The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-06-03

Vito. Our companions destination was
a town further along the Gimino line; so
we would soon be obliged to separate. I
was secretly pleased, but to Mr.. Weir
aud Nab the time was slipping away al
together too quickly.
Arriving at Gimino, we made the very
unpleasant discovery that the San Vito
train had gone ON without us, and that
there would be no other till five o'clock
| in the morning.
what will you do ?" asked Mr.. Weir.
II have ten minutes to spare before my
train goes; if I could be of any service to
you i'll engaging room at the hotel, OF
in any other way, l should be most
happy"
Il think it would be better not to go to
the hotel, said Nab. "We should never
wake up for the early train, and we
should not have time to wait for the next
one.
Yes" answered, I'VE could get some
refreshment here, and stay in the wait
ing-room till our train comes. 1t is
eleven o'clock now, and the time is not
SO very long. We can take a comfort
able nap in the waiting-room.
Something in Mr.. Weir's manner be.
trayed that he did not quite approve OF
our plan, but he was too polite to say
anything against it. He called waiter
to attend to our wants, and, in answer to
the second sharp call from the locomotive,
took his leave. lingering long over the
| hand-shake with Nab, and disappeared
in the darkness.
II wish he hadn't gone. I feel lonely
in this strange place, said Nab, with
little shiver.
Nonsense, childl 1t would have been
obtrusive and indelicate if he had re-
manned You forget that we are only
friends of day. Why should he alter
his plans for us?"
spoke boldly; but I, too, was very i'll
at ease. This little coffee-room was grad
ualIy filling with rough-looking men,
who watched us-the only women in the
place-furtively and curiously, speaking
language which we but little under.
stood. The hotel was mile distant, and
we could not take refuge in it at that
hour of the night, even if we had known
the way.
| NAu13hO" AOOAiOii VA yOu W veal OuE
diamond ring on journey Of this kind
it attracts attention, said in an un.
dertonc. as the light caught the brilliant
on her finger when she raised her coffee.
cup.
l happened 10 glance out of the win.
dow at that instant, and, to my horror,
saw man with evil black eyes and griz-
zled hair staring intently at Nab and me,
with wicked look about him which ]
could not forget. AS caught his eye he
skunk away into the darkness, and pres
emily the railway porter came to escort
US to the waiting-room.
at is against the rules of the road to
allow the waiting-roo to be occupied at
night, he began, "but if you will be
content without light, and with both
doors locked on the outside, I have no
objection to your. waiting there for your
train"
This was appalling, to be locked up for
five hours in shabby little Italian wait.
ing-room in total darkness. By feeling
the man we prevailed upon him to allow
us to bolt the outer door on the inside, so
that we should feel little less like pris-
onera
"The guard walks up and down the
platform till daylight, SO you can feel
quite safe, said the porter, consolingly,
as he wished us good night and shut the
door of the dark little den upon us.
I fortunately bethought me of some
wax matches in the valise, and lighting
one for a moment, we took in the situa.
tion-a mean little room, with door on
two sides, hard benches around the wall,
and long table. Surely not an inviting
apartment for repose. We made our
selves as comfortable as the circumstances
would permit, and tried to forget our po.
sition in sleep.
But became preternaturally wakeful.
Here were we, two unprotected women,
dropped down at this little wayside sta,
ton for all the long night hours. Sus.
pcious characters were lurking about,
and we might be robbed and murdered
without our friends ever knowing oul
fate. In the midst Of my unpleasant re.
Elections it consoled me little to see the
guard pass by slowly outside at intervals.
with his lantern cleaning on the red
band of his cap.
Suddenly, my ears sharpened by the 81.
lence, heard stealthy stepapproach the
inner door of our prison, and the quiet
grating of key in the lock was dis
tinctly audible.
My heart seemed to stop beating with
fright, and then, to my unspeakable hor.
ror the door softly opened and the evil.
looking man, with the grizzled hair,
whom had seen through the window of
the coffee-room, crept in with a dim Ian.
tern in his hand.
"Listen!" be said In hoarse whisper,
fixing me with his wicked eyes. "If you
are quiet will do you no harm, but if
you scream or make the least disturb.
ance know how to silence you. want
the ring your friends pretty finger wears,
and whatever money and other valuablee
you have aboutyou. Make no resistance,
as you value your life!"
suppose grew very white and trem,
bled, for Mabel said, in o surprisingly
firm voice.
Don't faint, Effie, but give the man
the valise to search; our lives are worth
more than the trumpery it contains"
The robber set his lantern on the table
and began undoing the straps of ouI
valise, placing it on the floor before the
door at which he had entered. Where
was the guard outside that his light did
not shine through our window? He
might have relieved us but he did moi