Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-01-06

station, saw the inspector--a grim,
bearded Scotchman-and demanded
from him police protection.
Protection! What's your danser?"
asked the man. politely.
Il am in danger of my life!" said
Caussidierc.
He was very excited and very nerv-
Gus. and the peculiarity OF his manner
struck the man at once.
Who's threatening ye?" he asked.
quietly.
The reposc OF the stranger irritated
Caussidierc, who trembled more and
more.
Il tell you | am In mortal peri.
am pursued. | shall be killed II | do
not have protection. therefore I de-
mand assistance. do you hear?"
Yes. the man heard. but apparently
did not heed. He already half suspect
ed that the foreigner before him was
mailman. and upon questioning Caussi-
diere little more he became convinced
of 1t.
After short but stormy scene with
the inspector he walked away. revolv-
Ing In his mind what he must dc to
make himself secure.
or one thing he was certain; he must
leave Dumfries. and resign all hopes OF
obtaining further assistance from Mar
Jorie or her friends. He must remain
In hiding until political events veered
round again and he could rctura to
France.
He hurried back to his hotel and
locked himself again In his room. He
drew down the blinds and lit the gas;
then he turned out all the money he
was possessed OF. counted 1t carefully
over. and disposed 1t about his per-
son.
His next care was to dispose about
his person any little articles which his
portmanteau contained: then he drew
from his pocket small box, fixed on
the false beard and mustache which 1t
contained, and, having otherwise dis
guised himself. stood before the mir
ror SO transfgured that he believed
even his dearest friend would not have
known him. .....
By the time all this was done It was
getting pretty late in the day and close
on the departure of the train he had
decided to take.
He listened: he could hear nothing.
He walked boldly out OF the room.
and having quietly locked the door and
put the key in his pocket. strolled leis-
urely out Of the inn and down the
street unrecognized by soul. He
went straight down to the railway sta
tion, took ticket for the north and
entered the train, which was about to
start.
He had a carriage to himself; the
first thing he did, therefore. was to
throw the key which he had taken
from the room door out of the win
dow; then he Travelled on in compare
tive peace.
1t was somewhat late in the evening
and quite dark when he reached his
destination-a lonely village. not far
from Edinburgh. He walked to the
nearest and quietest inn. and took a
bedroom on the third floor.
That night he slept in peace. He re-
mained in the village for several days,
and during that time he kept mostly to
his room.
On the night of the fourth day, how
ever. he rang for the maid. who, on
answering the bell. found him in a
state Of intense excitement.
Bring me timetable" he said, cor
tell me when there is train from this
place"
There is none tonight, sir
None. tonight"
mo, sir; the last train is gone; but
the morn's morn"
"Well?"
There is one at seven o'clock TO
Edinburgh"
Then l will go by lido you hear?
At six you will call me. and leave at
seven!"
>. The girl nodded and retired fully un-
der the impression, as the inspector
of police had been. that the man was
mad.
At six o'clock in the morning the
maid. with jug of hot water in her
hand, tripped up the stairs and knocked
gently ut SauSSiulefe > DeuEOom uOOT.
There was no reply.
She knocked louder and louder, but
could elicit no sound. and the door was
locked Leaving the jug OF water on
the mat, she retired. In half an hour
she returned again. The water was
cold. She knocked louder and louder
with no result. Thinking now that
something might be wrong. she called
up her master. After some consulta-
tion the door was forced.
All recoiled in horror. There lay
Caussidiere dead in bed, with his false
beard beside him. and his eyes staring
vacantly at the ceiling.
As there were no marks of violence
upon him. it was generally believed by
those who stood looking upon him that
his death had been n natural one. How
he met his death was never known. 1t
was discovered long after, however,
that he was member of many secret
societies. that he had betrayed in al
most every case the trust reposed in
him, and was marked in their black
list as a "traitor'-doomed to die.