The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-10-20


compartment" said l.
Exactly. It's sure to be n message
telling someone to meet him, and, il
so, the pair of them may give me
trouble al. Liverpool"
"What do you mean to do then?"
"Collar him as soon as we start
from here. strap him up, shove him
under the seat, and when his precious
accomplice arrives at Crewe I'll pitch
yarn to him about his friend being
in another part of the train. Then
he'll board the train, and at Liverpool
the police can formally arrest my
prisoner, while / follow the other
chap to see what the game is. You
see, don't know which of them has
the booty, and that's the main thing
we're after"
"But supposng some other passen-
gers have already entered our COM
partment?
"They can't. I've made it all right
with the guard. Times nearly up.
Better get back; must buy couple
of straps. You'll help, il necessary"
"Of course" said 1, for the affair
was greatly to my liking.
We were just about to start when
Burnside, who had settled down in his
corner, suddenly rose and thrust his
head out of the window beside us.
"Guard!' he shouted. what time
do we reach Crewe?"
"Eight-forty-five, sir!"
"Good!" Burnside took his seat
again, and the detective and 1 ex-
changed glances. My heart began to
beat fast, and braced myself up for
the coming struggle; for Burnside
was powerful-looking man, and the
detective, though wiry and close-knit,
was much slighter in build. We
would evidently have a tough job OF
it / thought.
just as the train flew through the
third station beyond Stafford the de-
tective, who had been fidgeting be-
hind his paper, suddenly began to
wipe his lips with his handkerchief,
and then rose as il 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.
Its all right now" said the detec-
tive, but he very nearly had me
plugged. Faugh! Open the windows,
quick, or well be succumbing to the
chloroform ourselves"
lowered the windows, and none too
soon, for ALREADY 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
ton your name in the proper quarter
If you'll give it to me, and who knows
but you might come in for recogni-
ton from his lordship!'
| / gave him my name, but on condi-
ton that it would not be published in
the papers.
"I'll see to that" he said; land now
help me to lift our worthy friend I'M
der the seat
We lifted Burnside with some diff
fculty 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 trife, so I'll
place the footwarmers in front. There
you are! 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 tall, heavily
bearded man standing on the platform
inspecting the numbers on the car
riages.
sThat's the fellow!" said my friend
"You wait here while l 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.
comfortable, / must confess, when the
bearded man passed the carriage and
glanced in; and, fearing he might re-
turn and subject the carriage to a
closer inspection, l rearnanged the
foot-warmers and transferred my bag
to the other side, so that the view un
der the seat was completely blocked.
Presently porter came and labeled
the compartment reserved" and, feel
ing easier in my mind, jumped out
closed the door, and stood by it unit
nv friend returned.
Everything right?" said he. Good!