Middletown transcript., 1910-02-05
under the seat was completely

my mind, ! jumped out, closed
the door, and stood by it until
my friend returned.
Everything all rightG said he.
Good! I've wired further in
structions to Liverpool. I'll re.
lieve you now if you want drink
I Irushed off for some coffee.
for l was feeling cold. But no
sooner had put the cup to my
lips than the bell rang, and had
to swallow the stuff at one gulp.
half scalding my mouth. and
then make a bolt for my carriage.
l was only just in time, for the
train had begun to move. The
guard held open the door aud
| banged it to after me; and then,
to my horror, instead of my
friend whom I expected to find
waiting for me, there was the
black. bearded man in the far
corner of the carriage, covering
me with revolver.
The games up, my friend,
he said.
| I was too astonished to reply,
and sank down helplessly on the
cushions, forgetting my blistered
mouth in sudden terror, for l
knew I was completely at the
ruftian's S mercy.
You're a deep one; but not
deep enough, he went on.
Just fetch out my friend there,
and undo him. Mind. no tricks.
I obeyed, in a kind of stupor,
and presently Burnside was sit;
ting up on the opposite seat, rub
bing his brow in a dazed manner.
Are you all right, Barker? said
the bearded man, still keeping
the revolver pointed at me.
Oh! you've come, Burt, said
Burnside, recovering his senses.
Have they got clean away?
We've nabbed one of them; but
not the one we want.
Good! said Burnside, turning to
look at me. How did the other
manage to bolt?
Well, I was waiting for you at
Crewe, according to your instruc-
tions, and I spotted our man i'm.
mediately, though I was rather
surprised at your absence. How
ever, | thought you'd turn up
presently, so | followed him when
he left the carriage. The beggar
went to the booking Office and
took ticket for Glasgow. Then
| kept my eyes skinned, for I
knew that something had gone
wrong. He hurried back to the
carriage, and our friend here
then left him. [ didn't bother
about him, though, thinking he
was an ordinary passenger; and
as our man commenced to pace
up and down, 1 waited over at
the bookstall to see what would
happen. As you hadn't turned
up, knew he had managed to
play some trick on you, and | de-
termined not to let him out of my
sight. Then the bell rang, and
in he jumped, closing the door
behind him. | waited half a Sec
ond for the guards Right away
and then ] made a rush and fol. |
lowed my man. But the beggar
had gone!
Through the other door?
Yes. I was too late to follow |
him, and then, just as l spotted
you under the seat, and tumbled |
to the whole plan, ip comes our
friend here and delivers himself
up like a lamb.
By this time I had begun to
see that there was u mistake
somewhere, and that I was in a
very awkward predicament. IL
turned hot all over and funny
feeling crept down my spine.
Gentlemen, said /, I'm afraid
there's been terrible mistake.
Yes, growled the man named
Burt. and you'll jolly soon find
out, too. Look here, what's your
name?
I told him, adding that l was ]
travelling to Belfast on business.
Drop it, and own up, said he.
Come, you may as well Tell Us
where you've put the swag.
Swag! What swag9 I can as,
sure you, gentlemen, know
nothing of this business.
You know how to chloroform Q
q chap, said the other. t
1t was the detective, not /, re-
piled, in dismay. I
The detective! Who on earth !
are you talking aboutP
Who-my friend, who's gone. i
The detective! :
Look here, young man. you're v