The Indianapolis journal., 1903-02-08

I saw his hand 60 stealing back to his res
volver. which he half raised as he glanced
across this time at the sleeping sister. his
face dark and threatening. and his lips
lauttering. But just as was on the point
or rcusing the sleeper with cry of alarm.
he laid the weapon down again and turned
to me once more
Then he slowly unwound from his neck a
silk handkerchief, and. gathering all his en-
ergies for great effort, he gripped the arm
of the seat, rose and came towards US un-
steadily. staggering and lurching and roll
ing as the train jerked and bumped in it's
rapid course.
He was holding the kerchief in his hand
and noticed, to my surprise and intense
relief. that he had left the revolver in the
corner. When he reached US he stood, hold
ing on to the luggage rack and leering like
one dazed in the sisters face for a mo-
ment. Apparently satisfied with his scru-
tiny Of her, he turned and looked down on
me.
I kept my eyes all but shut. but he
seemed to know 1 was awake; and
thought now that his face wore a different
expression.
For heavens sake!" he whispered. His
voice was very indistinct between his ster-
torous breathing. but yet he had an accent
Of entreaty. Then in louder tone: "The
good sister sleeps?,' and he laid the white
handkerchief over her face and lurched for
ward until he stood between her and me-
For heavens sake. readp' he said, put
ting the paper on my lap. Read" he urged
again, when hesitated.
took it then, though almost too fright
ened to understand it, and while he stood
there holding on to the luggage-rack sway
ing and staggering and breathing heavily,
1 read as follows:
Help me, for heavens sake! have been
drugged or poisoned. / am Ambrose CO.
reau, twenty-eight. Rue d'Epiciennes, Par
is; have 10000 worth Of diamonds in my
bag and concealed about me. 1 am either
dying or have been drugged, and shall be
robbed If you don't help. 1t will ruin me.
1 suspect the sister is man disguised. A
revolver is on my seat. Get it before I am
insensible."
A fearful lurch which the man gave near
ly brought him in a heap to the ground, and
he stumbled and crawled and pulled him
self back to his seat, and lolled there inert
and helpless. and fast growing unconscious.
What did 1t mean? What should I do?
The tables were now turned with a venge-
ance. If the Frenchman was right, who
was the pretended Sister Marie? What a
position was mine!
With an effort the Frenchman held up
the revolver to show 1t me.
I moved as If uneasily, and then, looking
stealthily at the apparently sleeping nun,
got up to change my seat. I fancied that
the head of the sleeper turned slightly as If
to follow my movement. and this decided
me.
I went to the other side of the compart-
ment. and. standing so that my action
could not be seen. took the revolver and put
the mans bag on to the seat behind me.
| AS did So he fell back with low moan,
| utterly unconscious.
The moments Of suspense that followed
were the most trying of my life. 1 was
| waiting for the nun to move, and trying to
| think what to do.
/ sat with my eyes fixed on the still fig
| ure at the other end of the carriage, and
my heart beat so fast that it panied me;
my lips were hot and dry, and my tongue
glued to the roof of my mouth, while my
breath came and went in quick, short gasps
of terror. felt like terrible coward. and
| knew 1 should faint if this strain continued.
| 1t was thus a distinct relief when at
length the sleeper showed signs of awak-
ing. She gave deep sigh, stretched out
hands and feet as if yawnng. and then
took the Frenchman's kerchief from her
face, and sat up, stretched again, and cast
one subtle, swift glance at me, masking it
| instantly with smile.
| The crisis was evidently at hand, and ]
should soon know the worst now. 1 was
| still quite incapable of thinking what to
do. My mind seemed paralyzed. indeed,
| with the terror of anticipation. 1 sat star
| ing at her and lingering the revolver, which
had concealed in fold of my dress. j
| was afraid of it. had never handled such
| thing before. and dreaded lest it should
| explode and hurt me, and held it gingerly
! in fingers that trembled violently.
| The sister did not speak. and for time
| showed no intention even to leave her seat.
| AS I stared at the face I found myself
wondering fearsomely whether it was the
| face of a man or a woman, but 1T was i'm
possible to determine. The light in the car
riage was but dim, the broad white fillet
| across the brow, the bands under the chin
| the quaint, voluminous headgear defied my
efforts to guess the riddle. But the fact
| that she must see the condition of the
Frenchman and yet put no question about
| him, heightened my suspicious; and then j
noticed something which seemed to con-
firm my worst fears.
| 1 detected some stealthy movements be-
| meath the ample black cloak, and instinct
lively jumped to the conclusion that the
dress was a disguise, that the sister was
indeed a man, and that he was making
ready to throw off the cloak to execute
| his sinister purpose.
| This thought seemed to rouse my numbed
wits. If was to do anything, I must do IL
now; and glance at the huddled-up form
of the unconscious Frenchman nerved me
| to act. felt what my fate would be if his
| suspicious were correct.
| At that instant thought of stopping the
train by means of the communication cord
l and blamed my sluggish wits that the SIM