Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-11-18
nm EPISODE
n IN ROBBERY


/ was travelling on tram between
New York and Chicago on my way to
the latter city 10 take part In n vary
important ceremony-my wedding. iu
my coat pocket 1 carried my present tt
my bride. a bracelet composed o.
strung pearls. had bought 1t in New
York and paid $4,000 for 1t. A thing
of beauty is Joy forever, and l coult
not resist the temptation to take 1t ou'
of my pocket, unclasp the box contain
Ing il and look at my treasure. l wal
riding in sleeping car, and directly
opposite was handsomely dressed
lady. 1t occurred TO me that l hac
seen her before, but ponder as l wouC
| could not tell where. She was read
Ing a novel and did not once look ur
at me. When It was growing dark, she
closed the book, yawned and looked
1istlessly out of the window
OF all the hours on train l dread
most those between dusk and bed
time. One can neither read nor looh
Mt the scenery. There Is nothing hui
the interior of car and nothing in tn
car but people, and If one does nc
know them the time goes very slowly
I made up my mind to scrape an nc
quaintance with the lady opposite.
1T beg your pardon" 1 said, lifting
my hat, "but your face is familiar.
though 1 cannot place you"
She looked up at me with smile and
said, az would be glad to remember
! ~.o,, opl,, ocpnna ripusbip Inf !
fear l can't" She made room for II.
On the seat opposite her, and l sal
down. She told me that she lived IT
New York and mentioned number Of
prominent people there, speaking Of
some of them Familiarity, calling Tho
men Bob, Charlie, Tom, and the womcr
Daisy, Kit and Mollie. She did moi
happen to know intimately any WING
were my especial friends, but they
were all her acquaintances. She wore
the most tasteful travelling attire AM
had great deal of hand baggage, IT
GLIDING a spaniel whose coat had be2u
groomed to gloss and around whose
neck was a 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 n dainty yet abundant
lunch, OF which she invited me to pal,
take. After the feast she told me that
In her bag was small flask of sherrS,
and one Of very old whisky.
men always prefer whisky" sh.
said. II carry it in case of illness only
II you can get on with the whisky. :
will drink the sherry"
OF course assented. There was MOI
enough of each liquor for us both, as
the TASKS were tiny gold ones, onl,
sufficiently large to hold one drink.
The last thing we did in company was
to pledge each other. Then went +
the smoking car and afterward to rs
berth.
During the night dreamed that /
was walking along 4 street and four d
It difficult 10 keep my head erect, it b.
ing heavy and inclined to fall forward
In the morning awoke with head
ache and the same heavy headed feel
ing. We were near Chicago, and tn
lady in the berth opposite was gathe,
ing her belongings. staggered to The
lavatory and while there naturally cS'
amined my pockets to make sure Of nv
wedding present after nights SLEEP
Taking out the box, l opened it. The
bracelet was not there.
Who had robbed me? 1t was som,
time before began to suspect the lad
with whom l had spent the evening
yet l knew I had been drugged ana
suddenly remembering the drink sh.
had given me, felt sure she was III
culprit. But why had she not left III,
train with her booty? l questioned th'
conductor who told me there had bee
no stop for several hours. Going up t.
her, she smiled and babe me gooi
morning, to which coldly replied tina
she should return my bracelet or
would turn her over to the police a!
soon as we reached Chicago.
''How dare YOU, how can you, so "
suit woman? Never again vii!
travel aloner And she broke down
passionate weeping.
It occurred 10 me that since Their
were others on the train who mgh
have robbed me had been hasty in ac
cusing one whose responsibility wa
vouched for by her acquaintance wit
so many people knew myself.
Suddenly she started up. you car
not, you shall not, subject me to sue.
indignity! Search my baggage. | WI
60 into a stateroom with that lady Owe
there, and she shall search my person
Come; let us settle this matter" Then
becoming angry. she added, And IL,
moment we reach Chicago l will tell
graph my husband to come on, and W,
shall see if you can thus insult unprO
tected women"