Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-11-10

was a handsome diamond. pin on bis bosom,
and a crested ring on his hand
Allowing his gaze to return down the aisle,
he fixed it upon another man who appeared 20
be sleeping, short distance from him. This
man was quite young; his eyes were heavy,
and the hrsute appendage on his face was
long-haired mustache tha, dropped oyer.bis
mouth.
The two men exchanged looks which told
that they were not travellers accidentally
thrown together, but were men who were well
acquainted with each other
| Again the first mentioned one looked at the
old passenger whose head bad dropped on his
breast and who appeared to be dropping into
good slumber.
Seeing this, the man mo,ioned TO the other,
who straighteued up, aud the next moment
/ the twain occupied the same seat.
"ls be really aslcep?" asked the other.
"You cant tell anything about the old
co3ger," was the reply. "IIe looks as though
he was sleeping like Morpheus himself, when
he may be watching is from the corner of his
eye. We can't afford to wait much longer,
else the game will be upE The girl is sound
asleep"
Yes, yes, you could jerk her from the seat
aud not disturb her slumbers. Isn't she a
beauty ?"
"A perfect houri"
"Of course she doesn't know that you're on
the train"
Certainly not Don, sou rccollect that
she was asleep when we boarded the train at
Rodney ?'
"Oh, yes had forgotten !"
eff she knew | was here she'd keep her
eyes wide open and post the old gentle
man, who yet remains, believe, in blssful
ignorance Of the fact that made love to his
child. If he knew as you 90 Burdock, he'd
play the role of Virginius,. before should
wed bis mabel"
lie would, indeed !" answered the young
man called Burdock d" But | say, let's to
work. have the botte-shall use it COW ?
What do you say ?"
We are not there yet?" said..'tbe other,
looking out of the window upon the starit
earth
"We must be very near. The road where
| Morley is waiting is one mile this side of tie
town. There look there is the clump OF
trees be told us about. The road is three
miles from this point. We must work now
What if the old fellow is shsmming ?"
IN use the handkerchief effectively"
"All right"
The younger Of the party now rose and
walked up to the further eud Of the coach.
He cast quick but scrutiniziDg look at the
white-haired man, who, despite bis suspicious,
had fallen asleep. For three successive days
| he and his daughter had been on the train, and
during the time the father has slept very lit
tie His childs objections to the sleeping
coaches had been listened to aud the twain
had not quilted the through passenger car.
They were travelling to one Of the largest
cities in the East where they hoped to dwell
until death should tear them apart and call
each from the world.
Cyrus Radcliffe for such was The fathers
name-was a banker Of eminence in q city far
west of the Aleghauies His wealth was the
open SESAME" into the highest society Of the
land. Having no relatives. save his daughter,
he fixed the love Of his hear; upon her, and il
was love vaster than his wealth, deeper than
the sea-
But let US return to the scene in the through
car, moving at the rate Of twenty seven miles
an hour
The man at The end Of the car glided to-
ward his victim, the old gentleman. His
movements were watched by the associate
whom be had left in the seat.
When he paused before his victim, he drew
a handkerchief from bis bosom.
Then the faint odor OF chloroform became
prevalent, and The handkerchief was held un-
der Cyrus RadcliTe's nostrils.
While this was being done The blue-eyed
man left bis seat, and came up the aisle ill he
passed his confederate, and stood beside the
sleeping girl.
"Shal dose the others q asked the young
man in whisper, as he glanced at the three
remaining passengers. who we're asleep in
their respective seats.
No they'll not awaken" was the reply.
The chloroformed handkerchief withdrawn
from Mr. Radcliffe vas applied 10 bis daugb-
ter, who unconsciously inhaled the powerful
anaesthetc.
A moment later the agent Of viIlany was re-
stored to his bosom, and with look up and
down the car the eldest man lifted Mabel from
the seat.
1--WE must be near the road Ring the en-
gineer down to slower time Quick r
These words were spoken to the young man
Who caught the belI-rope aud tugged at it
uanfGlly.
Curse it p be exclaimed 1T appears to
have caught somewhere. The train is in
creasing its speed
The face Of the man who held Mabel in his
arms suddenly grew pale.
Jerk !. with I'll your might" he cried to
bis confederate.