Arthur Train

“ There did not seem to be any conductor, and, without making inquiries, McAllister climbed upon the platform and pushed open the door. If warmth was what he desired he soon found it. The end of the car was roughly fitted with half a dozen bunks, two boxes which served for chairs, and some spittoons. A small cast-iron stove glowed red-hot, but while the place was odoriferous, its temperature was grateful to the shivering McAllister. The car was empty save for a gigantic Irishman sitting fast asleep in the farther corner. ”

“ The assembled crowd of lackeys and footmen cheered him mildly as he drove away, but Henry VIII, smoking a large cigar, noticed them not. Neither did he observe a slim young man who darted out from behind a flight of steps and followed the cab, keeping about half a block in the rear. The rain had stopped. The clouds had drawn aside their curtains, and a big friendly moon beamed down on McAllister from an azure sky, bright almost as day. ”

“ Before McAllister could reply there was a commotion at the door of the club, and he recognized the clear tones of Barney Conville.
"Who am I? I'm a sergeant of police—Detective Bureau. You've just passed in a burglar. He must be right inside. Let me in, I say!"
Wilkins shrank back toward the curtains.
There was a slight scuffle, but the servant outside placed his foot behind the door in such a position that the detective could not enter. Then Peter came to the rescue.
"What do you mean by trying to force your way into a private club, like this? I'll telephone the Inspector. ”

“ They're after wirin' me to make the arrest."
"Burglar be damned!" yelled the conductor. "Do you think you can hold me up and search my train? Why, I'd be two hours late!"
"I won't take more'n fifteen minutes," continued McGinnis, making for the rear car.
"Come back there, you!" shouted the conductor, grasping him firmly by the coat-tails. "You can't wake up all the passengers."
"Look here, Cap.," expostulated the detective, "don't ye see I've got to make this arrest? It won't take a minute. The porters'll know who they've got, and you're runnin' awful light. Have a good cigar?" ”

“ This feller ain't no burglar. Anywan can see he's a swell, all right. Leave him alone."
"Very sorry to have disturbed you," apologized the conductor humbly, putting out the light and closing the door.
"That nigger must be nutty," he added to the detective. "By Joshua! Perhaps he's got away with some of my stuff!"
"Wot do you want?" drawled the fat man, blinking at the lantern.
"Look here, William, what's the matter with you? Have you been swipin' my whisky. There ain't two men in that drawin'-room at all—just one—a swell," hollered the conductor as they reached the platform. ”

“ III Under the big moon's yellow disk, beside and past the roaring train, along the silent reaches of the Sound, leaping on its copper thread from pole to pole, jumping from insulator to insulator, from town to town, sped a message concerning Henry VIII. The night operator at New Haven, dozing over a paper in the corner, heard his call four times before he came to his senses. Then he sent the answer rattling back with a simulation of indignation:
"Yes, yes! What's your rush?"
{{smaller block|Special—Police—Headquarters—New Haven. Escaped ex-convict Welch on No. 13 from New York. ”

“ It is houtrageous!"
"Very sorry, sir," replied the conductor. "The fact is, we thought two people, suspicious characters, had taken this room together, and this officer here"—pointing to McGinnis—"had orders to arrest one of them."
Wilkins swelled with indignation.
"Suspicious characters! Two people! Look 'ere, conductor, I'll 'ave you to hunderstand that I will not tolerate such a performance. I am Mr. McAllister, of the Colophon Club, New York, and I am hon my way to hattend the wedding of Mr. Frederick Cabot in Boston, to-morrow. I am to be 'is best man. ”

“ I had you wrong last night, I admit—that is, so far as your identity was concerned. You're a real high-roller, all right, but that ain't the whole thing, by a long shot. How would you like to wander down to Headquarters as an accomplice? ”

“ And then—William smiled significantly—there was an awful strange pair in the drawin'-room. They could look for themselves. He didn't know nuff'n 'bout burglars in disguise, but dere was "one of 'em in er mighty curious set er fixtures."
"Huh! Two of 'em!" commented McGinnis.
"That's easy!" remarked the mollified conductor.
The telegraph operator, who read Laura Jean Libbey, now approached with his revolver.
McGinnis, another detective, and the conductor moved toward the car. William preferred the safety of the platform and the temporary distinction of being the discoverer of the fugitive. ”

“ The conductor opined that these would prove unfertile candidates for McGinnis. He therefore turned to Moses, of car No. 2201. Moses, however, had only half a load. There was a fat man, a Mr. Huber, who travelled regularly; two ladies on passes; and a very thin man, with his wife, her sister, a maid, two nurses, and three children. ”

“ Headquarters! Is McGinnis of the New York Detective Bureau there? Tell him he's wanted, to make an important arrest on board No. 13 when she comes through at two-twenty. Sorry. Say, tell him to bring along some cigars. I'll give him the complete message down here."
Then the operator went back to his paper. In a few moments he suddenly sat up.
"By gum!" he ejaculated.
BOLD ATTEMPT AT BURGLARY IN COUNTRY HOUSE
It was learned to-day that a well-known crook had been successful recently in securing a position as a servant at Mr. ”