Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-11-01

here he is on the same train. Oh. il
L only But there, don't let's
notice him. Tell me about how
you would use your knife if you saw
bear going to hug me-"
Little Mr.. Tom n. Oddly was trying
hard to remember the most exciting
bear adventure he had ever heard of,
when the engine gave IA shrill foot.
"Oh, my" cried she, LAYING her
hand on little Mr.. Tom n. Oddv's
arm, Il do believe we are going
through tunnel"
There was no doubt about it. and
with another toot the engine plunged
into the long, black hole. A wild,
Wicked hope leaped up in little Mr..
Tom n. Oddy's little mind. but it
only lived moment, for there. di-
rectly over the next seat. was hung
a lighted lamp. 1t only burned dim
~, and the light it gave out in the
blackness OF the tunnel was very faint
but 1t was quite enough to STAY lit
tie Mr.. Tom n. Oddly from doing the
desperate thing he had contemplated
lie could see the pale outline of her
lace and two lustrous spots, which
showed where her eyes were cleaning;
but, so, too, he could see the oval OF
that fellows face across the way,
and was very sure that in the
upper half of that oval, Just
where it was cut by the dark
line OF the hat brim, there were two
other eyes which were fixed persist
emily in his direction. There was no
use trying to talk against the roar
of the tunnel, but when they were
clear of itand in the light once more
little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly gave vent to
his feelings by saying.
'Confound that lampl'
"Why? Does it smoke she asked,
with gentle solicitude in both her
look and tone.
mo" he said; "but if it had not
been lit the car would have been dark
in the tunnel, and then
"Then, what?"
"Well, one is so much holder in the
dark" he replied. with Machiavellian
evasiveness.
Don't you think you are bold
enough in the Light" she asked, with
captivating archness.
Sometimes" he answered.
There was short silence, during
which little Mr.. Tom n. Oddly
brought his diamond ring into better
view, and attempted to find out
whether her feet were on tie floor or
on the rest bar.
THAT is the only tunnel on this
part of the road, is it not?" she ask
ed.
Little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly gave a
stat. "No, indeed" he said; there
are three more between this and San
Rafael"
"She sat quietly again, looking
pensively at her folded hands.
SIS your sword-stick hollow" she
asked, with curious interest, consid-
ering the apparent irrelevancy of the
question.
Stick hollow" he repeated. Eyes,
it'sa Chinese bamboo-that is, with
the joints bored out. Do you wish
to examine it?''
NO. she answered, with smile
like sunbeam; "only | was thinking
that if the ferule, or whatever you
call that brass thimble thing at the
end of the stick, were cut off and the
sword removed it would make a
splendid blow pipe"
"Well, WE'LL" he stammered, con-
fusedly, "what in the world do /
want of II blow pipe?"
"Oh, nothing, suppose" she an
swered, with another flash of smile,
"only | was thinking, also, that if
any one had such a blow pipe it
would just about reach from here to
that lamp, and that a little, we'll
directed puff would blow it out with
out any one being the wiser"
"Oh, you angel" said little Mr..
Tom n. Oddly, and with two motions
he whipped out the sharp sword
blade and slashed of the ferule.
AS he did so there came another
warning toot from the engine and a
little smoothered cry from his side.
"Why, here's another tunnel" she
cried.
Then, in the gathering darkness,
little Mr.. Tom N. Oddly cunningly
laid the bamboo tube along side of
the car until the further end was just
under the lamp glass, set his mouth
to the near end, a sharp puff, and,
prestOl the car was in what is some
times known as Egyptian darkness.
There was chorus of cries and
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 a tremble of ex-
element to snatch his reward from
his captivating companion.
AS he flung our his arms to make
prisoner of the dainty beauty at his
side, they were seized by two hands
of iron, and then Mr.. Tom N. Oddly
felt himself irresistibly drawn down
and doubled up over two undoubted-
ly male knees. Then one of those iron
hands was swiftly drawn away, and
before little Mr. Tom N. Oddly knew
what was happening, he was treated
to a castigation of that basic order
which vigorous mothers sometimes
administer, to rebellious sons. Then
he was lifted up as suddenly as he
had been drawn down and planted,
with n jerk, in his corner. Before he
had recovered his breath the train was
rushing into daylight once more. and
there, sitting quietly at his side and
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