Middletown transcript., 1910-02-05
GThe Commercial ~
~ Travellers Storya

fair share Of odd experiences,
and we grow case hardened in
time. But there was one occa-
sion when I unconsciously played
Q queer part in a big affair, and
whenever / travel on this line the
circumstances come vividly be-
fore my minds eye, and / exper-
ience a strange feel of nervous
ness which, try as / will, / can
not overcome.
1t happened one night in De-
cember, a good many years ago,
when I was young on the road.
I was travelling by the evening
train from Euston to catch the
midnight boat at Liverpool for
Belfast.
I arrived at the terminus on the
stroke of the hour, and barely
had time to get my ticket, fling
myself and bag into a second
smoker before the train moved
off.
There were only two other
passengers in the compartment,
occupying the ends of the same
seat; so, with a sigh of relief, l
settled myself down in a corner
and prepared to enjoy a cigar and
the latest evening paper.
Before starting to read / took
a look at my fellow passengers,
for I have always been fond Of q
chat, and can generally spot a
likely talker at once. However,
there was little prospect of
any thing of the kind. for
both were middle. aged men of
reserved appearance, who would
hardly deign to notice a youngs.
ter like my self. The one oppo-
site 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, smok.
ing a big cigar, and apparently
half asleep.
We had got as far as Rugby
without a word being spoken,
when I suddenly felt my foot
logged in a peculiar way, and,
looking up, I met the keen glance
of my Professionalism neigh
Dor.
Excuse me, sir, said he, with
an odd smile. Would you mind
exchanging papers: see you
have exhausted yours.
Certainly, said I, slightly sur
prised, and we swapped accord
ingly while he gave my toe an
other warning kick.
! gine my astonishment
when I saw penciled on the mar
gin of his paper these words:
Keep calm. I'm q Scotland
Yard man. Our fellow traveller
is Burnside-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 refreshment room, Stafford.
Of coure I knew who Burnside
did then. You
may remember he was Lords
secretary, who absconded with
her ladyship's diamonds, and
made a big stir at the time, though
the affair was hushed up after
wards.
! was pretty cool in those days, |
and I read the words over again
before I permitted myself to take |
q peep at the redoubtable Burn
side himself. He was still smoking
Iazily, and was evidently uncon.
scious Of the proximity of danger.
For a week he had eluded capture,
and the last item of news
was that the police were still
on clue some days old.
The very paper I held contained
} paragraph to that effect care.
fully marked in pencil by my de-
tective friend.
You may guess l was terribly
excited by the time we reached
where a FIVE minutes
stop was made; and no sooner
mad the train pulled up than /
oocketed the paper containing
,he strange message, and hurried
off to the refreshment room.
A minute later the detective
oined me, loungiug up in
;areless style.
Don't look round, he said; he's
'ver there at the coffee counter.
t be suspects anything he'll holt.
les expecting some one at
Jrewe, I fancy, for he sent a
wire from the telegraph Office I
t Euston to party there, and / |
verheard the clerk asking him !
bout some fiOurne In Tho ta1o