The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-04-30

THE Man WITH
6be BROWN BEARD
fOCiginaL1

=
At the first station after crossing the
Russian border I man got into the
compartments, took Il seat directly op-
posite me, pulled out i newspaper and
began 10 read. I was reading too.
Presently. probably actuated by
thought transference. proba bly, by CO.
Incidence we raised our eyes TO each
other at the same moment The man
turned quickly and looked out Of the
window. resumed my reading. When
| looked up again his eyes We're fixed
upon me.
/ carefully noted the mans appear
nnce He wore brown beard. while
his hair was black and sprinilled with
gray. He was tall and slender, with
q slight stoop. He looked more re-
spectacle than his clothes, which were
very shabby
That evening while at supper at my
inn l suddenly felt an inclination to
look up. My eyes met those OF the
man with the brown beard. This time
there was slight scowl on his face
but lie lowered his eyes TO his plate
and went on with his supper.
In the morning l proceeded on my
journey, stopping again the next even
ing While sitting in the office Smoh-
ing who should come in but this man.
who l was now fully convinced was
shadowing me. AS he pa ssed me he
started, but whether his surprise was
real or feiSneu l could not make out
He put down his belongings except a
morocco covered box. y servant who
gathered up the traps attempted TO
take the box as we'll. but the man Heiu
on to it nervously.
am something of detective. and
the incident, though tri1ing. interested
me- Was not the box an internal ma
chine and did not the man take ME for
q high Russian official travelling lncoS!
The next day l took train for St.
Petersburg. not needing to stop over
night. for the distance was but a nun
drei miles. On entering my compart-
ment l noticed that there was but
single person in it besides myself. Tax
ing my seat. let down window tor
better air, arranged my belongings,
then, while taking q book from my
satche! glanced at my fellow passen-
ger.
He was the man with the brown
beard.
a moment later, though 1 was not
looking directly at him, saw him tug
ging at something under his overcoat,
as though he Were getting a revolver
Il
expeditiously. My conscience was so
clear of any intention that would call
his weapon into service that 1 simply
gave him contemptuous glance, then,
opening my book, began to read. After
awhile l dropped it on my lap and
sank into light Slumloer. But before
losing consciousness 1 saw my shadow
er nervously reaching under his seat
to feel for his box ard casting suSpi-
ciouS Glances at me.
was awakened by something Strik-
ing heavily against me. Opening my
eyes, 1 saw the man with the brown
beard trying to regain his balance.
having evidently been thrown upon me
by a Iurch of the coach. But what
was my surprise and. I will admit. con-
sternation to see that he held a re-
volver within 4 foot of my nose.
sit stiii.' he cried in English If
you dare move I'll blow out your
brains,'
Thunderstruck, especially at being
addressed in my native tongue, made
no reply.
Your game is blocked" he said.
"NIy game?''
Yes have you covered and at the
next station snail turn you over to the
police"
Does tie car employ English de-
tectives:'
You can't throw me off the track by
assuming to be a nihilist. know your
intentions"
well, III be obliged to you if you
will tell me what they are"
what they are? You know very
well what they are-the Jewels
What jewels?''
Perhaps it was my unfeigned look of
astonishment that threw a shade OF
doubt, Of perpleNity, across his face
do you mean to tell me-" he said,
"Jnat you have not informa ton con-
cernin" me and my acts; that you have
not Swallowed me ever since crossed
the border: that you have not been
waiting an opportunity to possess
yourself Of the treasure; that before
we had been long in this compa rtment
you would have chloroforlned me,
seized my box and left the train at the
first stop"
1 had so recently awakened and the
adventure was SO surprising that l
could not for some time quite gather
my faculties. This, however, gave me
time to see the absurdity of the matter.
..YourJh FOOL 1 blurted out at last,