The Mena weekly star., 1897-01-13

cO"cEilB Den1nu nef DOCK. one HuU never seen a stranger looking man; hollow-cheeked, gaunt, grim, but, above all, with the most peculiar eyes, star ing and prominent. She had so little ex- pected such development in the harm less-looling man behind the Times that the shock and surprise were very great. She retained, however, self-controI enough not to appeal to Angela on the impulse of the moment. Mollie was used to having fears ridiculed. She therefore decided to wait before giv- ing any alarm, for it was possible that her excited imagination was running away with her.
 After few minutes she ventured to peep cautiously from behind her book. The man had turned away, and was looking out of the window, the gaunt face only showing in profile. Mollie breathed more freely, relieved from the stare of those terrible eyes; she made a quick, close study of the stranger. As the scrutiny progressed, however, an- other change came over her face-tle composure she had regained began to diminish rapidly. Her eyes noted the mans bare head, then went from it to the rack above, to the seat opposite, to the floor. No trace of hat or hat box, of bags, rugs or luggage of any kind could she discover. Her heart stood still. Who but an escaped lunatic or criminal would be travelling hatless and without baggage? The ghastly ideas, vague before, now took terrible and def mite shape. She bent quickly across and touched the unconscious Angela, whom the doubtful heroine's adven- lures still held wholly absorbed.
 "Take care,' Molle whispered. Don't start and look around. I want to tell you something"
 Good graciousl What has happened Are you ill?"
 Angela. so suddenly aroused from her reading, found it hard not to ex- claim aloud at her sisters words and the sight of her pale face.
 No, no. I am all right. Only it's a great deal worse. It's about the man in the carriage" Mollie's voice sank to the lowest whisper.
 What do you mean? Has he been doing anything?"
 "No, but he is dreadful-looking such strange face and staring eyes. He must be an escaped criminal or luna tic. A lunatic, I think. he looks so queer. Oh, it's dreadful!"
 "Why should you rush at such awful conclusions" Angela expostulated, merely because man is queer-look- ing?"
 But it's not only that. Oh, I wish it wasl" Mollie's teeth chattered with fright.
 What clse2 What is it? For heav- en's sake. speak plainly"
 'He is travelling without a hat; his head is bare" Mollie gasped out, in strangled whispers. "And he has no hat in the carriage, no luggage of any kind, either"
 Good gracious! Are you quite sure?"
 Quite. He has nothing with him but the Times. Would any ordinary man travel like that?"
 Angela's face beached to the color of her sisters; her fears started into just as acute life. No ordinary man would travel bareheaded. There was an awful probability about the con clusions drawn by Mollie from his hat less condition.
 "Oh!" she gasped under her breath. "It is awful! And to think that we're nearly half an hour from the next sta tioni''
 A movement at the other end of the carriage made both girls sink back in their places with beating hearts. As Angela sank against the cushions, she caught a sudden and unexpected glimpse of the suspected stranger. He had turned again from the window, and was reopening the Times. Alas! Mollie had not exaggerated, as fear sometimes made her prone to do. The mans face was dreadful in its gaunt grimbcss. And then the staring eyes and bare head.
 Angela could not but accept the situ- ation, as the more suspicious and timid Molie had accepted it. There was some thing wrong with the man; he had all the appearance of being q lunatic. Aw- full though the thought might be, that | they were alone in the carriage with a madman, it Lad to be faced. Angela less helpless than Mollie, rapidly be gan to consider what could be done The train was not due to stop for at least 20 minutes longer. Would the quiet phase in which the man evidently then was, last during that time Pa ter rible and vital question. And if it did