The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-02-14
The Tell ale Tick.

its whiZz of escaping steam, and there
was only one passenger for Peter.
bank-a tall, MISUNDERSTANDING old
gentleman, with a fur-trimmed over.
coat, gold eyeglasses, and a fringe OF
snowy whiskers under his chin.
Rolf Otherbrac, the young Scotch
ticket agent, looked at him with that
half curious, half Indifferent express
sion whercwith ticket agents grow in
time to regard the whole world
You are in charge here, | sup
pose" said the tail, furry stranger.
Yes, sir" answered Rolf.
Perhaps, then, you can tell me
at what time the train from Carrow-
dale is due?r
"At $50, sir"
The old gentleman then sat down
by the fire, as if resiging himself to
waiting. And Rolf went out into
the twilight to make sure that the
switch-tender, hundred yards or so
up the snow-covered track, had not
fallen a sleep, and that the signal
lights burned clear and steady for
the Southshore train.
The Carrowdale train came in a.
bout six minutes or so behind time,
for the snow was falling fast and the
rails were slippery. The hurrying
passengers dispersed themselves in
various directions, except one young
girl, dressed in pinkish gray, with Il
black bow around her throat and a
single long willow plume dropping
over her pale face, who entered the
waiting-room slightly shivering with
the cold.
Mr.. Otherbrae advanced towards
her. "Can | get you a crrriage?" he
asked, cor be of any other service to
your"
"Thanks," she answered, shyly, 81
expect a friend to meet me here"
Click! The sharp, sudden summons
of the little telegraph behind the rail
ed compartment at the further end
of the room, and Mr.. Otherbrae, who
was operator as well as station agent
hurried to his post.
"R. Otherbrae, Peterbank station. ,
the tongue of the telegraph whisper.
ed, with its wiry, clinking sound
"From Police Headquarters. Stor
an old man and young girl, well.
dressed and plausible, Forgery
II. c. Duko, General Office, New
York
Rolf stared at the quivering wires
as if to CLEAN further intelligenc,
from their metalk surfaces; then h,
looked across the room to where th,
slender, dark eyed young lady sat
her hands clasped on her knee anC
her eyes fixed intently on the fire.
"A young girl, well dressed ant
/ plausible!" The description tallieC
well enough, but then she was alone
And as for her being connected witt
a aforger's gang-pshaw! Rolf Other
brae knew betterl
At the same instant she rose anC
came hesitatingly half across tn,
floor. 81 beg your pardon, sir-bu
has the express train come in yet?"
1.-TWO hours ago." Mr.. Otherbra,
answered, wondering if it were pos
sible that so fair an exterior coul,
conceal the hideous inner life O
crime. And then, all of sudden
it occurred to him that the tall gen
tleman in the fur-trimmed overcoa
in the othor room might be tn,
friend" she had spoken of and tn,
"old man" alluded to in the di.
patch.
The young lady caught sight G
the tall erect figure by the fire in tn
other room-the figure in the fur.
with the silyery, aristocratic hal
and the chin dropping on the breas
as if in slumber.
Papa" broke involuntarilv fror
her lips. "He has been waiting fc
me and | never knew it," She hun
ried past the ticket-agent, into tn
other room. Rolf Otherbrae look e
after her in dismay.
"I'm to stop her, am I?" though
Rolf. "And how in the deuce am
to do it, I'd like to know"
AS these disjointed reflections pas,
ed through his mind a sudden shrieI
rose up in the silence-and Rolf hun
rying into the waiting room, saw tn
young girl kneelipg ON the floor be
side the old gentleman. And in Al
instant he perceived the secret q
her cry. The stately old man, witt
fur-trimmed garments and the snow,
beard, was quite dead. As Rolf ad
vanced she looked wildly into hi
face,
"Uant you help him. She gasp
ed Cant you do something? 0
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