Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-07-19

HI HIS KnapSacK a pOSSlDle uelu-lnhL- shaPs baton, saw no reason why should not enter the lists.
 CHAPTER V.
 sQUIRM UNDER THE COLD KISS THAT
 A REVOLVER'S UGLY LIPS PRESS TO
 MY FOREHEAD.
 Tn the pocket of the coat which had belonged to the newly-elected Coun- lcillor Number Seven I found paper which contained instructions regard ing the next meeting of the Syndicate of Scoundrels. Here is copy of the document in question:
 Hast day of month. Midnight. Gipsy wagon drawn up on waste space near first fnger-post on high-road to Southend after leaving Leigh. Knock at door, and in reply to question Who's there?' state your number. Make yourself acquainted with local ity beforehand, that you need not have to ask directions. Leave Fenchurch street by ten o'clock p. m. train and alight at Leigh. Obey instructions inn plicitly, especially about leaving Lon don by ten o'clock from Fenchurch. and destroy this when read with out fail"
 These were my sailing orders and plain and straightforward enough they seemed. wondered at first why the very train by which I was to journey down was expressly stipulated, but a moments consideration showed me that some such arrangement was very necessary. Otherwise 1t was possible hat fha yhr1n I,f fyhF oIo to travel by one and the same train. in which case the ticket inspectors could hardly fail to notice that seven men all exactly alike had passed the barrier.
 It was not probable that Councillor Number One would overlook the com plications that might arise from the fact of even two members of the coun- cil choosing the same train, and, as afterwards learned, he had taken every precaution to prevent any such dilem- ma Councillor Number Two had re- ceived instructions to stay at Leigh, whither he was to journey by the Lon don, Tilbury & Southend railway on the evening before the meeting. Coun- cillor Number Three was also to start the evening before the meeting, but was to put up at Southend, whither he travelled by the Great Eastern rail- f way Councillor Number. Four was to go to Southend by steamer on the morning of the council meeting. Coun- cillor Number Five was also to start on the morning of the meeting, but was to use the Great Eastern line. Councillor Number Six was to wait un- til the afternoon and was to travel l via Tilbury; and Councillor Number Seven Represented by myself) was to l Fenchurch street
 These instructions rigidly obeyed, and on the last day of the month I was ! at Fenchurch Street station in time to catch the train in question, and was so fortunate as to secure compart- ment to myself
 I fully realized the risk was run ming in thus electing to personate the dead man at the meeting of the Council 1 of Seven, and had not come unarmed. had put my unloaded revolver in one 1 pocket and some cartridges in another, and did not intend to set foot inside the gipsy wagon, where the council was to meet, until I had made sure 1 that the weapon was charged in every l chamber. When we were approaching Leigh it would be quite soon enough. decided, to slip in the cartridges, and in the meantime I would do my best to shorten the long journey by means of nap.
 Like friend of mine, who complains that no sooner has he put his head upon the pillow than some one knocks l at the door and says it is time to get up, can go to sleep at moments no- tice; so lay down at full lenghth upon 1 one side of the carriage, and, putting my head upon the arm-rest at the end, was soon fast asleep, and, fear, snoring.
 I remember my awakening distinct 1 ly. Whether I had been disturbed by sound or a movement cannot say, but suddenly the stilled waters of my slumbers became troubled. It was as l if, from a mirror reflecting a calm stretch of sky, satyr face had leered. l stirred uneasily, and lay for some moments half asleep and half awake, but conscious of impending disaster; and when at last I opened my eyes, it was to find mans face pressed close to mine. He was bending over me as 1 lay, and his eyes, as met them. seemed to fasten on mine and to hold I me as hawks talons hold the scream ing sparrow out of which he means to tear the life. So spellbound and fas- cinated was I by the intentness of the mans gaze that I was at first hardly conscious of the fact that he was press ing revolver barrel to my forehead.
 Put up your hands" he said, imper- atively. and the ring of command in his voice recalled to my mind the scene in the yachts cabin when the candidate for the seventh place on the council had been bidden to stand forward But had not heard my companion's voice I should have known him--if only l by his eyes--for Councillor Number