Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-04-22

IL was growing late as wa drew near
the little station of Gimino, where We
should have 60 change carriages for San
Vito Our companions destination was
town further along the Gimino line: so
we would soon be obliged to separate. |
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 viii you dor" asked Mr.. Weir.
II have ten minutes to spare before my
train goes: IL could be of any service 10
you in engaging room at the hotel, or
IN any other way, l should be most
happy"
Il think it would be better not to go to
the hotel, said Nab. I'VE should never
wake up for the early train, and we
should not have time TO wait for the next
one.
Yes, answered, "we could get sono
refreshment here. aud 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 comfort
able nap in the waiting-room
Something in Mr.. Weir's manner bs-
trayed that he did not quite approve Of
our plan, but he was too polite to say
anything sgainstit. 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
Il wish he hadn't gone feel lonely
In this strange place. said Nab, with a
little shiver.
Nonsense, child! 1t would have been
obtrusiys and indelicate If he had re-
manned You forget that we are only
friends Of day. Why should he alter
his plans for usy"
spoke boldly; but I, too, was very i'll
at ease This little coffee room was grad
ually filling with rough-lookiug men,
who watched us--the only women in the
place-furtively and curiously, speaking
a language which we but little under
stood. The hotel was mile distant, aud
we could not take refuge in it at that
hour of the night, even il we had known
the way.
Nab, how foolish OF you to wear your
diamond ring on = journey of this kind
lit attracts attention, / said in an un-
dertone. as the light caught the brilliant
on her finger when she raised her coffee.
cup.
happened 10 glance out of the win
dow at that instant, and, to my horror,
saw man with evil black eyes and griz-
Sled hair staring intently at Nab and me,
with wicked look about him which /
,ould not forget. As caught his eve he
skunk away into the darkness, and pres
emily the railway porter came to escort
US to the waiting-room.
1t is against the rules OF the road to
allow the waiting-room to be occupied at
night, he began, but If you will be
content without a light, and with both
loors locked on the outside, / 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
.ng-room in total darkness. BY feeling
the man we prevailed upon him to allow
rs to bolt the outer door on the inside, so
that we should feel little less like pris-
onpr&
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.
fortunately bethought me OF some
wax matches in the valise, and lighting
one for 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 tile 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-
picious characters were lurking about,
and we might be robbed and murdered
without our friends ever knowing our
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 sharpsned by the si-
ience, heard a stealthy step approach the
inner door of our prison, and the quiet
grating Of key in the lock was dis.
tinctly audible.
Ny 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, crspt in with a dim Ian
tern in his hand.
-Listenl" 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 valuables
you have about you. Make no resistance,
as you value your life!"
suppose grew very white and trem.
bled, for Mabel said, in a surprisingly
firm voice.
Don't faint, Effie, but give the man
the vaiise to search; our lives are wortl
more than the trumpery it contains
The robber set his lantern on the table
and began undoing the straps Of ouI
valise, placing il on the floor before the