The morning call., 1890-08-15
A STRANGE RXPEDIENT.
CHAPTER ].
FELLOW-PAss ENGE

ESS MOTHER the thing! WISH hau ho' Uui-
ESgZ thened myself with it," aud George
TGSEA Deyonald looked askauce at the over
~J coat hanging on hIs-arm. In The morn
ing when he came to town from his lodgings at
Morelake the weather had been raw cold, but
now with the usual caprlciousness oil our eli
male. Il was so soft and warm that, walk Ing back
from the India Office 10 Waterloo, the weight Of
an additional garment was buithensome.
Iwas handsome coat, light as well as warm,
fashionable in make and fitting admirably; and.
though he had a young mans horror OF coddllng
himself he had never repented purchasing II.
But it certainly was a nuisance to him that even
ing and The first thing he did on approaching the
train In which lie purpOsed travelling was TO loss
II on the first vacant seat.
While he paid visit TO the book stall sol-
taTy female entered lie compartment into which
MIR. Deyonald presently leaped. The next mo-
ment the signal had been given. Away they
steamed out of the terminus, and the young man
buried his head IN his newspaper. That day
verdict had been given in a case Of considerable
importance, aud not till he had scanned the whole
proceedings as set forth in the evening edition,
read the judges summing up and the finding OF
the iuTy was the payer laid down for a minute
and the presence of his fellow-passenger remem-
Dered
1t was somewhat embarrassing to find the eyes
OF this solitary female fixed on his face. They
were dark eyes, and brilliant ones, and there was
an intensity IN their gaze that made hlm-al-
though wont to pride himself on his selt-p0sses-
slon-redden slightly and feel Ill at ease.
Not that there was anything rude or IN
pleasant 10 that intent gaze His ys-a-vis was,
both in dress aud bearing, lady, and, more
over 4 young one. Her age, roughly guessed,
Was between 20 and "a; her features were OF 4
refined type and capable Of great expression;
her hair was glossy. her costume neat I'D well
chosen; a Cashmere "'SiSils Lfess and black
silk boche Jacket nodded 10 slender, grace
f.! figure, while her gloves and boots were all
that could be desired
George DeyOualds first thought was surprise
that so Iadylike young creature should be
travelling alone and alter dark; but his next
10 remind himself that her air OF modest re-
serye-for there was nothing bold or familiar IN
tie glance lie had surprised-and the quiet ele-
gauce Of her dress must inspire every one With
But imagine his establishment when one of
those neatly glOved hands was extended toward
him. and aYOee tTemulOus with haste and eager
ness accOsted him hurriedly: "Sir, viii you sell
me your UVeIcOat?'
twas such an extraordinary question that he
could IND 10 answer 10 II; So after brief
pause, Il was repeated.
"Oh, sir, VIII you not sell 1t to me? / will
gladly, thankfully, give you this for H." And
now lie saw that The gloved fingers were agt-
falling scrap of thin paper, fiye.pound note.
81 am sorry l cannot offer more, but IT is all
have TO spare. Pray take 1t and sell me that
eoatl Don't hesitate. for there is mol moment
10 be lostl You Will be doing me an immense
service, indeed you Will"
II was positively confusing to be appealed TO
In tLis manner, and the young man had looked
from the fair petitioner to his coat aud back
again more than once, ere the distress that be-
gan TO be depicted her counteuanee aroused
him from his trance OF bewllderment.
YOURS is a very curious request. madam;
am not in the habit Of parting with my garments
IN this manner"
~ suppose not-of course not" she acdui-
eseed; "and That is what makes II more painful
more difficult for me; but, in case like this,
surely you Will not refuse ~
81 l am quite at a loss for your meaning" he
declared, maTyeli1g secretly whether this we'll
dressed, pretty young creature could be in her
right senses.
fOh, dear" and she wrung her hands In her
impaIience; how difficult il is TO make ones self
understood? l am rendering you hye-pound
note in exchange for tie coat lying beside you.
Pray, pray accept my o1eT You VIII earn my
everlasting gratitude"
But SIM George Devonald raised his eyebrows
in wonder and demurred. The whole affair was
so out Of all bounds that II would have struck
him as cODlical II she had not been so terribly 10
earnest. Her troubled eyes qulveriug lips and
elasped hands impaired into 1t quite a lragleal
element
''N0thing makes me more happy than to
Oblge lady" he said, "always suppo sing her
requests are reasonable ones; but TINS OF yours
40 not know how TO characterize. Please tell
me OF what use 10 you The article you WISH 10
purchase possibly be?"
She drew herself up as - offended that he
should presume 10 question her, and there was
silence, but II did not last more than haf
Mlnulei aud after peeTlng through the WINDOW at
the darkness, the fair anxious face was TUNED
ouee more on Mr.. DeVOnad.
do we stop at the next statiOD2" she de-
manded, Instead of giving him the explanation
he was anticipating. " ill you kindly ell what
IL Is? Earlshed? Then where is Barnes?
Shall we soon come 10 BarnesY'
His assent seemed 10 Increase her distress.
"Oh, sir, Will you not be generous and grant
my request? cannot tell you my motives for
urging II, neither would they interest you II
did; but may say this much, that II Is matter
OF tie most serious Importance to me-and
other. For PHYS sake accept The money, and let
me have tile coat !"
Her entrealies were irresistible; she saw that
they had prevailed. Tie note was forced into
his hand all the more firmly because he made a
gesture OF refusal. The oveTcOat was in The
Iady's possession, and The mystfed George De-
vonald became witness TO a piece OF masquerade
Ing thai increased his perplexity
In an Incredibly short space OF time The vounp
lady had developed herself in her purchase and
was dragging the velvet trimming en- Ler stylisb
little felt hat.
This and the bird that graced it were trans
ferTed to one Of her pockets. Then with all pos
sible expedition the brim OF her headgear was
TUNED down, the crown crushed In and by lii
tie more manipulation 1t was transformed into
Inc dowdy travelling cap OF an elderly gentle
man
With this pulled over her brows the collar Of
the coat pulled Up TO her ears, so as to cover
them, the coat itself buttoned up over her velvet
dress, and her hands folded over The handle OF
her umbrella, the melamorph0sis was complete.
IL was no longer graceful gill who sat there,
but a bent old sexagenaTian, and George Devon
ald could nave laughed at the change mad he not
heard her tremulous lips breathing prayers that
she might escape detection.
what was The meaning Of this strange piece OF
acuDgY From whom was she flyng-the police ?
Nay; this conjecture implied evil-doing OF some
description, and he could have stak ed his life on
beI truth and purity. Was II then TO avoid some
Daoly disposed person or persons who would
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