Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1879-07-12

locomotive, and the train WAS engulfed
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
riage the yellow hand was deftly opening
the owner 8 cloak, while pair of glitter.
ing 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, shrek of the locom-
tive, and the train plunged into the
second tunnel. Behold the companion
of the traveller with the yellow hands
quietly unfastened her cloak, and pro.
ducing her smelling-bottle, this one a
slender vial of colored glass, which she
retained between her fingers instead of
using.
A rush of steam, shrek of the locom.
tive, and the train passed into the third
tunnel. Silence reigned in the ladies'
carriage.
After this there was pause, and Miss
Norfolk.Stanley opened her window to
lnhale 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 minutes Miss NorfolkrStsnley
opened her watch. Much may happ
in thirty minutes. She had tur ed
the window, which, had been agsi
closed, when her head was seized, ne r
vous hand was pressed over her mouth,
she was forced to inhale chloroform, and
heavy cloak enveloped her, effectually
sitting faint cry, scarcely more than
sigh, which escaped her. The victim
speedy lost consciousness, and the leather
bag rolled from her lap to the floor.
Bijou fell on his head. Astonished at
such treatment, he crept out of his
pocket-of which the strap had not been
retastened when the surly guard brought
the other occupants of the carriage 30
unexpectedly-and hid beneath the
folds of his mistress dress. Mark the
wisdom of this little dog, and explain it
by any law, short of reason, actual pres.
ence of mind, you can. He was
sfraia, and concealed himself, trembling
in every limb. He knew something
dreadful had happened.
The two women, divested of their
cloaks, stood over Miss Norfolk-Stanley
Much can be done in thirty minutes Of
outer darkness, lost in the heart of
Mont Gents.
"Do not kill her. Discovery would
be AWKWARD" whispered the elder,
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
yellow claws took the watch and chain,
rings, probed every pocket, nimbly sifted
the contents of the rack above for valu-
ables, and raised the leather bag, Bijou's
house, in hopes of its containing jewel
box.
"Now open the other window. The
carriage must not smell from chloroform
when we reach Mondane. | will give
her another dose before throwing away
the BOTTLE"
" It was such rare chance Only if
we should be detected at the frontier |"
murmured the young woman.
"Attend, ma chere have planned
ALL" retorted the elder, with an evil
smile. "She will recover, be stuped
when we arrive at the French custom
house, and wait for her maid. Roll
together the cloaks and the wells in this
canvas c>ver our dresses and hats have
not been seen on the train. When we
descend, join Adolphe, and lean on his
arm you go with the boys, and speak
German. We no longer know each other
You take the Geneva route, and | jour-
ney to Macon. There is plenty Of time.
Here, put back her purse, containing a
little silver"
Daylight at last Bijou thrust out
his nose from the edge Of his mistress
robe. The light resssured him. Such
a volley of sharp, piercing barks became
audible in tine ladies' carriage as could
only emanate from the throat OF an irate
terrier. The two men were confused.
At first they supposed the dog was bark
ing in an adjacent carriage. How could
living creature of any sort be concealed
in their own, when every article of Miss
Norfolk-Stanley's had been searched ?
Bijou barked with frantic zeal, and
sprang toward the open window, redoub-
ling his clamor. Then the older woman
saw him, darted forward, and seized him.
The terrible yellow hand closed about
Bijou's neck abe lifted and prepared to
throw him out of the window. Bijou's
silky little body landed on the edge OF the
sash just as the surly guard appeared,
who was walking along the outer railing
or platform, in response to that shrill
volley of barks. What dog in the
ladies' carriage, after ALI Aha one
must see about it The surly guard
caught Bijou in his hands; heads ap-
peared at neighboring windows. The
poor little beast whimpered, licked the
guards face in propitiatory manner,
and looked at him with the most agon-
lied canine intelligence.
A dog in the ladies' carriage More>
over, flung out OF the window by a
vengeful hand One glance from his
point OF vantage on the steps revealed
the truth to the aurly guard. Miss
Norfolk,Stanley reposed in her corner
in rigid insensibillty, the cloak still
about her bags and cases were scattered
Oh the floor; faint scent OF chloroiorm
still fingered. A very well arranged
plan, hinging on the trains not pausing
again until Mo ,dane was reached, when
all traces of disorder would have been
removed, but for Illustration by vigi-
liant little dog, so tiny as to be slowed
% sun., N, hhn ,annkat OF a laathar hnn