The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-07-25


was running into the STATEN; in hastily
snatching up the change half SOW
ereign slipped from his fingers. II
took us couple of minutes to find it
and then the train was lost.
"Three-quarters of an hour to wait
in this hole,'' Hinton groaned. pet
ter walk over the hills to Chorley
The train is due there at 9:15; we car
do il easily
We did it a little too easily; the
train was in sight before we reached
Chorley. We leapt over the railings
and ran along the line; the train pass
ed us at the 81 ignal box and we over
took it as it came to stop.
The asst carriage was a third class
young lady, leaning through the
open window of the end compartment
looked toward us anxiously.
'sWill you be good enough to open
the door" she asked, as we drew near
We both stopped Hinton brushed
past me to render the service; he was
younger than l. his gallantry wa:
boundless, and the present appeal tc
it was made by one of singular pre-
possessing appearance. 1t was not q
common face that smiled down on US
showing a long row of dazzling teeth,
white. sensitive nose, an intelligent
forehead, from which the hair was
crawn back assertively, and pair OF
dark eyes, capable of anything; not q
common figure that stood revealed
when the door was opened-tall
graceful, simply elegant, and dressed
with faultless taste, and the first ques-
ton that mystifed me was how such a
lady came to be travelling alone in a
third class carriage and at this early
hour
She stood in the open floor in EN-,
barrassment that added charm to
her face. The platform did not ex
tend to this carriage. The depth to
the ground was considerable, the step
awkward. She put out one neatly
booted foot and drew it back hastily:
all the time she kept her hands close
in her muf, which made the descent
still more impracticable. With q faint
tinge of color in her pale cheek, and
her fine eyes twinkiing with veXation,
she said
"May 1 ask you to help me; l have
hurt my hands; they are useless
In moment we were on the foot
board, one on each side, helping her
to descend. As l glanced along her
arm caught the glimpse OF a blue
ish-black metal inside her sealskin
muff. She wore an iron bracelet!
Was it an eccentricity of fashion, OF q
surgical appliance, [ wondered.
1t was to Hinton she smiled her
sweetest acknowledgment; and when
in parting she bowed to Us both, her
eyes rested last and longest upon him.
We stood by the open door watch
ing her as she walked up on to the
platform with an elastic, graceful step.
"Now then, sir, are you going on?''
called the guard, with his whistle
raised.
At that moment the young lady
turned round, and seeing us still stand
ing by the door, smiled bewitchingly,
made a short step forward, turned
again, and stopped, fixing her eyes on
Hinton, who was scarlet to the roots
of his hair. 1t was an invitation that
my fiery young friend was not slow tc
accept.
shall come ON by the next train
jack" said he, and started at once tt
rejoin the fascinating lady.
The guard blew his whistle, and |
stepped up mechanically into the car
riage, closing the door. and never los
ing sight of my friend and the lady
with the iron bracelet. He had his
hat off, and was speaking to her as the
train whisked me by. They were both
so pleasantly occupied with each other
that they took no notice of me
continued to watch them until the
train was out Of the station, and ther
l sat down and glanced around to see
if there wore any other occupant o
the compartment.
Good Godl What was this at th,
other end, half on the ground, half OF
the seat? | started to my feet ant
drew near the dark mass with grow
ing terror, as / perceived that it @as
police officer who lay huddied tngtt ii,
er with one shoulder on the seat an,
his head dropped down upon his bresst
His helmet had dropped off; when
raised his face | found it perfect,
colorless; only the white of his eye
was visible through the half closet
lids There was ho sign ofany wound
no blood upon his hands or face. 4
white handkerchief lay upon the seat
1t seemed to me that the man hat
suddenly tainted. / tried to rails
him from his supine position, but tn
dead weight Che was large mani wa
more than could manage
The carriage was open from end t
| end-the compartments divided sim
ply by backs. There was only on
other traveller in the carriages nav
Wy in the next but one compartment
| with bis back to me, and his head wa
out of the window that the short blacl
pipe ne was smo king might not be Oh
jected to.
l called him twice before he hear,
me, and then, taking his pipe out an
holding it in the hollow Of his hand
he looked at me in vacant surprise.