Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-10
DAILY SHORT STORY
An Episode in Robbery
[Original.]

important ceremony-my wedding IN
my coat pocket l carried my present to
my bride, bracelet composed OF
strung pearls. l had bought it in New
York and paid $4,000 for it. A thing
of beauty is u joy forever. and l could
not resist the temptation to take it out
of my pocket, unclasp the box contain
ing it and look ut my treasure. / was
riding in Il sleeping car, and directly
opposite was handsomely dressed
lady. 1t occurred to me that / had
seen her before. but ponder as l would
1 could not tell where. She was read
ing a novel and did not once look up
at me. When it was growing dark. she
closed the book. yawned and looked
listlessly out of the window.
OF all the hours on Il train l dread
most those between dusk and bed
time. One can neither read nor look
at the scenery. There is nothing but
the interior of a car and nothing in the
car but people, and if one does not
know them the time goes very, slowly.
l made up my mind TO serape an ac-
quaintance with the lady opposite.
az beg your pardon l said, lifting
my hat. but your face is familiar,
though l cannot place you"
She looked up at me with a smile and
said, Il would be glad to remember
you If only for cOmpanionship, but
fear I can't She made room for me
on the seat opposite her, and 1 sat
down. She told me that she lived in
New York and mentioned number of
prominent people there, speaking of
some of them Familiarity. calling the
men Bob. Charlie, Tom. and the women
Daisy, Kit and Nellie. She did not
happen to know intimately any who
were my especial friends, but they
were all her acquaintance. She wore
the most tasteful travelling attire and
had great deal of hand baggage, in
Guiding 4 spaniel whose coat had been
groomed to Il gloss and around whose
neck was broad collar handsomely
mounted. Just before the porter came
round to make up our berthS she pro-
duced box, set with mother of pearl.
in which was Il dainty yet abundant
lunch, of which she invited me to par
take. After the feast she told me that
in her bag was a small flask of sherry
and one of very old whisky.
Men always prefer whisky" she
said. 81 carry it in case of Illness only.
If you can get on with the whisky,
will drink the sherry
OF course l assented. There was not
enough of each liquor for us both. as
the TASKS We're tiny gold ones. only
sufficiently large to hold one drink.
The last thing we did in company was
to pledge each other. Then l went to
the smoking car and afterward to my
berth.
During the night 1 dreamed that L
was walking along a street and found
it difficult to keep my head erect. it be-
ing heavy and inclined to fall forward.
In the morning l awoke with a head
ache and the same heavy headed feel
ing. We We're near Chicago, and the
lady in the berth opposite was gather
ing her belongings. l staggered to the
lavatory and while there naturally eX-
amined my pockets to make sure of my
wedding present after n nights sleep.
Taking out the box, 1 opened it. The
bracelet was not there.
Who had robbed me? 1t was some
time before 1 began to suspect the lady
with whom l had spent the evening.
vet l knew l had been drugged and,
suddenly remembering the drink she
had given me. felt sure she was the
culprit But why had she not left the
train with her booty? l questioned the
conductor, who told me there had been
no stop for several hours. Going up to
her, she smiled and babe me good
morning, to which L coldly replied that
she should return my bracelet or I
would turn her over to the police as
soon as we reached Chicago.
How dare you, how can you, so in
suit a woman? Never again will
travel alonev And she broke down i'll
passionate weeping.
1t occurred to me that since there
We're others on the train who might
have robbed me l had been hasty in ac-
cusing one whose responsibility was
vouched for by her acquaintance with
SO many people knew myself.
Suddenly she started up. You can
not, you shall not. subject me to such
indignity! Search my baggage. 1 will
go into a stateroom with that lady over
there, and she shall search my person.
Come: let us settle this matter" Then,
becoming angry, she added, And the
moment we reach Chicago l will tele-
graph my husband to come on. and we
shall see if you can thus insult unpro-
tected women"
At that moment like fash of light
ming, il came to me when and where
had seen her before. 1t was while 1
stood at the counter of the jeweler of
whom 1 had bought the bracelet.
was speaking to him about marking it,
telling him 1 must have it to go on the
morning express train to Chicago. The
woman was standing by, saw the
bracelet, knew its value and had ar.
ranged a plan to steal it.
But where could she have concealed
it? Not, surely, in her hand baggage
or ON her clothing. There was one place
which would not be searched, and that
place sprang up before my brain like