Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-01-15

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explain The stoppage to the pretty young
girl of whom I considered myself sort
of protector; but, as | said, she was at
the very opposite end of the train, and |
was in haste now. There must have
been a good laugh in several of the car
riages where the cause of our stoppage
got whispered about. AS for me, when
I got back into my van, solitary as it
was, I chuckled over it until we stopped
at Chalk Farm to take tickets.
It seemed to me that the train was
taken into custody as soon as it stopped
here.
"Of course you have the carriage doors
all locked, and I'll 60 down with you
while you open them one by one. My
men are in possession of the platform. "
This was said to me by Davis, de
tective officer, whom I knew pretty we'll
by now, having had a good bit to do
with him about this Warwickshire rob-
berry.
at is no use," said, before we start
ed, ''the train was searched, as you may
say, at Rugby. Every passenger has un-
dergone close scrutiny, I can tell you.
What causes such scientific preparation
for us here ?''
"a telegram received ten minutes
ago." he answered. at seems that two
of the thieves we are lodging are in this
train in clever disguises. We have had
pretty full particulars, though the dis
covery wasn't made until after you left
the junction. Have you noticed d'-he
dropped his voice a little here-"a young
lady and gentleman together in either
carriage %
| felt a bit of an odd catching in my
breath as he spoke '.No." l said,
quite in a hurry. mo young lady and
gentleman belonging together; but there
may be plenty in the train. What if
there are, though? There was no young
lady or gentleman among the robbers ?"
''Among the robbers reioined Davis,
with suppressed enjoyment, was wo.
man who'd make herself into anything
and you must own that a gentleman with
dark, long beard isn't bad for a lady
known to us pretty well by her thick rec
hair and a cut on her under lip"
but the young lady ?" | asked, cog
itating this.
''Ah the young lady. True enough
well, what should yon say now, if | tolC
you she grew out of that boy with thu
closely-cut dark hair that we're after
[ remembered the pretty plaits, anc
the loose falling hair | remembered
the bewilderment in the eyes which en-
tirely hid their natural expression, anc
| didn't answer this at all.
Il wish [ had as good a chance o
catching the old fellow as | have of catch
ing the woman and boy" continues
Davis, as we moved slowly past the lock
ed luggage van. II know they're here
and that l shall recognize them unde
any disguise; but we've no clue yet t
the older rascal, Its most aggravatin
that by some means we've lost sight G
the biggest rogue of all. Come along.
| did come along, feeling very stupid
ly glad that there was all the train t
search before we could reach that carr
age at the other end, where sat the gil
whom I had, in way, taken under m
protection.
"When are we to be allowed to leav
this train, pray? Call me cab," erie
the deaf old lady, plaintively, as "
reached her carriage, and found her ga,
ing out in most evident and uttt
ignorance of ali that was going on aroun
her. Il am locked in, ga'ad. Do yc
| hear 2"
heard; ay, sharp enough. l on
wished she could hear me as readil
, Davis stood aside watching while l u
e locked her door and helped her dow
: Then, seeing her helplessness and h
e countless packages, he beckoned port
e to her, winking expressively to call b
f attention to a probable shilling.
, Carriage after carriage we examined
d and though Davis detected no thief,
turned away only more hopefully fro
n each. He was so sure they were thel
and that escape was impossible V
g reached the last carriage in the line, al
! now my heart beat in the oldest mann
V possible.
e 'Is this compartment empty, then
d asked Davis, while my fingers were act
e ally shaking as | put my key in t
} door of the second one. Empty al
Z dark %
h .Even if it had been empty it wouldl
/. have been dark" | muttered, looking
1t eHallo! what's come to the lamp p
!; might well ask what was come to
of lamp, for the compartment was as da
g as if it had never been lighted; yet h
not l myself stood and watched
c. lighted lamp put in at Rugby? And
at the carriage was empty, tool
le "Why was this % asked the detecti7
er turning sharply upon me. "Why "
j. not the lamp lighted %