The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-05-04

Vile efour-or-fve hours ybemore!'
The heads of the scattered passen
gers bobbed up as though jerked by
one string, and buzz arose. One
well-dressed, prosperous dignitary IN a
forward seat, frowned in quick irrita
tion, but caught the eye of young
fellow across the aisle, who was grin
ming ruefully, and laughed instead.
"Bcastly nuisance, isn't it?' asked
the young man, with inviting friendli
, ness. 1T beats everything how acci
dents can happen on these one-horse
branch roads. Well miss all the con.
nections on the schedule, and l wanted
to get to Lincoln tonight. Hey
brakeman! Is there anything at Gibbs.
ville?"
"Station, store'n hotel, courthouse n
county JAIL ratified the brakeman
glibly, withdrawing his head and
SidtfliulIlS Guc uOOl.
How excting!" murmured the
Young man, with distasteful glance
but his ncighbor was looking intently
at nothing, ard did not answer. He
was so solid and comfortable looking
that the young man fancied he must
be a broker or some other financial
weight, but the crease that had come
between his eyes replaced the mercan-
tile look by one astute and ponderously
judicial. He looked up presently and
the crease smoothed out as he smiled.
"Will you share my seat?' he asked
pleasantly. II suppose your home is
in Lincoln, as you are so anxious to
get there?'
The young man accepted with alac-
rity, tired of his own society.
"Oh, no, I've never been there be-
fore. My home is in the east, and I'm
out here on business. My names
Gray"
"Ah, yes?" Nothing icould have
been more gravely polite, but there
was return of the vertical crease, and
Gray saw that he was looking into the
mirror in front of them. Then by a
quick motion of the hand. the older
man drew Gray's attention.
IL want you, without seeming to do
so, to look into the mirror at man
about six seats back. He came into
the car few moments ago and looks
at us frequently. Tell me if you
haven't seen somebody like him before. y
The surprised young man did as he
was told and saw gray-haired man,
with reddish face, who was watching
them curiously. Gray shook his head.
81 never saw him in my life" he said,
wonderingly.
"Well, | was hardly sure OF him my
self, since he is so we'll disguised, but l
would take the risk. His picture has
been all over the country at various
times. That man is James Mcdonnell,
one Of the most dangerous criminals at
large"
"You don't say!'
Gray's eyes widened in1uisitively as
he took another cautious peep at the
mirror. How did you recognize him!
| should never imagine him criminal.
He looks quite the gentleman, don't
you think?'
"He is equal to look anything" re-
spondcd the other dryly, "and he is a
good fifteen years younger than he
looks in that rig. | have reason to
know him. My name is Henderson,,
and | am the Judge who sentenced him
in Lincoln year or more ago. He
escaped on the way to prison and has
been keeping us busy ever since"
Gray seized on this revelation with all
the avidi,y of man who has been do
ing nothing for four consecutive hours
and is tired Of it. He looked at His
Honor with growing interest.
by Jove, isn't 1t situation! Are
you going to land hlm?"
81 shall do my best," replied Judge
Hendershot, grmly. He has given
me more trouble than my Christian
charity can stand. have told you
because | may need your assistance,
but beyond us We had better keep it
quiet. There is co,.nty Jail at Gibbs
vile, and he can be kept there until he
can be sent for from Lincoln. Now he
is in corner. He can't 60 on if the
train doesn't; the country is dlscour-
agingly open for break to cover, and
| think he is sufficiently concerned not
to let me out of his sight until he
knows what | am going to do. Doyou
think you could fly up to the court
house and bring down the sheriff or
any official you can get on lightning
,, notice while | entertain him at the
station?'
Gray nodded.
"How about your warrantl We're
over the line, aren't WEI"
"There are warrants out for him in
halt the States in the Union, not to
mention rewards"
The train was slowing down at
Gibbsville, and they conld see the
square plainness of the succeed court
house and county Jail at no great dis
tance. Gray slipped out and was off
before the brakeman could check his