Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-02-04
A HIGHWAYMAN.

iona Sheldon was making the Eu-
roPean tour; her education was fin
ished and she and her mother had spent
the last two years in travel.
Zona's mother was wealthy widow,
and iona was an only child. Her read
ing and culture had given zest to her
travels, and she had understood as well
as seen.
The important subject under discus
sion on the October morning which
brings them to our notice is an invita-
ton to be present at wedding in the
north of England.
But here was a dilemma. Mrs. Shell
don was SO indisposed as to be unfit for
the journey, yet she did not wish iona
10 stay at home.
Unhappily, among other ideas per-
haps a little erroneous, Mrs Sheldon
had a firm belief that 1t was perilous
undertaking to travel in compartment
car, unless there were so many passen-
gers that there was no possible danger
of assault.
81 don't want you to consider me at
all, Zona," said her mother, II am not
i'll, only just indisposed enough not to
feel able to take such a journey. You
know Mrs. Cannot will take good care
of me. If you win promise not to go
into an empty compartment, l think
1 can rest easy"
very well, mother, I will promise
you that" said iona.
Morning saw our heroine at the
Kings Cross station anxiously scanning
the carriages to make sure of one well
filled and at least one or two ladies in
it. At last she saw one that met her re-
quirements, and slipping coin into the
hand of the guard she entered.
The train steamed out of the station
and iona took a survey of her fellow
travellers. There was a family-father,
mother and three children, an elderly
lady, two business men and in one cor
mel a man whom she did not particular
ly notice.
She took out her fountain pen and a
sheet of paper, and wrote: "All safe;
compartment full" At the first stop
ping place she gave it to the guard and
the busy wires carried it to her mother,
setting at rest her fears.
And now IONA, who was a good trav-
eler, settled down to enjoy herself. For
awhile she looked out of the window,
admiring the flying landscape. Then
she produced book and began to read.
Anon a new sensation stirred within
her; shedrew out her dainty little watch
and looked at it. Twelve o'clock and 20
minutes. Two hours since she had
started. She laid down the book and
opened the little lunch basket, then she
drew off her gloves, tucked them in the
pocket of her jacket and began to eat.
The man in the corner took this OPP
pOrtunity TO read the title of her book.
"Rigelow Papers, II know she's an
American" he thought. Il can see it
from the tip of her nose to the toe of
her little boot 1 didn't know before
that eating was one of the fine arts"
IONA, all unconscious of his scrutiny,
finished her dinner, returned to her
book. and 1 must admit, fell asleep for
awhile. She did not know when some of
the other occupants of the compart-
ment got out, and about four o'clock
she was reused by hearing the mother
of the family say: Wake up, now,
Tillie. Wake upi We get out at the
next station
iona looked about with start to see
AhO OSfOCCA Noa NSAA NONAA e-EAA
realize that when the family party
should leave the train, she and the man
in the corner would be the only occu-
pants of the compartment.
Hereupon occurred a strange thing.
iona, who had never before felt fear
in travelling, began to recall her moth
er's stories with which she was wont to
fortify her theories of the dangers of
travelling in compartment cars.
For a moment iona was possessed
with an insane desire to scream. and
only by strong effort controlled her
self. The man in the corner, who up to
this time had not moved from his seat
all day. now rose and walked to the
other end of the car. iona trembIed
with fear. He reached under the seat
and took out small handsatchel. which
he opened. Was he going TO get re-
volver? No. i would be knife, re-
VoIver would make too much noise. She
watched him with fascinated eyes. He
took out something small and slipped
il into the pocket of his coat Soon he
rose again and sauntered to the far end
of the car. He lit taper, bent down
and was engaged in something-wnat
was it? iona put her hand to the win
dow and made a desperate effort to
open il. that she might be ready to call
the guard. The man heard and turned:
he came quickly forward: ALLOW me"
he said.
''Oh. no, thank you, ;" said iona, hasti-
". She felt sure he had designed her
purpose and that there was a covert
menace in his tone.
He settled down in his corner again,
and iona cast fHrtive Chances at him,
and always when she looked he with
drew his gaze from her
What a powerful built fellow he is, =
went her thoughts What villainous
countenance. One can see he is a des-
perate fellow. How foolish was to let
my watch and rings be seen. lam sure
he is looking ut my ring
Now the ring was beautiful dia-
moud, given to Zona by her mother. and
iona. with disregard of conventional
ty, wore it on her finger which is usual