Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-03-03

90 40 Pun AAS SpOuS0 Ou GI10
northward-bound train at c.
why, I have done it over and over
again" said his wife languidly. She
was a tall fair woman, whose pretty
face bore traces OF recent illness; and
as she spoke. she passed her delicate
hand, laden with costly rings, over her
forehead.
1t is too vexatious too" continued
her husband. noting anxiously the ges-
ture that every seat in the drawing
room car is taken. Don't yon think I
had better ask the conductor to look
after you?''
mo. please .dou't jack" answered
his wife; ''he would only worry me. I
shall be comfortable enough, and,
after all it is only six hours before I
arrive at b, where 1 will meet the
BIS. Goodbye, dear, and don't
fret; I will wire you this evening""
After her husband left, Mrs. A.
gave q careless look at her fellow-pas-
sengers. In the seat across the aisle
sat { respectable looking, ruddy faced,
middle-aged woman. whom the inval-
id regarded with satisfaction. A man
and g woman. with family of several
children. occupied the place near the
door; the rest OF the car seemed emp
IT, but as her eyes followed the line of
seats, she felt q disagreeable start on
finding her gaze met by the bold, d.
rect stare of wsll-dressed. sinister
looking man, who occupied the third
seat in her rear. By his side sat
burly-looking giant who. although
clearly and neatly dressed, was evil
IDENTIFY of an inferior CLASS Disagree
ably impressed, she knew not why,
she turned around, and, opening her
book, endeavored to beguile the tedium
of the journey.
After a couple of hours the express
stopped at -, and here to her re-
greet she saw her klnd-looking neigh
Dor leave her seat. The family party
that she had noticed also hurried past
with children and bundles, pushing
past the new people who were coming
in, and it was with feeling of posi-
tive annoyance that she saw the two
men behind her leave their place. and
quietly take possession of the seats
the pleasant-faccd woman had left va
cant az
Again the train 8 ed on. Mrs.
A. felt quite vexcd with herself on
account of the uneasy nervous feeling
that gradually stole over her, and the
half dread she felt of the dark, Me-
phistophelian- looking man who bad
placed himself so near her. Several
times she looked toward him. feeling
instinctively that his eyes were fixed
upon her, and each time she never
failed to find the bold and glittering
orbs staring into her face.
''How absurd I ami" she said to
herself, impatiently; what harm
could any one do me in car full of
people?" ane she resolutely turned her
back and began to read.
But suddenly she gave a violent
start and a half-scream as she felt
rather than saw, the dreaded face
bending over her shoulder, while he
said: I'VE get out at the next station,
madam
JUST az that moment the welcome
sound of ''Tickets!" was heard from
the conductor, who was making his
rounds before the train stopped. The
man, to her great relief. left her i'm.
mediately, but to her surprise, walked
up 10 the Official and, drawing him
aside, engaged him in earnest CONVEX
sation. In spite of herself, she could
not help turning around to see what
her prosecutor was about. although
she devoutly hoped to see him leave
the train, thus making it unnecessary
to take any notice of his behavior.
That they were talking about her was
evident, for the conductor kept glanc-
ing toward her as the man spoke and
to her annoyance, she saw him resume
his seat and begin to confer rapidly
with his companion.
Resolved to save herself from
further trouble she laid her hand on
the conductors arm as he passed.
please bend down your head" she
said to him in low voice. 'that man
must be out of his senses; he has been
annoying me ever since we left c..
Will you please take me to the next
carp"
To her utter amazement and ter
ror, the conductor only gave her a
compassionate glance and said gently:
Madam, you are under this gentle
mans charge and he is going to take
you where you will be made quite we'll
again; am sure a lady like you will
go with him quietly"
Like flash the frightful situation
dawned upon her bewildered senses.
The man was pretending she was mad,
and that he. with his assistant, were
taking her to an asylum. In vain she
attempted an explanation; terror par
alyzed her tongue. and made her quite
incoherent- The horrible man smiled
down upon her. and she telt in her
wea ness that a grewsome fate over
which she had no control put her in
his power. Her vehement protesta.
tions and sobs were regarded by the
kindly conductor as SO many sym ptoms
OF her malady.
Meanwhile the train was stopping,