The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-11-02

appear. Two men were in the COM
partment with me. I could not see
the face of one, and the other was
stranger.
The bell rang. The guard had just
time to put bewildered old gentleman
by my side. and we were off.
The man whose face had not seen
turned toward me.
II could scarcely repress an excla-
nation. There was no mistakinS that
frank. genial countenance. nor the lurk-
ing devi! in those eyes, whose softness
was so sinister.
He had met me then at last! Vixen
had broken his promise! and was left
to travel that perilous Journey alone,
with the man who had followed me so
skilfully-auother who might be his
confederate. and an old gentleman,
who. after grumblng out his indigna-
ton against all railway servants and
locomotive travelling in general. was
fast asleep in the corner.
THAT the intentions of my billiard
player were bad was manifest by the
fact of his ha"ing assumed false
mustache and beard. They added to
the beauty of his face. but left to his
eyes that sleepy. cruel glitter that IS
chara cteristic of the Asiatic.
He spoke to me, remarked the
oddity of our being travelling COM
ran:n:S. an:l "raw PLEASANTLY familiar.
I answered him. not wishing to APP
rear churlish or afraid, knowing that
I could trust something to my own
strength should the worst come.
we had made the las stoppage, and
We're rolling swiftly through the gloom,
when. among other topics, our conver-
sation touched OH jewelry; he drew Il
showy ring from his finger. telling me
it was 4 curious piece OF WORKMANSHIP,
having Il secret spring, which he sald.
7 could not discover.
II took it, searching in vain for
spring. then returning it to him. 1t
dropped and rolled mnder my feet.
II stopped to pick It up, and so did
he, but in that moment, while my head
was down, he had Inc tightly by the
throat, and threw me to the. carriage
floor.
"His confederate was upon me in an
instant. I could scarcely breathe. and
could not struggle, for heavy knee
was upon my chest, and two strong,
brutal hands were clutching the life
from my throat.
Though the horror Of that situation
did not last a minute, it seemed an
eternity to me. I felt the ruftian's
hands searching for the pocketbook,
and 1 strained desperately for chance
of resistance.
Their work was nearly done.
Cramped in that small space, I was
powerless, and the veins in my throat
and head were swelling like sinuous
bars. when the old gentleman in the
corner awoke and came to my assist
ance.
'I heard low, quiet whirr Of some
weapon in it's descent, and my first as
sailant reeled from me, stunned. The.
old gentleman. with a strength and
rapidity of action wonderful 10 see in
Il person of his age, seized the scouI-
drel, lifted him away and dashed him
down on seat.
There was brief struggle. and
then I heard sharp click-scoundrel
the second had a paid of handouts on
his wrists.
""They were more prompt than l
expected.' said the old gentleman, re-
moving. his woolen, comforter, with
which he fastened my first assailant's
hands behind him. 'and railway car
riage does not afford much scope for
a struggle
"The pocketbook was safe. The ruf-
fans were securely bound. and the old
gentleman who. without his spectacles
and muffling. stood out in pleasant re-
lief as the detective, kept guard over
them.
"At the station they were handed
over into the custody Of the police. l
was all right by that time. Vixen rode
with me as far as the hotel nearest
here, and tomorrow he will call to
see if 1 am any the worse for my ride
by express"
The contents of the pocketbook were
Mary's bridal dowry.
The detective speaks Of the senior
partner in the firm Of Brand & Lake
as the most hospitable and generous
man he ever met in the course of his
professional career.
Lake was quite cured of his love for
billiard playing. He had too narro"
an escape, and he did not forget the
esson.--Waverley Magazine.
Wild Horses on Sable Island.