Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
A RAILWAY ADVENTURE.
IOriginal.l

suit, and fit was determined that she
should gosto Berlin to study to be
musician, ,with a view to earning her
| owntliving. She wenttall alone onithe
trains and was alone in the compart-
ment until at one of the stops a. man
got in. The train had no sooner start
ed on than he said do Gretchen:
"Fsmlein. I'll trouble you for your
clothes"
Gretchen looked ,at the man, not un-
Outstanding what he. meant
Your clothes, and be in a. hurry.
Take them off. I'm going to put
them oil and you shall put onsmine."
Before Gretchen could be, made to
understand that he was IN earnest
he was vOblige1 TO threaten her, and
even them the gtaking Off of her outef
clothing beforela man was so obnox-
ious to her that she did ftlvery slowly.
The. man was twice her Sage, but not
much taller being small and wiry He
putSon Gretchen's 'dress, 'hat-he could
not get on her shoes-and minor
articles. compelling her ITO put on his
own ,clothes. Then he itook out OF a
satchel a number of cosmetics and
began no >make himself up for a wo-
man. Hen also took out a mustache
and, givingtit to Gretchen. .ordered her
| to stick itton to her uppertlip.
Gretchen,i who had neversbefore been
out in the world without a. maid. was
Of course, terror stricken. She obeyed
fl,a cha MI
moment tha he might, find it to his
interest to- murder her. After they
had changed apparel he said to her;
Little girl. if you do what want
you to do, IIll not hurt ,you. The next
station will be Il. and expect to1eaye
the train there. If 1 decide not to
and any one gets into this compart-
ment, you must pretend that tyou are
young man. If you don't, I'll kill
you
When the train stopped at b. the
| man was about to get out when he
| caught sight of n policeman standing
| right where he must be passed. The
| man hesitated and decided not to risk
| it. He covered, back in the car and
remained there while the train was
| at II standstill. Just before II moved
off young man in a students cap
got into the compartment. Then the
| guard lockedN the door and the train
| moved off.
! The student was evidently in an
| amiable mood-most students are-and
as soon as he was seated took out a
cigarette and, turning to the criminal
| whom he supposed was a woman,
l,ea obi tod 70. -ir,r
| man replied in so coarse voice that
the student smiled. and, permission
being granted, he offered Gretchen a
| cigarette. She was about to decline
| when n glance from the criminal
warned her TO accept. and. taking the
| cigarette, the student held match
while she lit it. The student insisted
on opening ii conversation with her. At
| the first sound of her voice he looked
/ at her surprised and smiled again.
You two had better change your
| clothes" lie said. THE woman has
the voice of man, while the man
has the voice Of a woman
Poor Gretchen now began to show
| signs of sickness, and the student
! asked what was the matter. Gretchen
admitted that it must be the cigarette,
since he could not think OF anything
else to cause the trouble.
Poor little boy" said the student
You should be at home with your
| mother"
Taking her head in his arms, he
playfully pulled It down on to his
| breast. The criminal, not relishing this
close proximity and fearing the girl
might communicate with the student
said:
LET the boy alone"
What business is it of yours p asked
the student haughtily. One would sup
pose the boy TO be girl. I'll hug him
| II like"
With that he seized Gretchen and
pulled her face down onto his chest SO
vigorously that when he released her
her mustache had fallen Off
Well, WE'LL" said the astonished stu
dent What's this? Are you trying
10 escape from justice in disguiser
| That's it," cried the criminal. He
must be a thief"
| The student looked at the blushing,
innocent face OF the girl, and, noticing
that her hair had partly slipped from
under her hat where the criminal had
placed it, took hold of a coil and pulled
is down over Gretchen's shoulder.
You're girl" he said, that's GER
tain. Now, how about your" he added,
looking al the other
"A man. And. whipping out a re-
volver. he attempted to cover the stu
dent, but the latter. who was a re-
nowned member of the dueling CORDS
at his university, quick as lightning
knocked up his weapon, and In the |
scuffie that followed the criminal, be-
ing encountered with skirts, was over |
powered and lost his revolver
For the rest OF the journey the stu |
dent kept the criminal covered and got |