Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-24

Number Seven has played us false or
possession of this"
AS he spoke he bent forward slight
ly to assure himself that the document
was not forgery, and thus gave me
what | knew was my only chance. His
fine words about wishing to spare my
life | took no account of, knowing
very well that had he not wished to
discover who | was and how | came
by the knowledge | possessed. he
would have shot me at sight. If by
promising me my life he could induce
me to tell him whether what | knew
was known to others, he would then
be aware with whom he had to deal;
but if he were in too great a haste
to make what he called dead meat
of me, he would have no other oppor-
tunity of obtaining the information he
desired.
But that he would spare me one
minute longer than suited his pury. .ose
| did not FOR a moment suppose, and
| had all along decided that | must
wait for my opportunity, and when it
came take it. That opportunity had,
| felt, now come, so when he bent
forward to look more closely at the
document, | let go of the thing and
struck with all my strength at the
hand that held the revolver hoping to
dash the weapon aside. Had things
been as he thought they We're, that
moment would have been my last, for
hn ha1 M 1n,1,f Oh,
onslaught and had made of his arm
very bar of iron, so that my blow
scarce budged the revolver an inch.
At the same moment he pulled the
trigger, and, knowing what was COM
ing, | shut my eyes and waited to
feel my life rush out of the hole made
by the bullet.
But, to his and my astonishment,
the revolver gave tongue to no more
deadly sound than a click, and, look
ing down, saw, to my amaZement and
joy, that it was my own unloaded re-
volver he was holding.
l had, no doubt, surprised him by
awakening while he was bending over
me, and, catching sight of my revolver
III my pocket, aud having no weapon
of his own, he tad in all probability
snatched at it, and had presented it
at my forehead, with what result the
reader knows.
Again he pulled the trigger, and yet
again. Each time the weapon derded
him with a harmless click, as if it
We're, so to speak, putting it's tongue
in it's cheek.
With an oath he flung it from him,
and at that moment the engine of the
train whistled for the stoppage at
Benf1eet.
THAT settles the matter" said Num-
ber One, standing up to stretch him
self and then sliding his hands into
bis trouser pockets negligently. I'm
beaten, and I'm ready to take my de-
feat like n gentleman and surrender
quietly. Do you intend to hand me
over to the authorities here or at
Southend?"
Il didn't say | was going to hand
you over to Sthe authorities" | an
swered; I'm not detective. But the
authorities at this hole of a place and
at this time of the night consist in all
vi a DOy WIZ ldhtS lllt
tickets. | don't think We'll trouble
him.
GAS you like" he said, indifferently,
sitting down with outstretched legs
and looking at his boots critically.
"As you like. my friend It's all the
same to me-"
| made no answer, but when the train
was moving again after leaving Ben
fleet station he walked to the window
near which l was sitting and leant
out, as he said, to get breath of air.
AS he leant, resting on his arms, he
kept up constant chatter of conversa-
ton, turning his head every now and
then to look at me.
pretended to be Indifferent to what
ne was saying and to his movements,
but l promise you that l kept a keen
eye upon him all the same. And as
the event proved, | had reason to sus-
pect him, for when he turned round to
look back at me with some banter by
which he hoped to distract my atten-
ton, he slyly slipped out fist and
turned the door-handle. This done he
withdrew his head ard walked to the
other end of the carriage.
"Pll wish you goodnight, my friend"
he said. Pm going to open this door
and hang on to the footboard till the
train is slowing off outside Leigh, and
then | shall drop off and slip away"
| very naturally sprang to my feet
to prevent him, when having got me,
as had, no doubt, been his plan, be-
tween himself and the unfastened door,
he suddenly leapt upon me, to push me
against it, and SO out upon the line.
But / was not the fool for which he
took me, for, diyining his purpose, l
dropped suddenly down, so that miss
ing me he fell heavily against the
door, and the handle being turned,
pitched out head foremost upon the
line.
Very quickly I shut the door again,
and when we got to Leigh | took his
bag from the rack and giving up my
ticket passed out The village was now
almost in darkness, so, turning in the
directipn whpnca wa had como 7 clyirt