The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-08-05

merchant, you know, out West.
Yes, the winters been cold, some. We
had Bible classes and lectures, and once
there came a panoramy of New York.
Jabez took me Hev you been there 2
Most as good as seeing it for yourself,
the panoramy was. Come home alone ?
Law, yesl Nader my wayalong as easy as
could be. I stopped over night at Mon
treal in Canady, at a great hotel, and the
clerk gave me a snug little room, SOS 1
felt real to hum. There's a big bridge
the victory bridge, they call it there. 1
see it. I've been a good piece on the
Grand Turk Railroad, too"
The old lady had traversed all this dis
lance safely, enjoying every hour of the
journey, and was now turning her face
homeward to q farm nestled among the
hills.
"My son lives on the other side of the
house, and does all the chores about the
farm. 1 take care of myself" she ex-
planned, with the curious simplicity of a
nature that confided all its private affairs
to strangers, never dreaming of doubt
ing that their interest equaled her own
in discussing their personal history.
Ruth's sympathy was aroused. This
sympathy cost her dear. Three hours
later she was standing alone on the
crowded platform of a large railway ter
minus, where locomotives were dashing
frantically about, and anxious passengers
vociferated loudly, with her own train
disappearing in the distance, and a
string of gold beads in her hand.
1t happened thus: Ruth and her new
friend hobnobbed delightfully."-. The old
lady was particularly pleased to discover
that among the many good things pre-
pared for the others journey by friendly
hands we're crisp turn-overs, generous
slices of dried-apple pie, and doughnuts,
"Seems like hum" she declared, with
a sigh of satisfaction. Couldn't git
any cake nor pie in Canady. They said
that they had plenty of beef and beer,
but I don't need nothin' quite SO
hearty"
Born of the same race, subjected to
the same influences of o harsh, cold
climate, the English resident of Canada
supplies generous fuel for the machinery
of life, while the Yankee resident of
New England most grudgingly lubri-
Gates the busy mechanism of his econ
omy, at the same time extorting the
greatest possible amount of labor from
his slave-the body.
The train paused at the station, and a
young man strolled into the car. Miss
Ruth's attention became instantly CEN
tered in him. 1t was not because of the
beauty of his black mustache that she
observed him, nor his oily ringlets,
fashy waistcoat and Respondent watch.
chain. 1t was simply because his evil.
snaky eye, wandering carelessly over the
passengers, pounced OF our unconscious
old lady.
"You will bear Watching" thought
the younger woman. Then she talked
warningly of thieves and pi~ckpockets, al
which the old lady looked simply be
wildered.
The train rushed into a tunnel a dark
chilly hole that seemed to open a yawn
ing mouth, itself stationary and soulless
to engulf life and motion. A tiny blu.
flame cracked; the old lady had Lighted
a bit of tallow candle, using her hand TO
a candle-stick.
"I git scared in these tunnels" sh,
said, and held the candle so that Rutl
and herself were framed in q vivid radi
ance.
The former, keeping her eyes stead
lastly fixed on the snaky young maj
seated behind, detected a stealthy move
ment of his hand toward the old lady
neck, where hung the family gold beads
A sudden draught (emanating iron
the snaky young man) hared out tn
candle, a scufie and rush ensued amids
confused ordinations, and Miss May
hew launched into active combat wit
the foe.
"Thieves " she shrieked.
"Oh, murder " gasped the old lady
first receiving a blow over the head tina
crushed her bonnet awry, and then fee
ing as if a great many shawls had tum
bled over her.
"What is the matter ? :" echoed on al
sides in the terrible darkness.
"Oh, oh screamed Ruth. eth
wretch The scamp Help me to hol
him. He is twisting my hand horribly.
"Let me CO." growled the snak
young man, and giving himself a serper
tine screw, adroitly eluded the nervou
clutch of his captor's fingers.
"He's gone! Do catch him." sh
painted.
:. The widest commotion ensued. E,
!, erybody else feeling hat it devolve
, upon each as men and brothers to d
, something, and succeeding only in Gre
ating inextricable confusion. None {
the passengers had the vaguest idea whi
!, had happened. Each man grapple
i with his neighbor, suspecting him {
some deadly villainy in that obscu1
/ night.
! az have got him." cried a cheerfl
voice from the door, proceeding from
, stout and valiant traveller, who, indeed
\ held in an iron grip a slender, within
! form that Indignantly rebelled again
his assault. But when light dawned to
comforting brightness again the stol
I gentleman was found to hold captive @
innocent and much injured newspapt
! and popcorn boy who had entered IL
. car just in the nick of time to be mao
prisoner, while the thief slid noiseless
/ away to vanish forever.
Then each passenger was morally ce
a tain that the thief had crept past hi
{ while he was pursuing the gentleman o.
a posite, and the newsboy was surest offs
that he had been propelled into the
/ midst by some unseen power on the pla
form. The inevitable result of so muC
i excitement was a chilling doubt if Mi
Mayhcw's alarm had not been only
woman's scare, after all.
"Look at her for yourselves" 81
, said, Indignantly, reading sceptism
every side.
The old lady's appearance was certai
ly dilapidated and battered, while h
beautiful beads were lying in her la
e Ruth replaced them preparatory to b
getting out at the crowded termin1
II where she changed cars. The old Lac
futtered away almost before the ira
had stopped, and when she had be-
6 gone fully five minutes, Miss Maybe
It ratified the beads on the floor with
If sudden crash. The thief had loosent
the clasp in his effort to secure ther
d Something must be done. Again 81
appealed to selfish men !; they were II
going to leave their places. Much goo