The Indianapolis journal., 1903-02-08
fore Taking tighter grip OF the pistol in
one hand. grasped the window strap with

pie expedient had not occurred to me be-
fore. Taking a tighter grip OF the pistol in
one hand grasped the window strap with
the other to carry out the purpose.
''Sit still. Move a finger and I'll lodge
bullet in your brain"
The sisters" voice rang out now clear
ard stern, and wondered how I could.
ever have found 1t sympathetic and kind.
or mistaken 1t for a woman's. 1t was harsh
and terrorizing
But sit still could not.
The man appeared to be in difficulties
it off, and his hands were hidden away be-
meath it. / felt that / might as well be
killed standing up and making an effort as
sitting still, so I caught the strap. let the
window down with rush, and, thrusting
the revolver out into the night, 1 fired two
shots as quickly as I could, and then
groped for the communication cord.
Before could find it, however, felt my
self pulled violently away from the window
thrown back on to the seat of the carriage,
the man towering oyer me, his eyes ablaze
with rage and menace.
Another sound, if you dare. Keep STILL
and no harm will happen to you"
Nothing came Of my revolver shooting,
and / let the weapon fall on the seat of
the carriage.
I think I half tainted. The lights seemed
to turn dim. everything appeared to be sud-
denly far away, and it was through haze
like a dream, that 1 watched the mana
1.-the, athletic, clean-shaven, determined
looking young fellow-as he bent down and
examined the Frenchman to see whether
he was dead. Then he began to turn out his
pockets, and feel all over his clothes, cut
ting through them here and there in an
eager search.
Whatever he sought he failed to find, and
I heard the muttered curses rolling fast
and furiously from between his thin,
tightly-pressed lips.
Suddenly a loud and vehement oath
To my inexpressible delight the train was
slowing down, and he thrust his head out
of the window to ascertain the cause
AS he did this very happy thought oc-
CURED to me. Taking the Frenchman's bag
I hid it swiftly and stealthily under the
cloak in the corner where the 'sister" had
been fegning sleep. That was the last
place he would look for it, and when he
drew in his head pretended that too had
lost consciousness.
1 believe that saved my life.
The train was rapidly coming to stand
still when he cried. furiously:
Where's that bag?"
/ lay white, still, helpless and fiaccid. He
hauled me from the seat, searched the
place, felt even in my pockets; shook me,
bawling the question in my ear; struck
me, and even threw me against the back
and sides of the carriage. This was partly
rage and partly his desire to rouse me.
Then he hunted all round about the for
eigner, and under the seats; and when he
found nothing-for it never occurred to him
to look under his own cloak-his oaths
were frightful.
The train drew to standstill and he was
like wild beast at bay. He stood over us
both with his back to the window, which
he had pulled up, his intention being to try
and keep any one from coming into the
carriage while the train stood.
Then l heard the sound of windows being
let down and voices calling to ask the rea-
son Of the delay, and some one answered
that the signal was against u.s.. s.s
That was my opportunity.
Finding the revolver close to my hand
sprang up suddenly, c1utched at him with
all my strength, and fired the weapon
through the closed window; and then sent
up scream after scream till he struck me
down and silenced me.
But had beaten him.
The next instant he had sprung from the
carriage into the night, just as some peo-
pie came running up and clambered on to
the footboard on my side in answer to my
cries for help.
The instant my, story was told hue and
cry was raised in pursuit Of the scoundrel,
while a doctor who was travelling on the
train came to the assistance of my fellow
traveller.
awaiting us that the man had been caught
and recognized as most daring and origi-
nal railway thief for whose capture a big
reward was offered by the company; and /
had the supreme satisfaction little later
of helping to secure his conviction and sem
tence to long term at the galleys.
More than that. large share of the re-
| ward was Allotted to me, while the firm
| whose diamonds my easy device of throw
| ing the bag under the thief's own clothes
| had saved, made UP the amount to a really
| large sum.
One point remained.
"Why did you force yourself on me-"
asked NJ. Goreau, after the trial, when you
must have seen that 1 did not want you?
| You seem to have rushed voluntarily into
| the danger"
He turned the question with a compliment
| that covered the truth.
'T saw you were pretty. Your truth and
| innocence were transparent. / felt there
was safety in your company; and believed
that you and the sister were really travel
| ing companions"
"Then it was not all admiration?' /
asked with a smile.
"Mademoiselle, my admiration was never
greater than at this moment" he replied,
bowing; and my smile broadened into a
merry laugh at his equivocation.
was in a laughing mood indeed. for was
| not thousand pounds the richer as the
result of that perilous ride in the Paris
mail.
copyright. 1902
|