The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-04-01
APARTMENT CARS.
Popular Demand for the Abolition Of
the Apartment Cars In Use in
ESrope.

The agitation of adopting the Ameri-
can style of steam carriage still goes on
in Europe. Scarcely day passes that
some incident does not appear in the
press showing the danger to which the
traveller is exposed in the old coupe cars
still in use upon the principal lines of
the continent
The following appeared in the Figaro
one evening last week: The sister-in-
law OF high official took the Bordeaux
express for Montauban. A coupe had
been taken for her exclusive use. The
journey does not require over three
hours time, and the train only stops at
the intermediate stations of Marmande
and Agan.
The young lady took her seat in the
corner and prepared for her short, COM
panionless ride by making herself en-
tirely comfortable. The train had passed
the two stations mentioned when all at
once the door of her compartment was
pulled open and man with his face
half concealed by the collar of his great
coat stood before her,
But, sir" stammered the young lady
trembling with fear, this coupe belongs
exclusively to me-"
Very sorry to hear it." replied the
man politely. Its the fault of the rail-
road official, not mine. Unfortunately,
l can not look for another seat now, but
will do so at the next station"
well, sir, at the next station 1 shall
stop myself"
''In that case, miss, / can only ex-
press my regrets" Saying which the
intruder made respectful bow, placed
his valise upon the opposite seat, and
prepared himself for a short nap.
The train sped along, but the throb-
bing of the great engine was not faster
than the beating of the young lady's
heart. AS for the stranger, he appeared
to be unconscious of the emotion he was
causing her, and after finishing his short
nap opened his valise, and with the ut
most GOODNESS began to search for some
desired article among its contents. With
half-closed eyes the young lady watched
him, and her blood began to curdle
when he drew forth a revolver and a
large pair of shears. Her time had
surely come now, she thought.
'.Miss, said the mysterious individual,
'please render me a slight service. My
long hair troubles me greatly; be so
kind as to cut it off; cut it as short as
possible"
Truly, SIR" said the more dead than
alive girl, ''that is such request! You
can not mean it, surely"
81 mean it so thoroughly that if you
insist upon not doing it l shall"
glancing at the pistol. ''Choose quick,
then" handing her the shears.
The modern Delilah did as almost
any woman similarly situated would do.
She cut off the mans hair as quickly as
the state of her palsied arm would per-
NIT When the operation was COM
pleted he took a small pocket mirror
from his valise, and surveying himself
therein said, with gracious smile:
"a barber could not have done bet
ter. Miss, thank you. Now a last
favor. l wish to complete my toilet
While am doing so will you be kind
enough to look out of the window a lit
tle?''
Without replying the young lady
placed her pale face against the win
dow, now and then stealthily watching
the hands of her watch. 1t was already
9:55. In ten minutes more the train
would reach Montauban. Suddenly a
friendly cough informed her the strang-
er had finished his toilet. Turning
timidly she saw instead of the smoothly
shaven gentleman, whose hair she had
cut to match, a Dominican monk, with
a large beard the color of pepper and
salt hanging over his breast like a fan.
"Montauban; train stops ten min
utes!" The holy man Immediately op-
ened the door, and said decidedly:
81 hope, miss, you will kindly allow
me the necessary time to pass the sta
ton gate before alighting from the
train"
The appeal was superfiuous. She ewas
unable to rise from her seat
Her parents were waiting for her upon
the platform. Upon her release from
the coupe the station master was in
formed of what had occurred and the
police notified. Nothing, however, was
heard of the man, the false beard and
robe only being found upon one of the
roads leading out of the city.