Year: 1878

[ went up and greeting him as should
an old familiar friend, held out my hand
and said:


"Come and drink glass of wine with
me; have something to say.


He shook hands in the most natural
way possible. [ took his arm, and we
entered the public bar of an adjacent
hotel.


II told him my suspicious, told him
OF the sum in my possession, and Of the
journey had to perform by rail-
Il saw that, watching through the
glass Of the door, he was taking a men,
tai photograph Of the two.


"They mean business said Vixen,
quietly, but shall be with you. We
must part at the door. or they will see
that we have scented the game


And you, [ said, how will you
act?'


"'I shall travel to Liverpool by the
night express.


He left me. l had no fear now
knowing him to be clever and deter
mined fellow.


Taking a casual glance across the
road, l saw my man with his companion.
l was quite evident they were tracking
me, though | lost sight of them before
reaching St. Paul's.


L strolled along the churchyard,
wandering nearly to Islington, and then
went through the city again before l
made for the station; my acquaintance
of the billiard-room did not again come
in sight, though l kept full on the
alert.


Il took my ticket, lingering almost
to the moment of starting before en-
tered the carriage, but my man did not
appear. Two men were in the compart-
ment with me. | could not see the face
of one, and the other was a stranger.


1.-THE bell rang The guard had just
time to put a bewildered old gentleman
in by my side, and we were off.


The man whose face [ had not seen
turned toward me.


" l could hardly repress an exclama-
ton. There was no mistaking that
frank, genial countenance, nor the lurk-
ing devil in those eyes, whose softness
was so sinister.


" He had me, then, at last. Vixen had
broken his promise, and l was left to
travel that perilous journey alone, with
the man who had followed me so skill
fully, another who might have been his
confederate, and an old gentleman who,
after grumbling out his indignation
against railway servants and locomotive
travelling in general, was fast asleep in
the corner


THAT the intentions of my billiard
player were bad, were manifest by the
fact of his having assumed false mus
tache and beard. They added to the
beauty of his face, but left to his eyes
that sleepy, cruel glitter that is charac
teristic of the Asiatic.


He spoke to me, remarked the oddi-
ty of our being travelling companions,
and grew pleasantly familiar. answer
ed him, not wishing to appear churlish
or afraid, knowing that l could trust
something to my own strength, should
the worst come.


I'VE had made the last stoppage, and
were rolling swiftly through the gloom,
when among other topics, our conversa-
ton touched upon jewelry; he drew a
snowy ring from his finger, telling me it
was a curious piece OF workmanship,
having secret spring, which he said |
could not discover


8 | took it, searching in vain for a
spring, and then returning it to him. 1t
dropped and rolled back under my
feet.


" ! stopped to pick it up and SO did
he, but in that moment, while my head
was down, he had me tightly by the
throat. and he threw me to the carriage
floor


His confederate was upon me in an
instant [ could hardly breathe, and
could not struggle, for heavy knee was
upon my chest, and two strong, brutal
hands were crushing the life out of my
throat.


Though the horror of the situation
did not last minute, it seemed an eter-
nifty to me. | felt the rufians' hands
searching for the pocket-book, and |
strained desperately for chance of re-
sistance.


Their work was nearly done. Cramp-
ed in that small space l was powerless,
and the veins of my throat and head
were swelling like sinuous bars, when
the old gentleman in the corner awOke
and came to my assistance.


Il heard the low whirr of some wea-
pom in its descent, and my first assailant
reeled from me stunned. Then the old
gentleman, with a strength and rapidity
Of action wonderful to see in person
of his age, siezed the scoundrel, lifted
him away, and dashed him down on the
seat.


There was brief struggle, and then
[ heard sharp click-scoundrel the
second had pair of handouts on his
wrists:


"'They were more prompt than
had expected, said the old gentleman
removing his wooden comforter, with
which he fastened my first assailant's
hands behind him, and railway car
riage does not afford much scope for &
struggle.


The pocket-book was safe The ruff
fans were securely bound, and the gen
tleman who, without his spectacles and
muffling, stood out, in bold and pleasant
relief as the detective, kept guard ovel
them.


AT the station of the police. | was
all right at that time. Vixen rode witt
me as far as the nearest hotel here, ant
tomorrow he will call to see II l an
any the worse for my ride by the ex
press"


The contents of the pocket-book wer'
Mary's bridal dowry.


The detective speaks of the senio
partner in the firm Of Brand 4 Lake al
the most hospitable and generous maj
he ever met in the course of his prOfes
sional career.


Lake was quite cured of his love 70
billiard playing. He had too narrow al
escape, and he did not forget the les
son.


That Good Old Time.


Cincinnati Breakfast Table.


Just give me a chance to pour IN.


IL I'LL o'