Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1885-11-27

"o'"S MS satchel by his side,
anu throwing paper bag of cakes
down with 1t.
Ihe train started, and the young man
gradually let his book drop on his lap.
as ms head sank back. his eyes closed.
and his mouth opened. He was not
exactly asleep but had almost lost
consciousness when he became aware
ehat 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 a thrill to be
those of lady. The hay.A. ..r.-..-...rr<ir
X .ras that ne pretehdTd 20 DC SUIT
Z. 5leep as he opened his eye, just wide
Enough to peep through the lashes at
the troubled face of the young lady
who was ''trayeling 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
anecdotes in the smoking room, were
the only sounds to be heard save the
rumbling of the wheels.
strange how a 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,
to- 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 eyelids quivered with
the exertion of keeping them in such a
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
II-sre ~ blonde rings of her hair seem
7 Co 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-
canton to pick up his satchel as he
stons to the other side of the car, and
noints to the broad mountain panorama
snread out in the red light of the dy
inc day. The girl moves over to the
window anStis at once lost in admira-
finn of the Scene. There is no doubt
about the genuineness of her delight,
and the young ma1~eonfesses that sneak
thief though. she may be, she has an
at.;s4eASaye for the beautiful Uncon-
sti0usly 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
ifitis 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
iewelry. 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, so
| can see what her game really is"
He had returned to his seat by this
time and the girl was leaning on the
wndow-sill, looking calmly at the
rugged mountain scenery which ex-
tends for many miles west of Horseshoe
hsnd lie took a cigar from his pock-
= tt.bit off the end. and then strolled care
fessly in the direction of the smoking
loom, leaving the precious satchel or
Pc seat. he sat down with the drum
riers and lighted his cigar, but KEEP
in such position that he @euld watcl
MS sachel. He had not long to wai;
III Hastily and nervously the gir
Ah5m he had left apparently absorbel
the view from the opposite window
brang upon the satchel and moved
i4om the seat. Things were gettin,
siteresting and the young man almos
ffgallowed a mouLhful of smoke as h
iLaned forward to get better view
She train was moving at the rate o
l4out forty miles an hour. and h
Tlew the thief could not get off jus
alsw. at all events.
kiIBut what was this She had throw
n$ satchel on one side without deign
X even to look at it, and was fumt
thsg at the light fall topcoat he ha
inl on the seat.
lI,.T The young man started. "By tn
= 5wersl She is after that damon
iefg in the pocket. | had almost fol
ten it. She is a sharp one. Ho1
pol she know it was therer This ha
IiRle far enough. ] guess l had bel
/ AL. a.