The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-02-09

share OF Odd experiences, dnu VIZ
grow case-hardened in time. But
there was one occasion when I un'
consciously played a queer part in
! big affair, and whenever I travel on
! this line the circumstances come
wildly before my minds eye, and ]
experience a strange feeling of ner'
IS which, try as I will, I can
not overcome.
It happened one night in Deem
Der, a good many years ago, when ]
was young on the road. I was travel
| ing by the evening train from Euston
to catch the midnight boat at Liver
pool for Belfast.
I arrived at the terminus on the
stroke Of the hour, and barely had
time to get my ticket and fling myself
and bag into a second smoker before
the train moved off.
There were only two other passen-
gers in the compartment, occupying
the ends of the same seat; so, with a
sigh of relief, I settled myself down in
a corner and prepared to enjoy a cigar
and the latest evening paper.
Before starting to read I took a
look at my fellow passengers, for
have always been fond of a chat, and
can generally spot a likely talker at
once. However, there was little pros
pect of anything Of the kind, for
both were middle-aged men Of re-
served appearance, who would hardly
deign to notice a youngster like my
self. The one opposite to me, a
clean-shaven man with a professional
air, was buried in his paper; while
the other was lying back in the far
corner with his cap over his eyes,
smoking a big cigar, and apparently
half asleep.
We had got as far as Rugby with
out a word being spoken, when I sud-
denly felt my foot logged in a pc
culiar way, and, looking up, I met the
keen glance of my Professionalism
ing neighbor.
Excuse me, sir" said he, with an
odd smile. would you mind ex-
changing papers? I see you have ex-
hausted yours"
Certainly" said I, slightly sur
prised, and we snapped accordingly,
while he gave my toe another warn
ing kick.
/ Imagine my establishment when I
saw penciled on the margin of his
paper these words:
Keep calm. I'm a Scotland Yard
man. Our fellow traveller is Burn
side-you know who. Warrant for
his arrest waits me at Liverpool; but
may have to secure him before we
reach there. Rely on your assistance
If necessary. Speak to me in refresh
ment room, Stafford"
Of course I knew who Burnside
was-everybody did then. You may
remember he was Lord IS secre-
tary, who absconded with her lady
ships diamonds, and made a big stir
at the time, though the affair was
hushed up afterwards.
I was pretty cool in those days, and
I read the words over again before
I permitted myself to take a peep vt
the redoubtable Burnside himself. He
was still smoking lazily, and was evil
IDENTIFY unconscious Of the proximity
! of danger. For a week he had eluded
capture, and the last item of news
was that the police we're still working
on a clue scEe days old. The very
paper I held contained a paragraph
to that effect carefully marked in
pencil by my detective friend.
You may guess I was terribly ex-
cited by the time we reached Stafford,
where a five minutes stop was made;
and no sooner had the train pulled
up than I pocketed the paper contain
ing the strange message, and hurried
off to the refreshment room.
A minute later the detective Joined
ME, lounging up in a careless style.
Don't look round" he said; hes
over there at the coffee counter. II
he suspects anything he'll bolt. He's
expecting some one at Crewe, I fancy
for he sent a wire from the telegraph
Office at Euston to a party there, and
I overheard the clerk asking him
about some figures in the telegram
1864, they were"
why, that's the number of oul
compartment" I said.
Exactly. It's sure to be a message
telling some one to meet him, and, ii
so, the pair of them may give me
trouble at Liverpool"
what do you meal to do, them
@Collar him as soon as we start
from here, strap him up, shove him
under the seat, and when his precious
accomplice arrives at Crewe I'll pitch
a yarn to him about his friend being
in another part Of the train. Their
he'll board the train, and at Liver
pool the police can formally arrest
my prisoner, while 1 follow the othel
chap to see what the game is. You
see, I don't know which Of them ha'
the booty, and that's the main thins
we're after"
But %supposing some other pasen
gers have already entered our com
partment?"
"They can't. I've made it all RICH
with the guard. Times nearly up
better get back. 1 must buy a couple
of straps. You'll help, if necessary?
"Of course" said l, for the affai