The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-06-26
surly guard, peering about the floor sus

uttered in alarm for her pet
} Then the surly guard banged the door
departed, and the train actually started
at last. Bijou skipped out of his prison
executed a wild but barkless dance over
the seats, stood on his hind legs with
great apparent enjoyment, ate biscuit
and was refreshed with water from the
cup of his own tiny travelling flask.
The train wended its way toward the
Alps; one by one snow peaks detached
themselves from the mountain rampant
d I7dlviding France and Italy, and stood out
boldly against the blue sky; the atmos.
phere grew keen. Down in, the valleys
weather-beaten little hamlets were hud-
died together in cluster of steep roofs
the river foamed in silvery rippcs; the
peasants worked in the blooming fields
Within the railway carriage Miss Nor
folk-Stanley indulged in her own medi-
tatlons, and Bijou capercd about at pleas
ure. The lady made her plans, with
slightly compressed Ii ps She would 90
to Paris, and thence direct to London
Nephew Dick might well look to HIM
self .
The train paused. Hi, Bijou! Miss Nor
folk-Stanley had scarcely time to restore
her pet to the bag pocket when the oppo-
site door flew open, and the surly guard
thrust in his head. Her heart failed her
If the surly guard had seen Biou, he had
the ri ght to carry the dog off in triumph
to the baggage van, and impose on herself
the ignomlny of a fine. Instead, he ex-
| planned that two ladies must be admitted,
| Al @I,; Il,
them ill. Again that long, yellow hand
| groped upward for the door handle, and
the two women in cloaks invaded Miss
Norfolk-Stanley's territory. She resign
ed herself, with a sigh, to the inevitable.
| After all, these ladies were only Il trifc
| peculiar and foreign looking, mere harm
less tellow-creatures, and Bijou had al
| ready enjoyed two hours of freedom
| Miss Nortolk-Stanley's first impulse was
to throw herself on their mercy to the ex-
tent of releasing her dog. In travel she
had never yet encountered another woman
who did not assist in smuggling Biiou
with the delight in contraband warfare of
| any kind peculiar to the sex. a second
glance at those yelled and muff1ed figures
deferred her. The strangers with a MUIR
INJURED apology in French for the intru-
sion, 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 a pungent odor diffused itself gradu-
ally, as the windows were closed to eX-
clude the smoke.
Now the tunnels were gained which
form the threshold Of Mont Gems on the
italian side, and which are immcsurahlv
more black and oppressive. .
A rush of steam, a shrek Of the loco
motive, and the train was 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 mistress unfastcned her collar,
and sought her fan. At the other end of
the carriage the yellow hand was deftly
opening the owners cloak, while a pair
of glittering eyes were TUNED on the un-
conscious Miss Norfolk Stanley from the
folds of the veil. The smelling bottle of
cut steel had vanished. " ...
a rush of steam, shrek of the locomo-
tive, and the train plunged into the sec
ond tunnel. Behold the companion of
the traveller with yellow hands quietly
unfastening her CLOAK, and producing her
smelling bottle, this one slender vial
or colorless glass, which she retained be-
tween her fingers instead of using.
A rush of steam,a shrek of the locomo-
tive, and the train passed into the third
tunnel. Silence reigned in the ladies
carriage.
After this there was apause, and Miss
Norfolk-Stanley opened her window to
inhail the pure mountain air, while each
link of the train was tested before the
trial of the great tunnel. Then Mont
Gents opened her great mouth, and re-
ceived the human freight, the feeble
atoms of an hour, into its rocky heart.
Thirty minutes Miss Norfolk Stanley
opened her 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
enveloped her, efectually sitting, the
faint cry, scarcely more than sigh,
which escaped her. The victim speedily
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 pock-
et-of which the strap had not been re-
fastened when the surly guard brought
the other occupants of the carriage so
unexpectedly ly--and hid beneath the folds
of his mistress's dress. Mark the wisdom
of this little dog, and explain it by any
law short of reason, actual presence of
mind, if you can. He was afraid, and
concealed himself, trembling in every
limb. He knew something dreadful had
happened. 2"1.
The two women, divested of their
cloaks, stood over Miss Norfolh-Stanley.
Much can be done in thirty minutes of
outer darkness, lost iu the heart of Mont
Cents.
"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 remove the bottle from
the nostrils Of Miss Forfolk- Stanley, and
lifted the cloak from her face The lat
ter 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 valuables, and raised
the leather bag, Bijou's house, in hopes
of its containing a jewel box. ..s
"Now open the other window. The
carriage must not smell of chloroform
when we reach Modane. will give her
another dose before throwing away the
bottle.o s*2 ~ f = w. ( a I'D
''It was such rare chance! Only if
we should be detected at the frontier!'
murmured the younger woman.
'sAttend, ma chere; I have planned all,
retorted the elder, with an evil smile.
"She will recover, be stupid wheh we ar
rive at the French coustom-house. and
wait for her maid. Roll together the
cloaks and the wells in this canvas cover;
our dresses and hats have not been seen
on the train. When we descend, I join
Adolph, and lean on his arm; you go with
the boys and speak German. We knew