The herald., 1912-10-31
HIS
ACCUSER
By REGINALD D. HAVEN

My grandfather, who made a trip tC
Europe fifty years ago, told me this
story:
That was the day when most of the
travelling was done on the continent in
diligences and postchaises. there be.
ing very few railroads. The influence
of the stirring up that governments
| got in lS4S was still felt, and stran-
ger was under constant surveillance.
was dining in a Berlin restaurant one
day and noticed a man sitting at the
| other end of the table. He wore a
long black beard but no hair on his
upper lip. This is not much Of de-
scription Of him, but there was really
nothing to mark him as unique.
1t so happened that the next day l
went into another restaurant in an en-
tirely different part Of the city. and
! who should come in and sit down op-
posite me but the man had seen the
day before! We both looked at and
recognized each other, but | noticed
that after that he kept his eyes away
from me- He hurried through his meal
and just before departing gave me
quick glance.
The autumn was coming on. and l
determined after a brief sojOurn in
Switzerland to go down into Italy. !
left Lucerne one morning by boat on
the lake of the Four cantOns on my
Italian trip. What was my surprise
to see hurrying aboard as the boat was
about to start the man had seen twice
in Berlin-the man with the black
beard
Now, in America / should have con-
sidered these meetings simply coinci-
dences. But at that time in Europe
every man might be a plotter against
the divine right of kings. | wondered
if were not a suspect oD the part of
government which had put spy upon
me. | did not see my man on the
boat until we disembarked at Finelen,
at the other end of the lake; then he
went out with the crowd, giving me
one Of those quick glances Of his which
by this time | began to interpret as
meaning. You arch conspirator. ! will
trap you and bring you to justice"
The route by which | was going into
Italy was at that time by diligence
over the St Gothard pass. though the
highest part Of the pass was traversed
in sledges, each sledge containing
two persons sitting face to face. Who
should be put into the sledge with
me but the man with the black beard!
The few hours | spent sitting visa
Wis with this creature were the most
uncomfortable In my life. | felt sure
that he had been sent TO keep a watch
on me. AS for him. it seemed to me
that he was ready to arrest me at any
moment He was unable to conceal
his antagonism for me. 1t looked as
II he had got himself placed in the
sledge alone with me that he might
pices we passed. He was constantly
looking about him. and inferred that
he was keeping watch for points
where I might leave the sledge and
take to fight
But this part of the journey ended |
without his throwing me into a gorge |
or my attempting to escape him by |
losing myself in a snowy solitude. In |
deed, would rather have been hanged |
comfortably for a conspirator than |
have tried 1t. When we again got |
into the diligence | missed my man. |
though I was quite sure his eye was
upon me every minute. We descend |
ed the Italian slope Of the mountains
and pursued our journey toward Mi
Ian beside a quick running stream. |
Once only, when we stopped for a
change Of horses and l got out to !
stretch my legs, did l see my shadow
er. That was when, glancing up into
the coupe Of the diligence. l saw him
looking down upon me with that cum
ming expression which seemed to say.
Il am not ready to nab you yet, but I
shall soon have you where ] want
you"
| stopped at Locarno. a small town
on lake Maggiori In the twilight |
walked down to the verge Of the water
Hearing footstep behind me, | turn
ed and saw the man who was follow
ing me.
"Well. STRIP l said.
IT have had enough of this" he re-
piled. II will make you a fair propo-
sition."
What propositions My heart beat
like drum. had no doubt that II
was that should go with him without
resistance.
81 will divide the spoil"
stood looking at him without reply.
An explanation of this singular affair
was making its way into my brain.
resolved to listen. but not to talk.
go on"
There are 100000 francs in all. I
will give you half"
Where are theyT'
"In my pockets"
l stood thinking. he watching me
anxiously
Proceed TO Milan" | said at last.
and meet me on the evening of your
arrival at o'clock on the steps of the
"Fll be there" was mis- only reply
He disappeared in the gathering dark
hess.