The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-07-04

thanks, and fastened it to one OF her
bracelets. l thought it a bold forward
thing to do; dut l knew that my opin-
ion or displeasure would make but lit
tie difference to my Younger sister.
1t was growing late rs We drew near
the little station of GiminO, where we
should have to change carriages for San
Vito. Our companions destination was
a town further along the Gimino line;
so we should soon be obliged to sepa-
rate. / was secretly pleased; but to
Mr.. Weir and Nab the time was slip
ping away altogether too quickly. Ar
rived at Gimino we made the very I'M
pleasant discovery that the San Vito
train had gone on without us and that
there would be no other till the morning.
What will you do?" asked Mr.. Weir.
II have 10 minutes to spare before my
train goes; if [ could be of any service
to you in any other way, l should be
most happy"
Il think it would be better not to go
to the hotel" said Nab; I'VE should
never wake up for the early train and
we have not the time to wait for the
next one"
Yes, Il answered, "we could get sol
refreshments here, and stay in the wait
ing-room till our train comes. 1t is II
o'clock now, and the time is not so very
long. We can take a comfortable nap
in the waiting-room."
Something in Mr.. Weir's manner be-
trayed that he did not approve of our
plan, but he was too polite to say any
thing against it. He called a waiter to
attend to our wants, and, in answer to
the second sharp call from the locOmo-
tive, took his leave, lingering long over
the h~and-shake with Nab, and disap-
peare2 in the darkness.
II wish he hadn't gone. Ifeel lonely
in this strange place." said Nab, with a
little shiver.
Nonsense, child! 1t would have
been obtrusive and indelicate if he had
remained. You forget that we are only
friends of a day. Why should he alter
his plans for us 2"
I spoke boldly; but I, too, was very
Ill at ease. The little coffee-room was
gradually filling with rough-looking
men, who watched us-the only women
in the place-furtively and curiously,
speaking O language which we but little
understood. The hotel was a mile dis
tant, and we could not take refuge In it
at that hour of the night, even if we
had known the way.
NAB, how foolish of you to wear your
diamond ring on a journey of this kind
it attracts attentions" / said in an I'M
dertone, as the light caught the brill
liant on her finger when she raised her
eo~ffee-cup.
| happened to glance out Of the win
dow at that instant, and to my horror,
saw a man with evil black eyes and
grizzled hair staring ~intently at Nab
and me with q wicked look about him
which / could not forget. AS / caught
his eve he skunk away In the darkness,
and presently the railway porter came
to escort rs to the waiting-room.
Its against the rules of the road to
allow the waiting-room to be occupied
at night" he began, "but if you will
be content without a light, and with
both doors locked ON the outside, / have
no objection to your waiting there for
y~our'train."
This was appalling, to be locked up
for five hours in a shabby little Italian
waitlngroom in total darkness. BY fee
ing the man we prevailed upon him to
allow us to bolt the outer door ON the
inside, so that we should feel a little
less like prisoners.
"The guard walks up and down the
platform till daylight, so you can feel
quite safe" said the porter, consoling-
", as he wished us goodnight and shut
the door of the dark little den upon us.
/ fortunately bethought me OK some
wax matches In the valise, and lighting
one for a moment, We took In the sit
uation- q mean little room, with door
on two sides hard benches round the
walls and q long table. Surely not an
inviting apartment for repose. We
made ourselves as comfortable as the
circumstances would permit, and tried
to forget our position in sleep. But ]
became preternaturally wakeful. Here
we were, two unprotected women,
dropped down at this little wayside
station for all the long night hours.
Suspicious characters were lurking
about, and we might be robbed and
murdered without our friends ever
knowing Of our fate. In the midst of
my cheerful reflections it consoled me a
little to see the guard pass by slowly
outside at intervals, with his lantern
cleaning on the red band of his cap.
Suddenly, my ears sharpened by the
silence, / heard a stealthy step APP
proach the inner door Of our prison,
and the quiet grating Of key in the
lock was distinctly audible. My heart
seemed to stop beating with fright, and
then, TO my u~nspeakable horror, the
door softly opened and the evil-looking
man, with the grizzled hair, whom |
had seen through the window of ths