Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-01-14
THE MAN in THE TRAIN.

leave the IeucrOTr JuncuOn wncn TWO
/ girls rushed into the station. They had
Just time to hurry into the first car
riagc at hand and have their bags and
rugs bundled in after them, when the
whistle sounded ana the train started.
"How hate a rush." exclaimed An
gela Trevor, the elder of the two Sis
tiers, handsome, resolute-looking girl,
as she sank breathless into her place.
at is so upsetting to ones nerves"
"Disarranges ones clothes, too" added
Molly.
''To think of our not having had time
to select carriage for such a long jour
ney!" said Angela.
Both glanced involuntarily to the other
end of the carriage, where their one
fellow traveller sat in the corner seat
on 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 stretched out, finished with
f1attish feet in well-finished boots. At
the side glimpses showed of shoulder,
nm arm, and a thin, nervous-looking
hand.
'He looks all right" Molly said, care
1essly thrusting hairpin into her back
hair.
"Undeniably a gentleman" said An
gela, with decision. HE has a good
tailor, and his boots are unexceptional."
The girls settled down for the journey,
eXtracting from among the surrounding
impedimenta the usual literary solaces
in the way of newspapers and wildly
bound books. First, however, they
talked over in low tones the visit on
which they were going in Yorkshire.
Their hostess was friend and con-
Temporary, who had lately married the
squire of Mapledene. The girls were
full Of excitement, surmise and pleasant
anticipations regarding the visit to
their friend in her new place and posi-
tion. 1t was some time before the flow
of conversation ceased, and they took
up 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 a volume of short stories, plainly in
sptred by the triumphs of Sherlock
Holmes. They were full of CHASTITY adj
ventures with criminals and lunatics;
the situations, though infinite in va
riety, were all alike thrilling and blood
curdling. Mollie's youthful imagina-
ton took fire; one story, an adventure
with lunatic in railway carriage, es-
pecially excited her. 1t was not par
ticularly happy selection for railway
Journey. She looked up from the pages
with a shudder, her blood running cold.
1t was only in books, however, that
awful, creepy adventures happened to
travellers. She had never known a real
person who was unlucliy enough to
meetra criminal or lunatic in a train.
AS the reassuring 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. He
was sitting up, the Times folded on his
knees, allowing his whole face to be
seen. Such face! Just like so many
of those described ia the stories Mollie
had been reading. The coincidence was
extraordinary and startling. The girls
imagination rushed off on a series of
wild flights, and she drew quickly back,
covering behind her book. She had
never seen 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-loolling 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. Mollie was
us ed to having fears ridiculed. She
Wherefore decided to wait before Civ
ling any alarm, for it was possible that
her excited imagination was running
away with her.
After a 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
hestare of those terrible eyes; she made
q quick, close study of the stranger. AS
the scrutiny progressed, however, an
other change came over her face-the
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 CHASTITY ideas,
vague before, now took terrible and def
Unite shape. She bent quickly across
and touched the unconscious Angela,
!. whom the doubtful heroine's adven-
lures still held wholly absorbed.
'sTale care" Mollie whispered
Don't start and look around. want