Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-01-02

WIZARD wiped the persplration from
nm orow and cleared his throat.
its nice that you are going
srsisht through 60 New York" the lit
ue woman continued. apparently un-
conscious OF the mans agony. "rt.
nonotonous travelling alone. eapec,s,lv
Tor q woman"
Have you travelled farY' willard
managed 60 gasp.
When I reach New York, I shall
have compassed the globe" she an
swercd. little touch Of pride In her
voice.
"Ah, indeedr' There was eviden.
surprise In the mans exclamation. II
suppose
Tickets. plessey' The conductor
STOOD waiting. The little woman hand
"a over her ticket. while willard ex-
tended the 800 cheek. saying. ..I,et me
ca Ht the frst station"
Can't accept that" the conductor
said grufny. waving the check aside.
Eighty-nve cents In silver. please"
willard ran his hand into his pockets
IN the vain hope OF findinS the desired
amount His search resulted In bring
Ing TO view . bunch Of keys. a quarter
and nickel He was desperate. "If
you viii let me OF now he began.
when sweet voice interrupted:
One fare to New York" The little
woman In black handed the conductor
several pieces OF gold as she spoke.
willard tried to stammer a protest.
but the sound OF his confused words
was drowned IN the noise OF the NOV
Ing train. The conductor passed on
down the aisle. and. with a grim smile.
The helpless author handed the check
10 his companion.
Not now" she said. with a little ges-
ture OF annoyance. When we get to
New York. you can settle with me-"
Was ever man before placed In like
posiuonf Literally he was carried
away by woman. And that hundred
dollars-his friends money-wOuId 90
FOR naught. They-BrooKs and he
would have 60 sink together. The
thought was mAddeninE. And yet he
could not feel angry with tn, sweet
faced little woman who was the cause
OF all the trouble But what could she
mean by insisting on his accompanying
hert Was che an adventures, an es-
capped tunatic or an innocent little stu
p'dt he gave a cautious, sIdelonR
glance at the mysterious creature.
Surely she looked neither bold nor dan
Eerous as she sat there, her white.
plump hands clasped I'm her lap. He
could not see the expression on her
face. but the thick coil OF yellow hair
Visible through the heavy veil did not
impress him with the thought that she
was stupid. What thenf
Presently the woman opened her grin
and took out several magazines. "DO
you care to readT' she asked. Offering
him one. the cover OF which was
strangely familiar. II was the June is-
sue OF The Blue Or.
Thank your he answered. with a
Solf conscious air as he recognized the
book. He turned 20 the prize ofer and
read II through, regardless OF the fact
that he knew II by heart. word by
word. As he sat thus, like a nash OF
Hight In the darkness q thought came
70 him that made his heart leap for
Joy. II have 1.-THE idear' be cried to
Aimself. Title OF story. kidnapped by
q Woman He pressed his hand
against the outside or his coat 70 see II
his notebook was In his breast pocket
Yes: Il was there and his pencil too.
Excusing himself TO the little woman
In black. who sat quite absorbed in
he laid The Blue OK IN his seat
and betook himself 20 the smoking car.
The mood was on. His thoughts
came thick aud fast. and his nngers
fairly danced over the white sheets OF
paper. He felt that the story was go
ing to be the best thing that he had
ever written. Success seemed certain.
His hopes went up to the highest notch.
he could feel the crisp 5000 note In
his nngera- He saw his name in large
type on the cover OF The Blue Ok. No
more 10 cent aneais and threadbars
clothes Tor him or Brooks.
While the train stopped at the sta.
tion for supper he sent the following
telegram to the artist:
Safe on board train for New York.
Have found idea Shall return soon"
Then he went back and seated him.
self by the little woman in black. He
8elA anu ACteU IKE Lew man. he &C
tually beamed with Joy. He expert
enced q Wild desire to embrace his kid
naper-the little woman who had CIV
% him the idea. He. grew talkative,
mirthful. He was tempt
Cd u tell her about his story. but ne
didn't. He compromised by telling her
about himself. And the little woman
and smiled. but she told him
not even her name.
As the train neared New York VIII
hard Hess began TO wonder vaguely
what his kidnaper was going to do
with him on their arrival In that city.
For the success OF his story ne. wanted
her 20 do something extraordinarily un-
usual He was willing and anxious 10
DO exactly as she commanded him
that II. without risking his life. Even
would be considered--if she
insisted. Since the nrst day Of their
journey he had been her devoted slave.
They had become good friends. after q
fashion Rut she stiiI remained q mys-
sery to him.
May I trouble you to hand this note
10 messenger boyT' said the little
woman ia black Just as the train drew