The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-14

the wind and the rattle of the rain, min
gled with the laundering of the train
BY this time a white coating of condens-
ed vapor had oyerspread the windows
shutting out the inky darkness of the
night and giving the compartment an as
pect of privacy and snugness. ] closed my
eyes and sat perfectly still, with my head
resting against the cushion.
We had been. perhaps, about half an
hour on our way, and / had begun to doze
when | was reused by a mysterious noise
proceeding from the compartment occu-
pied by the sailor. IL was a dull thud,
such as might have been produced by
the fall OF a heavy body on to the floor.
and was accompanied by a prolonged
grOan or wall. Following almost imme-
diately on this came a crash Of break
ing glass. Then all was quiet again save
for the din of the storm and the rumbling
of the train.
My heart was beating wildly. What
could have happened? Something dread
full. / had no doubt-in all probability,
something tragicaIly criminal. / listened
ntently in the hope of hearing some
sound of a reassuring nature-a laugh,
a snatch of a song, a few words of
friendly conversation. or even of angry
alteration would have been welcome.
But the minutes passed. and continued
silence confirmed and strengthened my
faers
As | sat thus. all unnerved. staring be-
fore me / imagined that my eye caught
a slight movement in the handle Of the
carriage door at the opposite end OF the
compartment. With a peculiar sensa-
ton about the roots of my hair | shrank
further back in my corner. and gazed
I'm terror at the phenomenon. Now ]
saw the handle slowly, but unmistaka-
bly,. describe a half-turn; the door swung
ha cd oil cd
hastily into the compartment. AlthouR
~ was hatless. and the wind had blown
his hair over his eyes. / was not sur
prised 10 identify him instantly as the
sallow-faced man who had Deered into
the compartment as the train was start
ing from II. AS soon as he saw
me he sprang back with a yell. and !
thought he would have fallen out
through the open doorway on to the
track. but he saved himself in time by
throwing out both hands and clutching
the parcel racks Having recovered his
equilibrium he shut the door and sat
down. He appeared 10 be terribly agi-
tated and trembled all over. The sal
lowness of his countenance had become
CHASTITY in its intensity. and his eyes,
which he kept fixing alternately on my
face and on the ground. were dilated
with fear.
How did you come here?" ne asked.
in a choking voice.
At first the seeming unreasonableness
Of this question took me quite aback
Then | recollected that, seeing the COM
partment had been comparatively empty
when ne looked IN at H il was natural
that my presence should puzzle him.
Though still intensely Mortified, I was
emboldened by the sight Of his abiect
terror. and managed to answer him with
relative composure.
81 think / might rather ask you that
question" / said. Il have been here all
along"
Yes, yes. of course-pardon me- he
muttered, in a tone of distress. II don't
know what I'm saying. I'm upset. II
you only knew what a dreadful thing
I've just seem
What's the natter" / asked with n
hypocritical assumption of surprise
I'm there" he whispered hoarsely.
pointing in the direction of the compart-
ment he had recently quilted. "A man
has just committed suicide in there. l
couldn't bear to remain beside him when
| found he was dead, so l came along
here"
"Suicide?' l repeated. doubtfully.
Yes. suicdei" he cried, with fierce
emphasis, his manner changing all at
once. The scared look left his eyes, and
he glared at me. Then his vehemence
fell as suddenly as it had risen, and he
continued. with a shudder: Ugh! It's 4
dreadful thing to see a fell-creature cut
his throat before your very eyes! He
bent forward and covered his face with
his hands: and l now noticed, for the
first time. that the mans right hand
was smeared with blood. | felt sick and
faint, and exclaimed on the impulae.
Look at your hand!'
10 sfr- isvf,f hi III Eel Snrt-
and, spreading out his hands, examined
them apprehensively. Perceiving the con-
dition the right one was in, he thrust il
into his pocket and turned on me with a
frown.
And what of that?'' he snapped. eye
ing me suspiciously. What do you mean
to insinuate?
"Oh, nothing said I. only, If any
doubt should be entertained as to how the
man you speak of met his death, suspicion
may fall on you. Unfortunately, you are
! in a somewhat awkward position"
He regarded me keenly for a moment,
and then cunning look stole into his
face.
I'VE are in an awkward position" he
corrected.
II don't understand you.'' said, stiffly.
eff suspicion may fall on me, why not
on YOU? Don't you see were in the same
boat?''
II see nothing of the kind" l replied,
| Indignantly, amazed at the mans impu-
! dence.
Well the sooner you do so the better.
| he said, doggedly, for we shall have to
| put our heads together and agree upon
| some line of conduct that will insure our
| safety
II positively decline to be party to any
ARRANGEMENT whatever with you in the
| matter" / said sharply. I'VE occupy en-
| tirely different positions in regard to this
! affair You were in the compartment with
| the man when the-accident occurred. j
know nothing about it except what you
yourself have told me, and what heard.
What did you hear? What do you
| mean?" he cried, rising with a bound, and
| taking a step toward me in a threatening
attitude.
Keep OFF, 1 commanded. raising my
| hand warningly. ''Sit down! / must say
! your behavior is most extraordinary.
J He collapsed into his corner again. and
for the second time concealed his face
| in his hands l watched him narrowly.
for his actions were so quick and his
| changes of mood so abrupt that / did not
know at what moment | might have 70
| defend myself against violence. There
was, however, nothing aggressive in tbs
| face which, after short interval, he
| turned toward me.
For Gods sake he implored, don't
be hard on q man. :.
| / preserved silence, and still kept eye
| ing him warily.
| Every WE'LL" he said decisively, after