The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-11-19

IHe trdln Starteu, anu tne young iiah
gradually let his book drop on his lap,
rs his head sank back, his eyes closed,
and his mouth opened. He was not
exactly asleep, but had almost lost
consciousness when he became aware
that his satchel was moving slightly.
Without opening his eyes he let his
hand fall on the satchel AS he did so
he touched the slim fingers of hand
that he recognized with thrill to be
those of a lady. The hand was quick
ly drawn away, but the young man
was now broad awake. So broad
awake that he pretended to be still
asleep as he opened his eye, just wide
enough to peep through the lashes at
the troubled face of the young lady
who was "traveling alone for the first
time" She had moved to seat in
front Of him, and her dainty, ungloved
hand was hanging over the back, as if
she had been afraid to take it away
when the young man moved.
Five minutes passed, during which
she sat perfectly still, looking at the
apparently closed eyes Of the young
man, while the loud talking and
laughter of the three drummers, who
were telling each other highly colored
anecdotes in the smoking-room, were
the only sounds to be heard save the
rumbling of the wheels.
Strange how man may be de-
ceived," thought the young man. 81
always considered myself pretty
bright, but l should never have sus-
pected that girl Of being a sneak-thief.
She does her work like professional,
too. Probably works the trains all
the while. Hello she is going to try
it again"
The girl had arisen, and the white
hand was steadily advancing toward
the satchel. The young man found it
difficult to breathe regularly and nat
urally, and his eyelds quivered with
the exertion of keeping them in such
position that they appeared closed
while allowing them to watch the
would-be thief.
Now her hand is on the satchel and
she is gently pulling it toward her.
Slowly it is drawn from the young
mans grasp. In another minute she
will have it. Her face is flushed, the
blue eyes are dilated, and even the
pretty blonde rings of her hair seem
to be curling tighter in the intensity
of the moment. Then
"Here is Horseshoe bend" says the
young man, suddenly sitting up, "and
| beautiful it looks in the sunset"
He does not appear to notice the
girls confusion, but he takes the pre-
caution to pick up his satchel as he
steps to the other side of the car. and
points to the broad mountain panorama
spread out in the red light of the dy-
ing day. The girl moves over to the
window ard is at once lost in admira-
tion of the scene. There is no doubt
about the genuineness of her delight,
and the young man confesses that sneak
thief though she may be, she has an
artists eye for the beautiful. Uncon-
sciously she points at features of the
landscape that strike her fancy, and
calls attention to light and shade eff
fects among the pines as they tremble
and wave in the gentle evening breeze.
Funniest girl ever saw. Wonder
if it is not case of kleptomania. She
has every mark of refinement and ed
ucation," thought the young man.
"She evidently would like to get that
satchel if she could. Guess she knows
by the looks of it that it contains
jewelry. Probably she had her eye on
me in Philadelphia and determined to
get it before we reached Pittsburg.
By Jupiter! I'll give her a chance, Sc
l can see what her game really is"
He had returned to his seat by this
time and the girl was leaning on the
window-sill, looking calmly at the
rugged mountain scenery which ex.
tends for many miles west of Horseshoe
bend. He took a cigar from his pock-
ct, bit off the end, and then strolled care
lessly in the direction of the smoking
room, leaving the precious satchel on
the seat. He sat down with the drum.
mers and lighted his cigar, but kept
in such position that he could watch
his sachel. He had not long to wait
Hastily and nervously the girl
whom he had left apparently absorbed
in the view from the opposite window
sprang upon the satchel and moved il
from the seat. Things were getting
interesting and the young man almos,
swallowed a moulhful of smoke as he
leaned forward to get better view
The train was moving at the rate Of
about forty miles an hour, and hi
knew the thief could not get off jus
now, at all events.
But what was this She had thrown
the satchel on one side without deign
ing even to look at it, and was fumb
ling at the light fall topcoat he hat
left on the seat.
The young man started. "By thu
, powers! She is after that diamond
ling in the pocket had almost for
gotten it. She is sharp one. How
! did she know it was there? This ha
gone far enough. I guess | had bet