worth's dupes. So am in hopes that
all will be right yet. -PearsoL's Week