Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-09-12

the darkness.
Il wish he hadn't gone. feel lonely
in this strange place. said Nab, with
little SILVER.
| "Nonsense child 1t would have been
obtrusive and indicate if he had remain
ed. You forget that we are only friends
OF a day. Why should he altar his plans
for us?"
spoke boldly, but too was very ill at
ease. The little coffee room was gradual
ly filling with rough-looking men. who
whatched us-the only women in the
place-furtively and curiously, speaking 8
language which we but little understood.
The hotel was mile distant, and we could
not take refuge in it at that hour of the
night, even if we had known the way.
'Mab. how foolish Of you to wear your
diamond ring on a journey Of this kind
it attracts attention." said. in an I'M
dertope. as the light caught the brilliant
on her finger when she raised her coffee
cup.
l happened to glance out of the window
at that instant, and to my my horror saw
man with evil black eyes and grizzled
hair starip g intently at Nab and me with
a wicked look about him which / could
not forget. AS caught his eye he skunk
away in the darkness, and presently the
railway porter came to escort US to the
waiting room.
ut is against the rules of the road to
| allow the waiting room to be occupied at
night" he began; "but if you will con-
! tent without light, and with both doors
locked on the outside, have no objection
to your waiting there for your train"
This was appalling be locked up for
five hours in shabby little Italian waiting
room, in total darkness. By seeing the
man, we prevailed upon aim to allow us
| to bolt the outer door on the inside, SO
that we should feel little less like pris-
Oners.
"The guard walks up and down the
| platform till daylight, SO you can feel
quite safe,'' said the porter consolingly,
as he wished US good night and shut the
door of the dark little den upon us.
l fortunately bethought me Of some wax
matches In the valise, and lighting one for
moment, we took in the situation q
mean little room, with door on two sides.
hard benches around the walls, and long
table. Surely not an inviting apartment
for repose! We made ourselves as COM
| Portable as the circumstances would per-
NIT, and tried to forget our position in
sleep; but became preternaturally wake
full. Here were we, two unprotected wo.
men, dropped down at this little wayside
station for all the long night hours, sus-
! picious characters lurEi ing about, and we
might be robbed and murdered without our
friends ever knowing of our fate. In the
midst of my cheerful reflections it consol.
ed me little to see the guard pass by
slowly outside at intervals, with his Ian
tern cleaning on the red band of his cap.
Suddenly, my ears sharpened by the
silence, heard stealthy step approach
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 unspeakable
horror, the door softly opened and the
evil-looking man with the grizzled hair,
whom had seen through the window Of
the coffee-room, crept in with dark Ian
tern in his hand.
"Listea ~ he said in hoarse whisper,
fixing me with his wicked eyes. "If you
are quiet will do you no harm, but If
you scream or make the least disturbance
I know how to silence you. I want the
ring your friend g pretty finger wears and
whatever money and other valuables you
have about you. Make NO resistance, as
you value your life!''
suppose grew very white and trem-
hled, for Mabel said IN q surprisingly firm
voice:
"Don't faint, Effie, but give the man
the yalise to search. Our lives are wor tn
more than the trumpery it contains"
The robber set his lantern on the table
| and began undoing the straps Of our va
| lise, placing it on the floor before the door
at which he had entered. Where was the
guard outside that his light did not shine
again through our window? He might
have rescued u.s. but he did not come.
"Eftie," said Nab. In q whisper to me-
she need not have whispered, for the rob-
Der could not understand our language
II am not going to give up my ring with
out struggle. This man evidently thinks
the other door locked on the outside.
otherwise he would not let US stand SO
close to it. have my hand on the bolt
now. There-I have slipped it {! am 60
ing to dash the robbers lantern from the
table with this bundle of shawls; in the
darkness we can rush out upon the plat
form and call the guard. Don't lose your
head or try to detain me. for am quite
resolved. Be ready to fly when give the
signal"
Before could recover from my aston
ishment at this bold plan there was crash
Of glass upon the floor, darkness, volley
| OF Italian oaths, and my sister and were
tearing madly down the deserted plat