Passaic City record., 1893-12-30
A COOL HEADED GIRL

uliuuIO VI tocptcAOSI, 01hiHS Will AAO
my little eight-year- cousin Harry.
We left at midnight on the vestibuled
special. Early next morning, owing
to some accident to the brakes of the
Pullman we were in, the trainmen had
TO drop it off at siding and take on
an ordinary coach in it's place as far as
Chicago, and we were transferred to
this coach.
Strangely enough, there was only
one other lady beside myself among
the through passengers that day, most
of them being men and boys. One by
one these drifted off to the smoker,
until the young lady and Harry and I
were the only occupants of the car.
Before long the young lady changed
her seat to the one just across the aisle
from me, and we were soon well
started on the round of conventional
noticed that she wore the Vassar class
pin and college colors, and -whel
spoke of it she informed me that she
was then ON her way back for her last
year at school. She was a very bright
and entertaining conversationalist,
and we talked awhile on various SUBJ
jects; then we exchanged books and
ord road IN tho
time, and finally m, companion,
whom I will call Miss Hunter-chiefy
ior the reason that it is very unlike
her real name-remarked that she had
not slept well the night before, and
would try to get nap.
She had been sleeping some time,
when o gentleman entered the coach
from the smoker, and took the seat
just in front of Harry and me. He
Lad no hat, either on his h ad or in his
hand: bat was otherwise vel. dressed;
80 I supposed he had left his hit or
travelling cap in the other zach, and
gave no further thought 70 the matter.
Presently he turned arolnd and
asked me if / could accommodate him
with the time of day. I glanced at
my watch and told him, thinking it
little odd that he should be obliged to
appeal to an unknown young woman
on the subject. He thanked me with
rather elaborate courtesy, looking at
me fxedly the while then he remarked,
suddenly, ''Mademoiselle, Ibelieveyou
would be good subject for that brain
experiment. I have in mind. ] have
for. long time held the theory that
the human brain undergoes certain
well-defned changes, both in sub
stance and in color, at the moment of
dissolution = not some hours after
ward, but at the very instant death
takes place. have repeatedly tried
to make the experiment. necessary to
verify my ideas, but some ignoramous
has always maj .ged to prevent me
heretofore because, you see, in order
to experiment successfully it is, of
course, first necessary to kill the sub
iect. You, mademoiselle, look like
young women of sense, and will no
aoebt appreciate the Immense scien-
tic value of the operation sufficiently
to be illing to submit to its in
,idental unpleasantness. It's really
not SO very unpleasant after all, and
it's o yer in second-this little in
stru.nent is dauble-loaded to make
sure work of it." AS he said this he
whipped out pistol and clapped it
against my lef. temple. Then, with
sudden charge of voice, he ad led:
81 give You just two minutes
slademo1selle to say your prayers and
prepare for death. ("
w.s Sc dazed by the mans extra
ordinary speech that I bad not at first
renlized that was in the power of o
madman. But row the horrible truth
flashed upon me, and faint and trembl-
ing, d.sred net move or speak.
Miss Hunter had been wakened by
tie sound of the lunatic's voice and
heard most of wha he had been say
ing. Once she made furtive move
raentts leave the car, intending to go
to the smoker and give warning, but
the maniac had ais eye on her and in
startly ordered her back. Realizing
that sfe would only precipitate the
danger for me persisting, she obeyed
and retained to her seat. Bat in o