The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-11-01

aDV"o Az, anu Wlcheu, snarp gray eyes
that screwed into one like gimlets.
didn't care much for Redfaee by this
time. l didn't believe he would "twist
my neck and chuck me out of the
window" as Ire suggested; but l hated
her all over at once, from her sausage
curls-grizzly-gray, two on each side
to her hooked claws Of fingers that
were twitching away. at her knitting
needles, in and out Of big gray stock
ing.
"Hush, Sammy" she said quite
sweetly; "the poor child means no
harm, and he can easily get out at the
next station. Where are you going to,
lover"
l could only cape in reply, and she
must have thought l was softy, for
she twisted my ticket clean out of my
hand before 1 knew what she was
after.
Mosslands, Very good. That's the
next station. I'll see him safe out,
Sammy, dear"
Sammy growled an. inarticulate re-
sponse from under his rugs.
The timid passenger had neither
spoken or stirred. She sat on the same
side as the other two, covered with a
big plaid rug and blue wooden veil
tied over her head. 1 could make
nothing out except that she seemed to
be asleep in very uncomfortable atti-
tude.
l sat in the middle, opposite the old
woman. 1t was so disagreeable find
ing her sharp eyes On me while her
needle clicked on Just the sameI that
thought might as well pretend to 60
to sleep too. So 1 curled myself up
and gave one or two mods, and then
dropped my face on my arm so that
she couldn't see it.
Presently / heard the needles going
slower and slower. l peeped, and saw
the big bonnet and sausage curls CIV
ing a lurch forward and then back
ward, once, twice; then a big snore;
and then she was off too.
I didn't stir for minute, for I saw
that Sammy" was up to something.
He leant forward and peered at he- as
If to make sure she was quite asleep;
then cautiously groped in the seat be-
side her and hauled up little black
bag. He opened it softly, drew out a
silver-topped flask, and closed it Just
as jerk of the train reused the old
lady. Sammy dived back in his cor
ner; and she sat bolt upright, rubbed
her eyes hard, felt suspiciously around
till she found the bag, slowed it away
behind her and resumed her knitting.
Only for few moments, though; with
weary groan she let stockings, needles
and all go down with a run, and
dropped back sounder asleep than be-
fore.
Then from Sammy's corner came a
gurgle-soft and low-many times re-
peated-then all was quiet.
Now was my time. began to look
about and think what 1 should do
first. Whether l dared get up on the
seat and see how the communication
with the guard worked and what
would happen if / pulled it. If the
train stopped could make off or say
it was Sammy. He was half tipsy
now and people wouldn't believe him.
First of all / went to the window to
look out little. 1t was pitch dark
outside, and all / could see was the re-
Election of the carriage and of the lady
in the blue woolen veil. She was sit
ting up now and looking intently at
me. What an uncomfortable set they
were, to be sure!
/ look round at her directly. She
was very young-younger than Lefty,
and she's Just seventeen and pretty
but so thin and frightened-looking that
l felt very unhappy about her.
She fixed her big, bright eyes on me,
and put up her finger. Don't speak,"
she said, in clear whisper. "Keep
looking out Of the window. Can you
hear what l am saying?"
l nodded, and she went on, looking
at me, and now and then at the old
woman.
"If they get me to London I am
dead woman. You are nay last chance.
win you help me?"
l nodded very hard indeed, and
looked at the communication with the
guard. She shook her head.
"No, fhat's no good. / must get
away at the next station. He is safe.
Can you stop her from following me ?"
didn't believe I could. / might
have thrown rug over Sammy and
sat on him for a minute or two, but
that old woman was too much for me.
l felt that directly she woke she'd see
what was thinking of, and strangle
me before could stir. The precious
minutes were flying-the miles were
hurrying past us in the outside gloom
the girls big woful eyes were fixed
on me in desperate appeal.
81 have friends who will save me if
l can but get to them," she painted.
"Just one minutes chance-only
one"
All at once had an idea. A splen-
did one ! "LoOk at this" whispered,
and held nm nv railway kew UIf I