Wichita eagle., 1889-08-01
THE IRON BRACELET.

L
Hinton took the tickets as the train was
S1nning into the station; in hastily snatching
upthe change a half sovereign slipped from,
his fingers 1t took us couple of minutes to
find it, and then the train was host.
"Three- quarters Of an hour to wait in this
hole" Hinton groaned Better walk over
the hills to Chorley. The train is due there
at CHS; we can do it easily"
We did il q little too easily; the train was
in sight before we reached Chorley. We
leaped over the ratings and ran along the
line; the train passed us at the signal box,
and we overlook it as it came to stop.
The Inst carriagewasa third class; a young
lady, leaning through the open window of the
end apartment, looked toward us anxiously.
''Wjll you be good enough TO open the doorr'
she asked as we drew near. We both stopped.
Hinton brushed past me to render the SER
vice; he was younger than l, his galantry
was boundless, and the present appeal to ii
was made by one Of singularly progressing
appearance. 1t was not common face that
smiled down on US, showing long row of
dazzling teeth, a white, sensitive nose, an in
telligent forehead from which the hair was
drawn back assertiveiy, and pair Of dark
gray eyes, capable of anything; not COM
mon figure that stoodrevealed whenthe door
was opened-tail, graceful, simply elegant,
and dressed With faultiess taste, and the first
question that niystitfe3 nle,was how such a
lady came to be travelling alone in a third
class carriage and at this early hour.
She stood at the open door in embarrass-
neut that addefa charm to her face The
platform did nat extend tothe carriage. The
depth to the ground was considerable, the
step awkward. She put ont one neatly boot
ed foot and dYewit back hastily; all the time
she kept her hands close in her muR, which
made the descent still more impracticable.
With faint tinge of color In her pale cheek,
and her fine eyes twinkling with vexation,
shesaid:
'sA1ny I ask you tohelp met have hurt
my hands; they are useless"
In a moment we were on the footboaro,
one on each side, helping her to descend. As
glanced along her arm caughtthe glimpse
of blush black metal inside her sealskin
muff She wore an iron bracelet. Was it
an eccentricity of fashion, or a surgical ap-
pliance, wondered.
It was to Hinton she smiled her sweetest
acknowledgment, and when in parting she
bowed TO lIs both, her eyes rested la and
longest upon him.
We stood by the open door watching her
as she walked up 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 standing 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 II was an invitation that
my fiery young friend was not slow to &C
cept.
Il shall come on by the next train, Jack,
said he, and started at once to rejoin the fas-
cinating lady.
The guard blew his whistle and | stepped
up mechanically into the carriage, closing
the door, and never losing sight of my friend
and the lady with the iron bracelet. He had
his hat of, and was speaking to her as the
train whisked me by. They were both 50
pleasantly occupied with each other that
they took no notice of me. l continued to
station, and then I sat down and glanced
round to see if there were any other occu-
pant of the compartment
end, half on the ground, half on the seatl
started to my feet and drew near the dark
mass with growing terror as | perceived
that it was police officer who lay huddled
together, with one shoulder on the seat and
his head dropped down upon his breast. His
helmet had dropped of. When l raised his
face found it perfectly odloriess, only the
white of his eyes visible through the
half closed lids There was no.sign of any
wound, 10 blood upon his hands or face. A
white handkerchief lay upon the seat. 1t
seemed to me that the man bad suddenly
tainted ItrieJisto raise him from his supine
position, but The dead weight the was a large
mani was more than could manage.
The carriage was open from end 20 end
the compartments divided simply BY backs.
There was only one other traveller in the car
riase-a NAVY IN the next outcome coTupart-
ment with his back TO me- and bis head was
out OF the window, that the short, black pipe
he was smoking might not be objected 10.
called him twice before he heard me, and
then, taking has pipe out and holding it in
the hollow of his hand, he looked at me in
vacant surprise.
Come over and help me-" | called.
'sThere's policeman lying here-dead."
He spat oct of the window, rose. and lean-
ing over the back of the compartment said:
.'Beg your pardon, mister, there's SIGH a
row. What did you sayF'
repeated what had said
"a dead pohoemani" he said, his little eyes
rounding with wonder.
Yes come oyer aud help me lift him up. "
"Norght me, he said, his face settling with
an expression Of logged objection. II amt
roin' TO have no truck wi no dead policernans,
no fear. I'm por man, l am, and they'd
have me off to the station'us soop's look st
me if get messin' myself up in that job, no
fear" and with that he turned his back on
me and sat down in an attitude Of determined
neutrality.
made what effort could to restore life
to the dead man, 10 call the attention or the
guard, to rouse up the NAVY to a sense OF hui
,nanity, but all to no purpose. The train
was express 10 London, and alone with my
ghastly fellow passenger had 10 await the
end of the journey.
As the train ran into the terminus called
loudly 10 a porter on the platform. 1t took
the fellow 2 couple of minutes TO overcome
his establishment Then he did IS babe him,
and ran off for assistance. Tires minutes
more passed before he returned with q couple
of r,oiicprnt-, Pv th@r time ire -a,-I--- With