Sharp County record., 1879-07-10

surly guard thrust IN his heau. her
heart failed her. If the surly guard
had seen Bijou, he had the right to car
ry the dog off in triumph to the baggage
van, and impose on herself the igno.
miny of 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 Nor
-Stanley's territory. She resigned
herself, with a sigh, to the inevitable
After all, these ladies were only a trife
peculiar and foreign-looking, mere
harmless fellow-creatures, and Bijou
had already enjoyed two hours of free
dom. Miss Norfolk -Stanley's first i'm
pulse was to throw herself on their mer-
cy to the extent of releasing her dog,
In travel she had never yet encountered
another woman who did not assist in
smuggling Bijou with the delight in
contraband warfare of any kind peculiar
to the sex. A second glance at those
yelled and mufied figures deferred her
The strangers, with a murmured apollo
gy in French for the intrusion, sank
into their places at the other extremity
of the carriage, and remained as silent
as statues. They carried no bags or
parcels of any kind. The yellow hand
produced a smelling bottle of cut steel,
and pungent odor difused itself grad
ually, as the windows were closed to
exclude the smoke. "
Now the tunnels were gained which
form the threshold OF Mont Gents on
the Italian side, and which are i'm
measurably more black and oppressive.
A rush of steam, shrek of the loco
motive, and the train was ingulfed in
the first of the three long tunnels. The
gas burned in tiny star in the roof of
the carriage. Horrible darkness and
dense smoke, like an Opaque wall
against the window-sash! Bijou's mis-,
tress unfastened her collar and sought
her fan. At the other end of the car
liage the yellow hand was deity open
ing the owners cloak, while q pair of
glittering eyes were turned upon the
unconscious Miss Norfolk-Stanley from
the folds of the veil. The smelling-bot-
tie of cut steel had vanished.
A rush of steam, q shrek of the loco
motive, and the train plunged into the
second tunnel. Behold the companion
of the traveller with yellow hands quiet
ly unfastening her cloak, and producing
her smelling bottle, this one q slender
vial of colorleSs glass, which she re-
tanned between her fingers instead of
using.
A rush of steam, shrek of the To-
comotive, and the train passes into the
third tunnel. Silence reigned in the Ia
dies carriage.
After this there was a pause, and
Miss Norfolk Stanley opened her win
dow TO inhale the pure mountain air,
while each link of the train was tested
before the trial of the great tunnel.
Then Mont Gems opened that great
mouth, and received the human freight,
the feeble atoms of an hour, into its
rocky heart. Thirty minu s.! Miss
Norfolk Stanley opened nT watch,
Much may happen in thirty minutes.
She had turned to the window, which
had been again closed, when her head
was seized, a nervous hand was pressed
over her mouth, she was forced to in
hale chloroform, 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 roll
ed from her lap to the floor.
Bliou fell on his head. Astonished
at such 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 and hid beneath the folds
of his mistresS's dress. Mark the wis.
dom of this little dog, and explain it by
any law, short of reason, actual pres.
ence Of mind, if you can. He was
afraid, and concealed himself, trembling
in every limb. He knew something
dreadful had happened.
The two women, divested of theil
cloaks, stood over Miss Norfolk-Stan.
ley. Much can be done in thirty min.
utes Of outer darkness, lost in the heart
of Mont Gents.
"Do not kill her. Discovery would
be awkward" whispered the elder, g
keen, yellow face appearing out of the
veil which had previously concealed it.
Her accomplice removed the bottle
from the nostrils of Miss Norfolk Stan
ley, and lifted the cloak from her face
The latter did not move. Then the vel
low claws took the watch and chain.
rings, probed every pocket, nimbly sift'
ed the contents of the rack above fol
valuables, and raised the leather bag.
Bijou house, in hopes of its containing
ajewel box.
Snow open the other window. The
carriage must not smell of chloroforn
when we reach Modane. l will give hel
another dose before throwing away the