The Newtown bee., 1879-06-17


 tiny travelling flask.
 The train wended it's way toward the Alps; one by one snow peaks detached themselves from the 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 bamlets were huddled together in cluster of steep roofs; the river loaned in silvery nipples; the peasants worked in the fields. Within the railway carriage Miss Norfolk-Stanley indulged in her own meditations, and Biiou eapered about at pleasure. The lady mad. her plans, with slightly compressed lips. She London. Nephew Dick might we'll look to himself ..-.-.-.---.-=,-- .--
 The train paused. Hi, Rijou! Miss Norfolk-Stanley had scarcely time to re- store her pet to the bag pocket when the opposite door flew open, and the surly guard thurstin his head. Her heart. failed her. If the surly guard had seen Biiou, he had the right to carry the dog off in tri- umph to the baggage van, and impose on herself the ignominy of a fine. Instead, he explained that two ladies must be ad- mitted, as the cigar smoke of their carriage made them i'll. Again that long, yellow hand groped upward for the door handle, and the two women in cloaks invaded Miss Norfolk-Stanley's territory. She resigned herself, with 8 sigh, to the inevitable 1 fforo oll 1oI; peculiar and foreign-looking, mere harm less fellow owcreatures, and Bijou had already enjoyed two hours of freedom. Miss Nor folk-Stanley's first impulse was to throw herself on their mercy to the extent of re- leasing her dog. In travel she had never yet encountered another woman who did not assisst in smuggling Bijou with the de- light in contraband warfare of any kind peculiar to the sex. A second glance at those untitled figures deterred her. The strangers, with a murmured apology 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 diffused itself gradually.
 Now the tunnels were gained which form the threshold of Mont Cenis on the Italian side, and which are immeasurably more black and oppressive. s.e.-.-. .s.
 A rush of steam, a shriek of the locomo- tive and the train was ingulfed in the first of the three long tunnels. The gas burned in a tiny star in the roof of the carriage Horrible darkness and dense smoke, like an opaque wall against the window-sash. Bi jou's mistress unfastened her collar, and sought her fan. At the other end of the carriage the yellow hand was deftly open ing the owners cloak, while pair of gilt tering 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, shriek of the locomo- tive, and the train plunged into the second tunnel. Behold the companion of the trav- eler with yellow hands quietly unfastening her cloak, and producing her smelling bottle, this one a slender vial of colorless glass, which she retained between her fingers in- stead of using.
 A rush of steam, shriek of the locomo- tive, and the train passed into the third tun- nel Silence reigned in the ladies carriage.
 After this there was a pause, and Miss Norfolk Stanley opened her window to in- hale the pure mountain air, while each link of the train was tested before the trial of the great tunnel. Then Mont Cenis opened that great mouth, and received the human freight, the feeble atoms of an hour, into its rocky heart. Thirty minutes! Miss Nor folk-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, nervous hand was pressed over her mouth, she was forced to inhaIe chloroform, and a heavy cloak enveloped her, effectually stifiing the faint cry, scarcely moro than a sigh, which es- capped her. The victim speedily lost con- sciousness, and the leather bag rolled from her lap to the floor.
 Biiou fell on his head. Astonished at such treatment, he crept out of his pocket of which the strap had not oeen refastened when the surly guard brought the other occupants of the carriage so 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 presence of mind, if you can. He was afraid, and concealed himself, trem- bling 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 dark ness, lost in the heart of Mont Cenis.
 Don't kill her. Discovery would be awkward" whispered the elder, a keen, yellow face appearing out of the veil which had previously concealed it.
 Her accomplice removed the bottle from tie nostrils of Miss Norfolk Stanley, 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 valuables 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 of chloroform when we reach Modane. will give her another dose before throwing away the bottle.'
 It was such rare chance Only if we should be detected at the frontierr' muI- mured the younger woman.
 @Attend, ma chere; have planned all, !" retorted the elder, with an evil smile. "She will recover, be stupid when we arrive at the French custom-house, and wait for her maid. Roll together the cloaks and wells