Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-07-12

mountain rampant dividing France
and Italy, and stood out boldly
against the blue sky; the atmos-
phere grew keen. Down in the
valleys weather-beaten little ham,
lets were huddled together in a clus-
ter of steep roofs the river foanled
in silvery ripples the peasants
worked in the blooming fields.
Within the railway carriage Miss
NorfOlk-Stanley INDUCED in her
own meditations, and Biiou eapcreti
about ut pleasure. The lady made
her plans, with slightly compressed
lips. She would go to Paris, and
then to London. Nephew Dick
might well look to himself!
The train paused. Hi, BJou I!
Miss Norfolk Stanley had scarcely
time to restore her pet to the bag
pocket when the opposite door flew
open and the surly guard thrust in
his head. Her heart failed her. If
the surly guard had seen BUOu, he
had the right to carry the dog off in
triumph to the baggage van, and
impose On herself the ienOminy of
a fine. Instead, he explained that
two ladies must be admitted, as the
cigar smoke of their carriage made
them i'll. Again that long, yellow
hand CROPPED upward for the door
handle, and the two women in
cloaks invaded Miss Norfolk-Stan-
ley's territory. She resigned her
self with a sigh, to the inevitable.
After all, these ladies were only
tribe peculiar and foreign-looking,
mere harmless fellOw-ereatures and
BijOu had already enjoyed two
hours of freedom. Miss Norfolk
SANKEY'S first impulse was to throw
herself on their mercy TO the extent
of releasing her dog. In travel she
had never yet encountered another
woman who did not assist in snug
Cling Biiou with the delight in con-
traband warfare of any kind pecu-
liar to the sex. \ second glance at
those yelled and muffied figures de-
tered her. The strangers, with a
murmured apology in French for
the intrusion, sank into their places
at the other extremity Of the car
riage, and remained as silent as
statues. They carried no Tags or
parcels of any kind. The yellow
hand produced a smelliug-bottle OF
cut steel, and a pungent odor diff
fused itself gradually, as the win
dOws were closed to exclude the
smoke.
Now the tunnels were gained
which form the threshold of Mont
Cents on the Italian side, and which
are UNNECESSARILY more black and
oppressive.
A rush of steam, a shrek of the
locomotive, and the train was in
quilted in the first of the three long
tunnels. The gas burned in n tiny
star in the roof of the carriage.
Horrible darkness and dense smoke,
like an Opaque wall against the
window-sash BijOu's mistress I'M
fastened her collar, and sought her
fan. At the other end of the CARR
age the yellow hand was deity
opening the owners cloak, while
pair of glittering eyes were turned
on the unconscious Miss Norfolk
Stanley from the folds of the veil.
The smelling bottle of cut steel had
vanished.
A rush of steam, a shrek Of the
locomotive, and the train plunged
into the second tunnel. Behold the
companion of the traveller with vel
low hands quietly christening her
cloak, and producing her smelling
bottle, this one a slender vial of col
OTless glass, which she retained be-
tween her fingers instead of using.
a rush of steam, Il shrek of the
locomotive, and the train passed in
to the third tunnel. Silence reigned
in the ladies' carriage.
After this there was pause, and
Miss NOTfOlk-Stanley opened her
window to inhale the pure noun
tain air, while each link of the train
was tested before the trial of the
great tunnel. Then Mont Gents
opened that great mouth, and re-
ceived the human freight into its
rocky heart. Thirty minutes, the
| feeble atoms of an hour Miss
| NOrfOlk-Stanley opened her watch.
| Much may happen in thirty min
utes. She had turned to the win
dow, which had been again closed,
when her head was seized, Il ner-
vous hand was pressed over hen
mouth, she was forced to inhale
chloTofOrm, and a heavy cloak en-
veloped her, effectually sitting the
faint cry, scarcely more than a sigh,
which escaped her. The victim
speedily lost consciousness, and the
leather bag rolled from her lap tC
the floor.
Bijou fell on his head. Aston
ished at such cruel treatment, he
crept out of his pOcket-Of which
the strap had not been refastened
when the surly guard brought the
| other occupants of the carriage SC
unexpectedly hid beneath the
| folds of his mistress's dress. Mark
| the wisdom Of this little dog, anC
/ explain it by any law, short of reas
/ on, actual presence of mind, if you
can. He was afraid, and concealed
himself, trembling in every limb
He knew something dreadful haC
happened.
The two women, Invested of theil
! clOaks, stood over Miss Norfolk
Stanley. Much can be done il
thirty minutes of utter darkness
lost in the heart of Mont Gents.
"DO not kill her. Discovery
would be awkward" whispered Tho
elder, a keen, yellow face appearing
out of the veil which had previous
! ly concealed it.
Her accomplice removed the bot
tie from the nostrils of Miss Nor
Stanley, and lifted The cloak
from her face. The latter did no
move. Then the yellow claws tool
the watch and chain, rings, prObeC
every pocket, nimbly sifted the con
tents Of the rack above for valuables
and raised the leather bag, Bilious
house, in hopes of its containing {
jewel box.
"Now open the. other window
The carriage must not smell of chic
reform when we reach Modane.
| will give her another dose befOr,
throwing away the bottle"
alt was such a rare chancel Only
if we should be detected at the from
tier =" murmured the younger wo
| man.
"Attend, ma chae; l have
planned ALL" Tetorted the other
with an evil smile. "She will re
cover, be stupid when we arrive a
the French custom house, and wal
for her maid. Roll together TIL
cioaks and wells in this canvas GOV
er; our dresses and hats have no
been seen on the train. When W,
descend | iOin AdOlDhp, and lean