Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-11-26
A HUNT TO DEATH.

A4tNH IE4GEE lbAtLEA 4L1E EAlE 4
was not alone. and, second. that l was
not in smoking compartment
Ny fellow traveller was a lady,
clothed from head to foot in a travel
ing ulster with a deep cape. and
closely vailed. l wanted a smoke
very badly. and 50 ventured to ask
her If she had any objection.
Imagine my establishment when,
instead Of replying to my question
she sobbed out something utterly in
coherent and burst into tears y This
vas startling enough. but when saw
that she made no attempt 10 take out
handkerchief 10 dry her eyes, but
simply sat still with her hands folded
under her cape surprise yery quickly
gave place to bewilderment
In such situation man does not
reason; he simply acts on instinct.
In a moment was at the other end
Of the carriage begging her in elum-
So. masculine fashion 10 tell me what
was the matter with her For an an
swer she suddenly parted her cape.
and held up two tiny clasped and
daintily gloyed hands. As she did so.
heard the clink Of steel. and some.
thing bright shone in the lamplight.
Ny fair travelling companion was
handcuhed
Before she attempted any explana-
tons she opened her right hand. and
showed me one OF the regulation
screw keys which alone viii open the
steel bracelets that restrain the ex-
uberance OF the unruly or dangerous
criminal
Please unlock these horrible things
for me. and then 1 will tell you every
thing she said, and the request was
supplemented by beseechiug glance
from a pair OF tear-dewed eyes TO
whose Eitchegy many an older man
than myself would have succumbsi.
| took the key and after a little
fumbling about the strangely con
triYed locks, set free the dainty little
hands that were stretched so appeal
ingly towards ne.
Not knowing exactly what to do
win the handouts slipped them for
the time being into the side pocket Of
ny ulster.
As soon as she got her hands free
she unbuttoned her ulster. and threw
it back a little As she did So Z no
ticed that she wore strikingly carl-
Gus brooch at the neck OF her dress.
It vas formed Of two thick gold SER
penis coiled as If ready to spring
with their heads thrust forward side
by side, and their emerald eyes gleam-
ing with an unpleasantly lffe-like ex-
pressiol.
II was a pitiful tale and to a great
extent one which the newspapers have
OF late years made all too common
place. Forced by social and pecuni-
AIRY considerations into a marriage
with man old enough to be her
father. and possessing no single taste
in common with her she had, under
sore temptation. broken her forced
troth. and fed from his house.
Too proud to follow her himself and
yet mean enough to punish her by
making her submit to an unheard- of
indignity. he had put private detec-
tive on her track. told him she was
tainted with Il dangerous mania. and
given him strict orders to bring her
back to London when caught hand
cuiTed like felon.
The detective when he overlook
her at Hereford had given her a let
ter from her husband in which he told
her that if she did not submit to his
instructions he would prosecute her
for stealing one or two articles OF
.ewelry-the brooch that she was
wearing among them-which she had
unwittingly taken away with her in
the hurry OF her fight. 10 avoid the
disgrace and public shame she had
submitted to the brutal but private
tyranny OF his revenge.
At Gloucester her escort had got
out to telegraph to her husband to
meet them. and hal lost the train
through porter telling him that the
stop was five minutes instead OF three.
and she had just seen him run to the
platform as the train left the station.
As she looked round the carriage in
which she now found herself free. but
shackled, she saw the key OF her
handouts. which must have fallen
from his ticket book as he jerked his
overcoat on. She tried hard to open
the locks but OF course had been I'M
able to do So
Didcot and Swindon were passed
as she told her tale: we conVersed
upon the strange occurrences OF the
night and the only stop before Pad
dington now was Reading. Here my
travelling companion decided to leave
the train. as by no other means could
she avoid running into her husband
arms at the terminus
Despite her gentle winning manner
felt that persuasion would be use
less and SO | opened the door. got
out and helped her from the carriage
and with u few murmurs OF repeated
thanks she was gone.
When / got back into the carriage
lit cigar and lay back on the
cushions to think over my adventure.
BY the time the train drew into Pad
dington had exalted my beautiful
unknown into heroine of romance,
and Iregret TO say, myself into some