Middletown transcript., 1900-10-27

hind his paper, suddenly began to
wipe his hps with his handkerchief,
and then rose as If to get something
off the rack. With one bound he was
on Burnside and he had pinned him in
| the corner with his knee.
"Quick, get his wrists!" he said.
jumped over and laid hold of Burn
sides hands, just as he was struggling
to reach his pocket. Then saw that
his face was covered with the detec-
tive's handkerchief. from which came
a strong, sickly odor. He struggled
frightfully for a moment or two and
then seemed to collapse.
"It's all right now," said the detec-
tive, "but he very nearly had me
plugged. Faugh! Open the windows,
quick, or we'll be succumbing to the
chloroform ourselves"
I lowered the windows, and none too
soon, for alreaoy the drug was begin
ming to make my head swim. The de-
tective, meanwhile, was securing
Burnside's hands and feet with a
couple of stout rug straps.
That's all right" he said, when he
had finished. "You nabbed his hand
just at the right moment. I'll men-
tion your name in the proper quarter
If you'll give it to me, and who knows
but you might come in for recogni-
tion from his lordship!"
1 gave him my name, but on condi-
Iak rrr1r,1d hn T1R1h1tshnd In
the papers.
"I'n see to that" he said; "and now
help me to lift our worthy friend un-
der the seat"
We lifted Burnside with some diff
ficulty and rolled him under the over
hanging cushions. placing his head
against the detectives black bag.
'Good!" said my alert companion;
"but his arms show a trifie, 80 I'll
place the footwarmers in front. There
you arel Half dozen people might
look into the carriage and never
dream he was there"
when he comes to, though, he'll
commence to shout"
"I'll gag him just before we reach
Crewe He'll be all right, never fear"
Now that the crisis had passed be-
gan to grow cheerfully interested in
the affair, and looked forward with
eagerness to the second act in the little
drama which was being played before
my eyes.
Sure enough, when the train slowed
up at Crewe, there was a tall, heavily
bearded man standing on the pla torn |
inspecting the numbers on the car
riages.
That's the feaowl" said my friend. |
"You wait here while I get the guard
to put reserved label on this COM
partment. We don't want the beggar |
in here If we can help it."
He got out and closed the door, leav-
inb me alone with the thief, who had |
been duly gagged, and was now breath
ing heavily, with every sign of return
ing consciousness. felt somewhat un-
comiorta BILE, l must confess, when the |
bearded man passed the carriage and /
glanced in; and, fearing he might re-
turn and subject the carriage to
closer inspection, rearranged the
foot-warmers and transferred my bag
to the other side, so that the view un-
der the seat was completely blocked.
Presently a porter came and labeled
the compartment reserved" and, feel
ing easier in my mind. / jumped out,
closed the door, and stood by it until
my friend returned.
Everything right?" said he. "Good!
I've wired further instructions to Liv-
erpool. I'll relieve you now if you
want drink"
1 rushed off for some coffee, for was
feeling cold. But no sooner had put
the cup to my lips than the beM rang,
and had to swallow the stuff at one
gulp, hal-scaldfng my mouth, and
then make bolt for my carriage.
was only Just in time, for the train had
begun to move. The guard held open
he door and banged it to after me;
and then, to my horror, instead of my
friend whom l expected to find wait
ng for me, there was the blackboard
ed man in the far corner Of the car
rage, covering me with a revolver!
''The games up, my FRIEND" he said.
I was too astonished to reply, and
sank down helplessly on the cushions,
forgetting my bAstered mouth in sud-
len terror, for knew was complete
y at the ruffian's mercy.