Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-01-28
THE MAN IN THE TRAIN.

Just time to hurry into the first car
fiagc ut hand and have their bags and
rugs bundled in after them, when the
whistle sounded and the train started.
GLOW I hate rush." exclaimed An
rela Trevor, the elder of the two Sis
tiers, handsome, resolute-loolling girl,
Us she sank breathless into her place.
ut is so upsetting to ones nerves"
'Disarranges ones clothes. too" added
Molly.
80 think of our not having had time
TO select 4 carriage for such along jour
uey!" said Angela,
Both glanced involuntarily to the other
md OF the carriage, where their one
fellow traveller sat in the corner seat
OH the same side with Angela. His
head and face were hidden from view
by the ample pages of the Times spread
out before him. Two long, tweed-clad
legs were stretcfss out, finished with
nattjsh. feet in welI-finished boots. At
the side glimpscs showed of shoulder,
an arm, and thin, nervous-looking
hand.
'IIe looks all right" Molly said, care
lessly thrusting a hairpin into her back
hair.
"Urdeniably gentleman" said An
gela, with decision. lie has good
tailor, and his boots are uneXceptional."
The girls settled down for the journey,
extracting from among the surrounding
impedimcnta the usual literary solaces
In the way of newspapers and wildly
bound books. First, however, they
talked ever in low tones the visit on
which they were going in Yorkshire.
Their hostess was q friend and con-
temporary, who had lately married the
squire of Mapledenc. The girls were
full Of excitement, surmise and pleasant
nnticipations regarding the visit to
their friend in her new place and posi-
ton. 1t was some time before the flow
of conversation ceased, and they took
mp their books. Angela was soon en-
gagged in following the unwholesome
career OF a modern heroine through all
its risky intricacies. Mollie had CHANGED
On volume Of short stories, plainly in
spired by the triumphs of Sherlock
Holmes. They were full Of ghaStly ad-
ventures with criminals and lunatics;
the situations, though infinite in va
riety, were all alike thrilling and blood
curdling. Mollie's youthful magma
lion took fire; one story, an adventure
with lunatic in railway carriage, eS-
pccially excited her. 1t was not par
ticularly happy selection for railway
'iourncy. She looked up from the pages
with shuddcr, her blood running cold.
1t was only in books, however, that
awful, creepy adventures happened to
travellers. She had never known real
person wko was uriucliy enough to
meet 4 criminal or lunatic in train.
as the rcassuring thought entered her
mind. her eyes wandered to the far end
of the carriage. They unexpectedly met
those Of the man in the corner seat;
the shock was sharp and violent. lie
was sitting Up. the Times folded on his
knees, allowing his whole face to be
seen. Such a face! Just like so many
81 those described in the stories Mollie
had been reading. The coincidence was
extraordinary and startling. The girls
lmagira;ion rushed off on q series OF
wild flights, and she drew quickly back,
covering behind her book. She had
never seen a stranger looking man;
hollow-cheeked eaunt, grim, but, above
NIL, with the most peculiar eyes, star
ing and prominent She had so little eX-
pectcd such a development in the harm
iees-lool,irr man behind the Times that
the shock and surprise were very great.
She retained, however, self-control
enough not to appeal to Angela on the
impulse OF the moment. Mollle was
used to having fears ridiculed. She
therefore decided to wait before CIV
Ing any alarm, for il 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
tkestare of those terrible eyes; she made
n quick, close study Of the stranger. AS
the scrutiny progressed, however, an
other change came over her face-the
composure she had regaincd began to
diminish rapidly. Her eyes noted the
mans bare head, then went from 1t to
the rack above, to the scat 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
etill. Who but an escaped luratic or
criminal would be travelling hatless and
without baggage? The gh2stly ideas,
vague before, now took terrible and def
mite shape. She bert quickly across
nnd touched the Unconscious Angela,
whom the doubtful heroine's adven-
lures still held wholly absorbed.
Take care" Nellie whispered.
"Don't start and lock- around. want
to tell you something"
Good gracious. What has happened
Are you lip"
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. am all right. Only it's
Il 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-loolling such
strange face and staring eyes. lie
must Ec an escaped criminal or luna
tic. A lunatic, think, be looks SO
queer. Oh, it's dreadful"
"Why should you rush at such awful
conclusions" Angela eXpostulated
"niercly because a man is queer-look'
ing?"
SBut it's not only that. Oh, wish
it was!" Mollie's teeth chartered with
fright.