The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-02-01

She sprGng up on the seat and. placing
her eyc at the hole. peered through.
pcned in a tenth Of the time taken to
tell it.
sOh, pardon me cried Jennie. ssI'm
afraid lurch of the car threw me
against you. Z
The Russian, before answering, cast
a look at the floor and saw the large
envelope lying there with its seal mp
permQst He quietly placed his huge
foot upon it, and then said, with an
effort at politeness
Il is no matter, madame. am
afraid that 1 am so bulky have taken
mp moet OF the passage.
1t is very good Of you to excuse
me, said Jennie. merely came oui
to ask the conductor If he would make
up my berth. Would you be good
enough to translate that to him ~
The Russian surlily told the conductor
to attend to the wants of the lady. The
conductor nluttered reply, and that
reply the Russian translated.
He win be at your service in q few
moments. madame. He must first make
up the berth Of the gentleman in room
A.
With that she retired again into hel
compartment, the real letter concealed
in the folds OF her dress. the bogus one
ON the floor under the Russians foot.
She closed the door tightly. Then. taking
care that she was not observed through
either Of the holes the conductor had
bored in the partition. she swiftly placed
the important document in a deep in.
side pocket of her jacket. AS general
rule. women have inside pockets in their
capes and outside pockets in their jack.
cts. but Jennie, dealing as che did with
many documents in the course Of her
profession. had had this jacket espe'
cially made. with Its deep and roomy
inside pocket. She sat in corner Of hel
sofa wondering what was to be the fate
Of the unfortunate messenger. for In
spite Of the sudden shutting Of the dool
by the Russian she caught a glimpse
Of the man lying face downward on the
floor Of his sitting room. She also had
received Whit Of the sweet. heavy gal
which had been used. that seemed now
TO be tincturing the whole atmosphere
Of the car, especially in the long, narrow
passage. II is not likely they intended
to kill the man, for his death would
cause an awkward investigation. while
his statement that he had been rendered
insensible might easily be denied. Al
she sat there, the silence disturbed only
by the low, soothing rumble Of the train
she heard the ring Of the metal cylinder
against the woodwork of the next com
partment The men were evidently re.
moving their apparatus. A little late,
the train slowed, finally coming to Z
standstill. and. looking out Of the win
dow into the darkness. she found they
were stopping at an i'll lighted country
station. Covering the light in the cell.
ing again. the better to see outside, her
self unohserved. she noted the conductor
and another man place the bulky cylin-
der on the platform without the slight
est effort at concealment. The tall Rus,
sian etood by and gave curt orders. All
instant later the train moved ON again,
and when well under way there was 4
rap al her door. When she opened It,
tbs conductor said that he would make
mp her berth now, If It 30 pleased her.
She stood ont in the corridor while thii
was deftiy and swiftly done. She could
not restrain her curiosity regarding the
mysterious occupant Of room A, and "a
satisfy il she walked slowly up and
down the corridor. her hands behind
her, passing and repassing the open dool
Of her own room and noticing that evel
and anon the conductor cast suspicious
eye in her direction The door Of room
A was partly open. but the shaded lamp
in the ceiling left the interior in dark
! meas. There was now no trace Of the in
toxicating gas in the corridor. and al
she passed room A she noticed that 4
fresh breeze was blowing through the
half open doorway therefore the win.
dow must be mp Once as she passed her
own door she saw the conductor engaged
in task which would keep him from
looking into the corridor iQE At least 4