The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-21
M the car Konld have been dark II I!

lit the car would have been dark in 'he
tunnel, and then"
"Then whatp
"Well, one Is so much holder In the
dark" be replied, with MachlsVellan
SDoa't You think you are bold enough
in the light" she asked, with Captiya'
ting aFchpess,
"sometimes,n he answered.
There was short silence. :
''That Is the only tunnel on this part
Of the road, Is It mot 2" she asked,
Little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly gave start,
mo, indeed" he said; vthere are three
more between this and San Rafael
She sat quiet again, looking psnstyely
at her folded hands,
SIS your swoFd=stick hollowW she
asked, with curious interest, consider
Ing theRpparent irrelevaucy OF theques-
0sllck, hollow ~ he repeated, Eyes,
| It Is Chinese bamboo-tbat Is, with the
joints bored out, Do you wish to exam
Inc it2n
"No, !" she answered, with smile like
O sunbeam, "only l was thinking that II
the ieIrule or whatever you call that
brass thimble'thing at the end Of the
stick, were cut of and the sword re-
moved, 1t would make a splendid blow
pipe nm, !. ...., 49,, am.
fusedlyi "what in the world do you want
ooh, nothing, / suppose, "she answer
ed, with another flash OF smilei "only
was thinking, also, that II any one
had such q blow-plpe that II would iu't
about reach from here TO that lamp, and
that a little well'diFected puff would
blow i out without any one being the
wiser"
oNh, you ANGEL" sid little Mr., Tom
N. 0ddyj and with two motions he
whipped out the sharp sword'blade and
slapped Oh the ferrule,
As be did so there came another warn
ing toot from the engine AMI q little
smUthered cry from his side,
"Why here's another tunnel" she
Then, in the gathering darkness, little
Mr., Tom N. Oddly, Cunnlngly laid the
bamboo tube along the side OF tue car
until the further end was just under the
lamp glass, set his mouth to the near
end, gave a sharp puff, and, presto the
car was In what Is sometimes known as
Egyptian darkness. There was aChorus
OF cries aud smaCking sounds from all
over the car as the light went out but
little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly minded none Of
these, but turned in tremble OF exCite'
ment to snatch his reward from his cap
tiwtiDg companion.
AS he flung out his arms TO make a
prisoner Of the dainty beauty at his side
they were seized by two hands oil iron,
and then little Mr.. Tom n, Oddly felt
himself irresistibly drawn down and
doubled up over two undoubtedly male
knees. Then one OF those iron hands
was swiftly drawn away, aud, before lit
lie Mr.. Tom N. Oddly knew what was
happening, he was treated TO a CaStiga.
ton Of that basic order which vigorous
mothers sometimes administer to rebell'
ious sons, Then he was lifted up as
suddenly as he was drawn down and
planted, with q jerk, in his corner, Be-
fore he had recovered his breath tho
train was rushing into the daylight once
more, and there, sitting quietly Ut his
side and reading his paper, was the
stalwart young man Of the opposite seat.
"How-dare-," little Mr.. Tom N.
Oddly began, with fierce pant, when
the young man turned slowly on him
and said, In ponderous, bass voice:
please accept my thanks for your kind
attentions to my WIFE,"
"Your wliel" gasped little Mr.. Tom N.
Oddly, and, glancing wildly across the
aisle, he saw the lovely creature sitting
demurely In the young mans seat. De.
murely only for moment, however, for
then a merry, wicked light sprang into
those ravishing eyes, and
The lady smiled. .