Smyrna times., 1884-06-25

IL
were soon chatting together like al,
friends. He gave us his card on wbicl
was engraved Sidney Weir Oak
lands, Kent" and he cleaned from
our conversation that The Misses War
Durtons of Exham were his traveIino
companions. 1t suddenly occurred to
me that | was playing the chaperor
very badly in making such advance,
10 perfect stranger, and tried to
lrlghten Nab into becoming proprjet,
ana reserve; but, when | nattered nv
sell that l was looking nv sternest
she actually gave Mr. Weir her nrettv
little hand to hold while he told he,
fortune in the pink palm.
Ihe subject of bric-a-brac havino
come up, Mr.. Weir produced a curious.
/ Iy-carYed little silver whistle from hi,
/ pocket, which he said had once saved
MS life in India. 1t had a Deculia,
shrlll note, very penetrating and strik.
ing Tor SO small an article, and, used as
signal OF distress, it had brought
help "hen he was OverpOwered by the
enemy. lie seemed pleased with
Mab's warm admiration of the whistle
and, as she was returning it. he said
simply: ~ 7'''''
should be SO pleased if you would
accept the little toy as a keepsake. I
snail only lose it if it continues to
jingle about with my KEYS and small
change; and perhaps il would serve as
charm to ward off danger from Won
on some occasion. Its duty to me is
done" ~ '''0 10
NAB hesitated; but seeing the disaD-
pointed look on Mr.. Weiris face She
TOOK the little trinket with a smile of
thanks, and fastened it to one of her
bracelets. | thought il a bold forward
IhihS 10 90; but | knew that nv
oplmon or displeasure would make but
hIIie dl1erence to my younger sister.
1t was growing late as we drew near
the little station Of Gimino. where we
should have to change carriages for
san Vito. Our companions destina-
tloh was town further along the
OlmlnO line, SO we should soon he
Obliged to separate | was secretly
pleased, but to NJ. Weir and Nab the
tlme was slipping away altogether too
quickly, Arrived at Gimino we made
the very unpleasant discovery that
Ihe san Vito train had gone on with.
OUT us and that there would be no
other TIL . O'Clock in the morning.
What will you do?" asked Mr.
Weir. 81 have ten minutes to snoro
before my train goes; if | could be Of
any service to you in engaging IL room
at the hotel, or in any other way. |
should be most happy
think it would be better not TO 90
to the hotel" said Nab: we should
never wake up for the early train and
we nave not the time to wait for the
next one.n
Yes, | answered Eve could oct
some reireshment here and stav in fbe
waiting room till our train comes. II
Is IL o'clock now, and the time is not
50 very long. We can take a com.
portable nap in the waiting room
Something in Mr.. Weir's manner he
trayed that he did not quite approve Of
our plot, but he was too polite to saw
anything against it. He called a waif-
eF 10 attend TO our wants. and i'm
answer to the second sharp call from
the locomotive, took his leave. linper-
ing long over the hand-shake With
Nab, and disappeared in the darkness
wish he hadn't gone. / feel lone
~ IN this strange place" said Nab.
with 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?"
l spoke boldly; but /, too. was i'll at
case. This little coffee-room was
gradually filling with rough-looking
men, who watched us-the only women
IN the place-fuTtively and curiouslv.
speaking a language which we but ~
tie understood. The hotel was n mile
9lstant, and we could not take refuge
IN 1t at that hour of the night, even if
we had known the way.
Nab, how foolish of YOU TO wear
your diamond ring on Il journey of this
KIND. 1t attracts attention - | said in
an undertOne as the light caught the
brilliant on her finger when she raised
her coffee cup.
happened to glance out of the win
dow at that instant, and to nv horror
saw a man with evil black ewes and
grlzzled hair staring intently at Nab
ana me with a wicked look about him
which l could not forget. As 81 caught
MS eye he skunk away in the darkness.
ana presently the railway porter came
10 escort US to the waiting room.
1t Is against the rules of the road
to allow the waiting room to he occu-
pled at night" he began, but if YOU
VIII De content without light, and
with both doors locked on the outside.
have no objection to your waiting
there tor your train
This was appalling, to be locked uD
Tor five hours in n shabby little Italian /
waiting room III total darkness. By /
ieelng the man we prevailed upon him /
TO allow us to bolt the outer door on
the inside, so that we should feel n lit /
lie less like prisoners.
The guard walks up and down the ,
platform till daylight, SO YOU can feel |
lulte safe said the porter as he wish /
4d us goodnight and shut the door of |
.he dark little den upon us.
| fortunately bethought me of some
wax matches in the valise. and light.
ng one for moment, we took in the
,ltuatlon-a mean, little room, with
toOr on two sides, hard benches rouud
he wall, and a long table. Surely not
IN inviting apartment for repose. We
made ourselves Us comfortable as the
would permit, and tried
o forget our position in sleep. But l
became preternaturally " wakeful. Here
we're we, two unprotected women.
lropped down ut this little wavside
tation for all the long night hours.
suspicious characters were lurking
bout, and we might be robbed and
murdered without our friends ever
moving of our fate. In the midst of
ny cheerful reflections it consoled me
little to see the guard pass bv slowly
outside at intervals, with his lantern
.leaming on the red band of his can.
Suddenly, my ears sharpened hy the
Hence, | heard a stealthy step ap-
roach the inner door of our prison.
nd the quiet grating of a KEY in the
ock was distinctly audible. NV heart
eemed to stop beating with fright.
nj then, to my unspeakable horror,
he door softly opened and the evil
1oklng man with the grizzled hair.
nom :. l had seen through the window
the coffee-rOOm, crept in with dim
intern in his hand.
Listen!" he said in a hoarse wbis-
er, fixing me with his wicked ewes
II you are quiet | will do no harm.
ut IL you scream or make the least
lsturbance l know how to silence YOU.