Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-10-24
HIS
ACCUSER
By REGINALD D. HAVEN

story:
That was the day when most OF the
travelling was done on the continent in
diligcnccs and postchaises, there be
Ing very few railroads The influence
of the stirring up that governments
got IN 1913 was still felt. and a stran
ger was under constant surveillance.
was dining III n Berlin restaurant one
day and noticed man sitting at the
other end OF the table He wore
long black beard. hut no hair on his
upper lip This is not much Of de
scriprion OF him, but there was really
nothing TO mark him as unique
Ii 80 happened that the next day
went into another restaurant IN an en-
tirely different part Of the city, and
who should come IN and sit down OPP
posite me Dut the man had seen the
day before! We both looked at and
recognized each other. but ! noticed
thai after than he kept his eyes away
from me He hurried through his meal
and just before departing gave me
quick gnnce,
The autumn was coming on. and !
determined after n brief Sojourn In
Switzerland to go down into Italy, |
left Lucerue one morning by boat on
the lake of the -Four cnntons on my
Italian trip What was my surprise
to see hllrryinp aboard as the boat was
about to start the man ! had seen twice
,IE Al n I'm Hlnnk
beard
Now, IN America | should have con
sidered these meetings simply colnci
dences But nj that time In Europe
every man might be II plotter against
the divine right Of kings. | wondered
If | were not u suspect on the part of Il
government which had put spy upon
me did not see my man on the
boat until we disembnrkcd Mt FincIen,
nj the other end Of the lake; then he
went out with the crowd, giving me
o. =. OF those quick chances Of his which
his time | began to interpret IA
). 0unE. You arch conspirntor. | will
ga, you and bring you to Justice"
The route by which was going into
Italy was ut that time by diligence
over the st Gothnrd pass though the
highest part of the pass was traversed
H. 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
uncomfortnb bic In my lfe ] felt sure
that he had been sent TO keep watch
on me. AS for him, Il seemed to me
that he was ready to arrest me Mt any
moment He was unable to conceal
his antngonism for me II looked as
II he had got himself placed IN the
sledge alone with me that he might
hurl mo over some one of the preci
pces we passed He was constantly
looking about him. and Inferred that
he was keeping watch Tor points
where | might leave the sledgc and
take to flight
But this part OF the journey ended
without his throwing me into gorge
or my attempting to escape him by
losing myself In II snowy solitude In
deed. | would rather have been hanged
comfortably for a consprator than
have tried II. When we again got
into the diligence | missed my man,
though | 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 q quick running stream,
Once only. when we stopped Tor
change of horses and | got out to
stretch my legs did seq my shadow
err That was when, CHANGING mp into
the coupe of the diligence, | saw him
looking down upon me with that Gun
ming expression which seemed to say,
81 am not ready to nab you yet. but
shall soon have Won where want
you"
stopped Mt Locnrno. small town
on lake Maggiori In tho twilight
walked down to the verge OF the water
Hearing n footstep behind me- | turn
ed aud saw the man who was follow.
ing me.
well. sir?" said
II have had enough OF this" he re
piled II will make you fair propo
Aition"
What propositionT My heart beat
like drum | had no doubt that It
was that should so with him without
resistance,
Il 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. hut not to talk.
"Go on"
There are 100000 francs in all. |
will give you half"
where are theyT
an my pockets"
stood thinking, he watching me
anXiously,
Proceed to Milan" | said at last,
land meet me on the evening OF your
arrival at o'clock on the steps of the
cathedral"