The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-03-23

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the aiarm-signal on the wall opposite.
The lady wrote hastily some words
upon the margin Of my paper. which
she then returned.
read .Thcrs il man hidden IN
der the seat; arc wo in danger Of an
attack P"
Much puzzled 70 know whether my
companion was on her head. or really
frightened with cause. wrote ia re-
| ply:
"Arc you sure' Did you see him
get in?"
mo, felt him; he clutched at my
foot" was scrubbed hastily beneath
my query.
Surely no would-bc highway robber
could be so injudicious rs to assail the
ankles Of his victims before beginning
4 more violent attack. so with a pat RE
archal, rcassuring smile. inscribed:
Probably il was only 4 dog"
mo; felt his fingers. Shall we not
stop the train? Something must be
done!' she wrote. vigorously under
lining the last words.
II was clearly my duty to investi-
gate the cause Of my fair ncighbor' 5
growing alarm. SO with astute caution
! asked with marked distinctpcss il
the lady objected to tobacco-smcke.
comforting my face the while with
signs that she was to answer in the
negative.
She confessed to decided prefer
ence for the odor Of good cigar.
"Ihank you for the permission.
madam; deprived Of my smoke, real
ly suffer
II was such relief to speak after
our solemn interchange Of written
sentiments upon the ragged edge Of
the Times. that was prepared to give
utterancc to any amount Of garrulous
platitudes. LIGHTED match. talking
volubly the while. and when it was
blazing. purposely dropped it upon
the floor, exclaimng noisily at my
own awkwardncss: "If was my last
match, too. l really must try to save
spark Of It to light my cigar"
stopped to pick up the burnt frag-
mcnt, and took one sharp, comprehen-
sive lance beneath the seat. My com
panion was right-a man cronched
and huddlcd there among the shadows
His face was turned away. but saw
his hand clearly, upon the back q
which the letters rs. NJ" were lcgiblt
through the dirt and CRIME.
At sight Of this Misunderstanding
hand my heart began q merry dance.
Not from fear-my sclf-rcspect obliges
me TO protest against this possible i'm
putation--b because we seemed Il
have In our clutches the rogue who
had stolen poor Jacks medals.
might dare to present myself before
Mora, after all. instead Of hangin:
back like whipped hound.
.Am l not right?" the lady said
with her cyes this time. instead ofwitl
her pencil
. Yes" / wrote; 1--WE must give thu
fellow in charge as soon as possible
Don't let him know we suspect hi
presence.
! reflected that ours prccaution d
writing every thing referring 10 thu
culprit was perhaps needless. as com
mon thief from the Riviera wouls
scarcely BE- likely to understand En-
glish; still. in such cases. the extreme
Of prudence was better than the lacl
Of il altogether.
The half-hour clapsing between thu
discovery Of this man and our arriva
at the next station was fraught Will
ill-conccaled terror for the sharp-faert
lady. and much rcprcssed excitement
for me- Would the man dash out
and either attack me or make good hi
escape before the train stoppedP Fal
better for me to be worsted in tusslt
with him than 10 lose him and hi
booty forever. / could not form /
guess as TO his strength. not having
seen moro Of him than the brandet
hand. For the lady's sake. 1 devoutl,
hoped we might be spared scufIlc
Presently, to my intense relief. thu
train began to slackcn its speed. ant
the hoarse voice Of the guard shouting
the name Of the station sounded lik'
celestial music in my ears ! seizes
upon the first official I could find. a
we stopped. and he collecting the de
sired force, made short work Of arrest
ing the man who was stealing his ride
He was dragged forth with very LITTLE
resistance; he saw how useless figh
would be. and was soon in safe Gus
tody.
To my inexprcssible JOY, poor Jack
medals were found upon the thief
person. together with the greater par
Of my aunt's property.
The man. hardened scamp wa
disposed for joking and sarcasm upol
the subject Of his own detection.
Were you mad or asleep when yo'
betrayed yourself BY touching tina
lady's footp" / asked.
why, you see. sir" he replied, will
4 leer, "thosc EngIishwomcn have sucl
sticks 81 legs covered with black stock
ings. mistook this old girls for thu
leg Of the bench. and took hold Of Il I.
give myself bit Of rest Never WIN
!, fo1iox- "a uraot IN hia polculation