The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-01-16

fright.
what else? What is it2 For heav-
ems 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 bleached to the cosor
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-
illusions drawn by Mollie from his hat
less condition.
"Oh!" she gasped under her breath.
1T is awful! And to think that were
nearly half an hour from the next sta
tom"
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! Moliie
| had not exaggerated, as fear sometimes
made her prone to do. The man S face
was dreadful in its gaunt grimhcss.
And then the staring eyes and +
head.
Angela could not but accept the stu
alton, as the more suspicious and tlmid
| Mollie had accepted it. There was some
thing wrong with the man; he had all
the appearance of being a lunatic. Aw-
full though the thought might be, that
they were alone in the carriage with a
mailman, it had 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 i'll which the man evidently
then was, last during that time?-dte ter
rible and vital question. And II 1t did
Lot? Angela clenchcd her hands IN the
agony of the thought, and thrust II
from her resolutely. Better not to
think of the worst, not to anticipate a
situation which would iird them help
less. The thing was TO staHe of danger
to do all that they could to preserve
the mans present state OF calm.
Angela made a rapid mental review
of all her knowledge-priHcipa!ly gath
cred from sensational literaturc-con
corning the insane. AS Il result, she
concluded that what they had TO do
now was to avoid everything when
could attract the mans notice, or Eek
cite him in any way. They must aot. FOL
the world, let him see them looking al
him, nor rouse any suspicious in his
mind that they were talking or think
ing of him. The difficulty was to com
municate these decisions to Mollle with
out exciting suspicion.
Angela first ventured a swift glance
from behind her book to the other enc
of the carriage. The man was agar
concealed by the newspaper; the peace
ful. ordinary way in which his long
: LEGS were stretched across the carriage
would nave been more reassurln@ "er'
[ If not for the top of the bare head tina
showed above. He was quiet, however
A CLEAN of hope kept up Angela,s spirit
5 That calm state, if undisturbed' mlgh
very vel! last until their arrival at INT
next station.
She snatched the opportunity tostoo
$ .o- ,,d communicate with the trem
; hing Mollie. 1t was difficult to restor'
l her to the appearance Of a moral stat
; TO prevent her little gasps bccomin!
:. audible.
> ..Trv not to look so frightened, 10
: heavens sake, Mollie," Angela softl,
whispered. "Quiet and calm are GU
best chance. Don't give way like ina
: it may not be so bad after all: IL we q
nothing to attract lis attention he WI
Z not notice us. They often do not. PEI
= hans he will fall asleep; he must d
: drowsy going over that paper so OFTEN
. A smothered oh" answered Al
~geIa's wclI-meant attempt to reassur
+ her sister.
y "He.s rot a bit drowsy," 81 gasPe'
"Tve Just caught his eye over the new
raDer, And-and-he looked as II Il
>, Lwas-roing-to-talk. Oh! what al
: We to do! Oh, Angela!"
It Angela had turned deadly pale, b'
her presence of mind did not dese'
II her. ,
Let us pretend to be admiring I'll
view" she whispered. How lovely II
l. light IN those fields is" she said in
louder tone, turning to the wlndo'
DO look, Mollie."
lie He might spring on us
o Look" Angela severely interrupte
% the faltering whisper, "at that ettec
Out of the window beside you, a little
d the right; the shadows on the trees
ID "Yes-yes-I-see."
IT go on looking, and talking b
ID what you see," admonished Angela
$. undertones, "and when you can thiT
+ Of nothing more to say we will go
IS 70 the weather, and to Yorkshire, ar
the hours of arrival at the stations"
H. She gave the lead, taking up the pr
scribed topics in a quiet. level tone. Il
d.. least calculated to arouse interest az
attention. Her ears. all the tim
were fairly alert. listening for Il