Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-11-08

and, with my usual heedlessness, laid
the purse down beside me with the
letters l was going to read. / now
took these up, one by one, read them,
and tossed them back on the seat.
| was soon made aware, by the vi
bration of the coach, that we had
reached the Asnicres Bridge. The
young woman folded up her newspa-
per, and without CHANGING in my di-
rectlon, began slowly and composedly
to unlacc the glove on her right hand.
Finally she drew it off. We were
about to reach our destination. 1t was
not the time for removing ones gloves.
Still the act did not impress me at the
time. | merely admired the slim. ner-
vous hand, with its tapering fingers
The girl clasped and unclapsed them
with marvellous agility, Us If they We're
numb from their bondage. The shadow
of the great wall OF the Batlgnolles
soon fell upon our car, and noticed
that the lantern was not lighted. A
moment afterward with a confused
| tered the tunnel.
| Soon | fancied | heard the sound
| was barely perceptiblc in the general
| fracas-a slight rustling among the pa
pers at my side. Careless as usually
am. it is Il wonder that the sound at
| tractcd my attention, and still more
of one that | thought OF my pocket
book. BY some intuition. however,
did so.
Not Intentionally, but with an in
Stiuctive, rough gesture, of which
should have been ashamed In the day
light, forclbly threw both my hands
over the scattered papers and pressed
them down with all my might Then
with Il start, | felt something more
under the pile like an animal in trap
trying to escape by twisting. turning
and pulling. l bore down all the hard
en- Just then the train whistle shrek
ed out The speed slackencd and we
came to n standstill in the blackuess of
the tunnel. For n moment. | expert
enccd II vcritable nightmare. With n
rustling and tearing of papers, the
struggle continued, silently but fierce
~,
After having wrlggled and turned
desperately in every direction. like a
strangled reptile, the hand. crushed
under my palms lay quiet. l saw
nothing. heard nothing. not even a
breath. | knew. however that my
companion was on the alert noting my
every movement Suffocated by emo
ton and wearied by the tension on
my nerves. | waited for the daylight
for dellverance.
After period OF time, very short.
probably. but the length of which l
could not estimate, the train began to
move slowly. My relief at this was so
great that my whole being involuntari,
ly relaxed from its tension. This was
evidently expected Tor the hand again
tried to free itself, not by violent Jerks
this time but by strong, steady pull.
ing. l felt it slipping along, little by
little, under the papers | imprudentlv
raised my palm a bit to get fresh
hold. When l again bore down. |
: claSped only my pocket book. The
hand had escaped. l knew not when
nor how.
, hastily opened the purse. felt that
, its contents We're there, then put il
| into my vest pocket and stupidity cross.
| ed my arms over 1t.
AT last gray light penetrated into
; the compartment, followed by the
bright light of day. My first glance
was at the lady opposite She sat in
> exactly the same place. with the same
! mir Of naughty Indifference. Nothing
: about her toilet was diSarranged in
| the least Not Il fold of her dress seem.
cd to have been moved The news.
I paper lay folded in her lap. the gold.
: handled umbrella leaned against the
, portiere the patentleather toe pro.