Year: 1878

pocket-book full of notes, and found that
| had lost the train. The next would be


the night express, so stroled into BIZ


lard room. A man is just as safe with Z


fortune in his pocket as ifhe was penniless


so that lie is wise enough to hold his
tongue. There was some clever play go
ing on, and stood watching the players
till some one challenged me to have a game.
If 1 have one special vanity. it is my
science with the cue. l accepted. and as
did so strange feeling, which had been
growing upon me, took Il sudden turn
which startled me.


'The challenger was the man whom
had noticed at the bankers. There was
nothing strange in the fact of his being in
the room. one Of his favorite resorts, but
WAS possessed by the vague shadow of a
single idea. | had read somewhere of Il
man being followed and plundered in \
train. and somehow associated the story
with the man before me. 1t was the first
time had ever Paid him any particular at
tention. but | gave him full observation
now. The more | looked at him the less
| liked him. lie was handsome, gentle
manly. with fair form and elegant figure,
full of suppleness and strength. His man.
ner was singularly unassuming, his face
frank and genial, but by looking closely at
him you could see something sinister-look-
inc in the depth and softness OF his eyes.


II never liked stranger to be attable
and prepossessng. and my friend was the
very pink of affablity and grace.


"We played for an hour with alternat-
ing success; he was an amusing compan-
| ion, well-informed. and had travelled; but
was shy of conversation. | left him,
and. still having some time to spare, went
| to the Temple.


'When. at the expiration of some thirty
or forty minutes, | emerged upon Fleet
street, almost The first person upon whom
my gaze fell was my late antagonist at
billiards.


IL thought there was something more
than a mere coincidence in this second
meeting since we stood together at the
bankers. He was in a cigar-shop oppo-
site but with companion.


Not hundred yards from the Temple
gate stood a man whom recognized with
Il very welcome feeling. 1t was George
Vixen. the detective.


'.IIe was fashonably dressed and looked
an arsto,rat of the first water. | went up.
and. greeting him as should an old flmil-
lar friend. held out my hand and said
M Come and drink glass of wine with


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


IL told him of my suspicion, told him OF
the sum in my possession, and OF the
tourney had to perform by rail.


Il saw that. Watching through the glass
of the door. he was taking mental pho
tograph of the two men.


".They mean business said vixen.
quietly. but l 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 will travel to Liverpool by the night
express


..He left me. had no fear now, know
inp him to be Il clever and determined fei-
low.


Taking casual glance across the road'
[ saw my man with his companion. 1t was
quite evident that they were tracking me,
though lost sight of them before reach
ing St. Paul's.


II strollcd along the churchyarl, wan
dering nearly to Islington, then went
through the city again before ! made for
the station; my acquaintance OF the billiard
room did not come in sight, though kept
well on the alert.


II took my ticket, lingering almost 10
the moment of starting before L entered
the carriage, but my man did not appear.
Two men were in the compartment with
me. | could not see the face OF one, and
the other was a stranger.


.sThe bell rang. The guard had just
time to put bewildered old gentleman in
by my side, and we were of.


.'rhe man whose face l had not seen
turned toward me.


IL could hardly repress an exclamation.
There was no m;staking that frank, genial
countenance, nor the lurking devil in those
ewes. whose softness was so sinister.


s.He had me then at last. Vixen had
broken his promise, and was left to travel
that perilous journey alone, with tile man
who had followed me so skillfully-an-
other who might be his confederate, and
an old gentleman. who, after grumbline
out his Indignation against all railway
, servants and locomotive travelling in gen
eral. was fast asleep in the corner.
THAT the intentions OF my billiard-play-
or were bad. was manifested by the fact OF
!; his having assumed a false mustache and
beard. They added to the beauty of his
; face. but LETT to his eyes that sleepy, cruel
cruel glitter that is Il characteristic OF the
J Asiatic.


s.He spoke to HE, remarked the oddity
of our being travelling companions, and


grew unpleasantly familiar. answered
, him, not wishing to appear churllsh OF
d: fraid, knowing that | could trust some
thing to my own strength, should the
worst come.


Y 1--WE had made the last stoppage, ant
were rolling through the gloom, when
) among other topics, cur conversation
: touched on jewelry; he drew snowy ring


from his finger, telling me it was curious
: piece of workmanship, having secret
t spring, which he said could not discover
s 81 took 1t, searched itin vain tor spring


then returned it to him. It dropped ant
i rolled under my feet.


i II stopped to pick it up, and SO did he
|. but at that moment, while my head wal
i down, he had ME tightly by the throat
s and threw me to the carriage floor.
!. ssIIis confederate was upon me in an in
! stant. could scarcely breathe. and eoult
i not struggle, for heavy knee was upoI