The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-10-18

the bank with my pocketbook full of
notes. and found that | had lost the
train. The next would be the night
express. so | strolled into billiard
room. A man is just as safe with a
fortune in his pocket as IL penniless,
so that he is wise enough to hold his
tongue. There was some clever play
going on, and stood watching the
players till some one challenged me
to have game. Ii have one special
vanity. it is my science with the cue;
accepted. and as lid so q strange
feeling. which had been growing upon
me. took a sudden turn which startled
me.
My challenger was the man whom
had noticed at the bankers. There
was nothing strange in the fact of his
being in the room, one Of his favorite
resorts, but was possessed by the
vague shadow of single idea. had
read somewhere of a man being fol-
lowed and plundered in a train, and
somehow I associated the story with
the man before me. II was the first
time had ever paid him any particular
attention, but | gave him full observa-
tion now. The more | looked at him
the less l liked him. He was hand
some, gentlemanly, with fair form
and elegant figure, full of suppleness
and strength His manner was singu-
larly unassuming. his face frank and
genial. but by looking closely at him
you could see something sinister-look-
ing in the depth and softness of his
eyes.
Il never liked a stranger to be affa.
bic and prepossessing, and my friend
was the very pink Of afiabiity and
grace
1--WE played for an hou with alter.
mating success; he was an amusing
companion. well informed. and had
travelled. but I still having some time
to spare, went to see a friend in the
Temple.
when. at the expiration of some
thirty or forty minutes, | emerged into
Fleet street, almost the first person on
whom my gaze fell was my late an
tagonist at billiards.
Il thought there was something more
than n mere coincidence in this second
meeting since we stood together at the
bankers He was in a cigar shop op-
posite
Not a hundred yards from the Tenn
pie gate stood a man whom l recog-
nized with n very welcome feeling. 1t
was George Vixen. the detective.
He was fashlonably dressed, and
looked an aristocrat Of the first water
I went up and greeted him as I should
an old familiar, held out my hand and
said:
Step into the hotel Office. have
something to say.
He shook hands in the most natural
way possible l took his arm. and
we entered the door Of an adjacent
hotel.
Il told him my suspicion told him
Of the sum in my possession, and Of
the journey had to perform by rail.
Il saw that, watching through the
glass Of the door, he was taking a men
tai photograph Of two men.
"'They mean business said Vixen.
quietly, but l shall be with you. We
must part at the door, or they will see
we have scented the game
"'And you I saiG, how will you
actT
"I' he said, shall travel to Liver
pool by the night express.
"He left me. l had no fear now
knowing him to be a clever and de.
termined fellow
Taking a casual glance across the
road, l saw my man with his com
panion. 1t was quite evident that they
were tracking me, though l lost sigh
of them before reaching st. PauPs.
"I strolled along the churchyard
wandered nearly to Isllngton, theI
went through the city again before
/ made for the station; my acquaint
ance of the billiard room did not COM
in sight, though | kept well on thu
alert.
II took my ticket, lingering almos
to the moment of starting before en-
tered the carriage, but my man did no
appear Two men were in the com
partment with me. could not se'
the face of one, and the other was {
stranger.
THE bell rang. The guard had jus
time to put a bewildered old gentleman
10y my side, and we were off.
"rhe man whose face had not seel
turned toward me.
II could scarcely repress an excla
nation. There was no mistaklng tina
frank, genial countenance, nor the lurk
ing devil in those eyes, whose softnes
was so sinister
He had met me then at last! vixe
had broken his promise and was lef
to travel that perilous journey alone
with the man who had followed me $
sklfully-another who might be hi
confederate. and an old gentleman
who, after grumbling out his indigni
ton against all railway servants an
locomotive travelling In general wa
fast asleep in the corner.
THAT the intentions OF my bllliar
player were bad was manifest by th
fact OF his having assumed a falls
mustache and beard. They added I
the beauty of his face. but left to hi
eyes that sleepy, cruel glitter that
characteristic of the AsIatie
II "He spoke to me, remarked III