Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-11-10
Satu rdsy, November 10. 1877.
FOILED.
" Where are you going, Dick ?"

Back to chat with my through passengers.
Aud Dick Davis, the conductor, left the
mail car aud went back to the through coach
attached to the train.
Closing the door, he walked to an old man
seated in the centre Of the car. His hair and
beard were white as snow, but there were nc
crows feet on his forehead or wrinkles on his
cheeks His eyes flashed with the light Of
manhood, though his hair would indicate that
he had crossed the boundaries of three-score
years.
lie smiled when the pleasant faced conduc-
tor dropped into the seat beside him, and
leaning forward, made remark in low tone
of voice. This remark caused Davis 70 raise
his head and gaze at the beautiful face Of a
girl who slept in a seat behind the white-hair-
ed passenger.
"She sleeps like a child" the conductor
said, admiring the face, and wishing, perhaps
that he could only enjoy such slumber.
She always sleeps that way" responded
the passenger, with smile; "and when she
wakes she is fresh as rose"
"lour daughter has company, SEQ" OBJ
served Davis. glancing at the remainder of the
passengers in the car, who appeared to be
sleeping soundly.
Yes; are they going through ?"
ooh, yes. none but through passengers ad-
mitted to this coach They are not commu-
uicatige fellow travellers, should say"
They are not" replied the old man
Mr. Davis, | do no. like my travelling com
pauions," and the speakers voice was lowered.
The conductor looked Surprised.
"Will you explain, Mr. Radcliffe ?"
short time previous to the present con-
vcrsation the passenger and bis conductor bad
exchanged names, and were thus enabled TO
call each other properly.
81 can scarcely explain" WAS The passen-
sengers reply. "There isaman in the fourth
seat from the stove whom unaccountably, | do
not like. He boarded the train ct Rodney,
and | have caught him looking rskance at
myself and Mabel Then the fellow who ap-
pears 20 be asleep three seats behind him, on
The opposite side Of the aisle, has been guilty
o. the same thing, and believe there is a
connection between the parties | 10 not want
you to think that fear them. Never in nv
life-and | have passed through the wild
tribes Of the Amazoniad valley-have feared
man. Over there lies the only Jewel to which
| cling" and he nodded towords the sumber-
ing girl "She is the sole creature through
whose vein. runs my blood, and you must
know ths; she is dear to me"
Certainly, Mr. Radcliffe" said Davis,
"your entire solici.ude is for her"
Exactly
" Do you know those two fellows p
lido not; never saw them before in all
my life"
Conductor Davis thought 4 moment.
Yourself and daughter can avoid them by
taking up quarters in the forward car. ! as
sure you that you VIII not be regarded as in-
,ruders, aud that the accommodations will not
lack comfort"
But the passenger gently declined tho con-
ductors offer, and said that be would finish his
Journey in the coach in which be had been
placed for that purpose.
After few more words Davis lef! The coach
and passed into the express car, where he soon
appeared to forget his passengers, 10 con-
versation with the messenger.
The door had hardly closed on the conduc-
tors form when the man nearest the stove