The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-05

time that reached our car, but the
bag and the panama hat were still In
view, and Relden was on guard. Miss
Leigh, however was not visible. Bel.
den said she had gone aft" also
went "aft," | went to the end OF the
train. but did not find Anderson nor
Miss Leigh nor the man from seat No,
3. II seemed to be day when not only
diamond rings, but people, were able
TO lose themselves with unexampled
facility.
When | re.enterd our car. Belden
had vanished. | glanced hastily to-,
ward seat No. 3. The hat and grip
were still there.
"Iour friends gone to find the con-
ductor" said the man In scat No, IL,
"At least think so, He asked me II |
remembered which way the conductor
went. He seemed rather excited"
At this moment the man In seat No.
rose hastily, In fact, he came up as
II propelled by spring. He turned
toward us, leaning with one hand upon
the chair back. The other hand was
at his breast. His mouth hung open;
his eyes stared.
my pockethookw he gasped.
lnstlnctlycly thrust my hand inside
my walstcoat, where In a pocket which
| had always thought TO be beyond the
reach OF thieves had been accus.
timed TO carry the bulk OF my Imme.
diate funds. The pocket was empty.
The man in No. - looked from one
TO the other of us, and he grinncd, His
hands were In his trousers pockets.
"My moneys all right" said he. 81
didn't have much, but" He paused
and then suddenly clapped his hand to
his tie, by jlngo! My pins gone
He touched me for better than
thousand" said No. s, and ! saw him
molsten his dry lips with his tongue.
II suppose there's no doubt be-
gan, and finished the sentence by
pointing to seat No. 5.
Nonsense" said No, II. 1T was the
girl. She made the bluir OF dropping
the ring, knowing what we'd do, and
while we were all butting our heads
against the furniture and she was
reaching over us, pointing out likely
places oh, oh. oh! What a set of
easy marks"
But where's the man?" demanded. |
"There are his things" retorted No
IL. He's stlll on the train. But
where's the grip"
Miss Leigh was kind enough to per
NIT sort of introduction between her
self and me-" said |. ~ may perhaps |
claim the right to defend her, since I
there is no one else here who knows
her at all, and | would like 1t to be
understood that nothing further must |
be said which touches her good name |
and that what has been said must be
withdrawn"
No. II looked me in the eye He was
firm in his opinion and man of nerve. |
l could see him hardening his heart
for a reply that would create a very
strained situation. Then suddenly his |
changed to one of astonsh.
ment. He was looking over my shoul.
der. | turned and saw Miss Leigh. |
Behind her was Belden, and behind |
him was Anderson. The conductor |
brought up the rear
Miss Leigh came straight to me.
1T was that manw she cried. "You
were right. I've got my ring again.
And she held up her hand to show It.
"After You left me went to the rear
platform of the car" she continued.
'The train was stopping, and | had
your words in mind. thought that
man might get off, and be did. And
when | saw that he had another hat
ln-a soft one that must have been
'olded in his pocket--then knew for
sure. And ran after him, and just as
caught him Mr.. Anderson caught him
90. He's in the baggage car now, and
Mr.. Anderson has all your things"
Yes" said Anderson, with his pc
'uliar drawl, "when | saw Tony Jack
Wallace quitting us like that and pull
ng out his folder hat | knew some
hing was queer, SO | just trailed
llong. Nobody quicker than Tony Jack
o take advantage Of a little accident
ike the lady dropping the diamond.
I'll bet he had 1t before it touched the
loor. See him do 1t? Why, that man
,ould take your shoes off your feet
md you wouldn't know It, Working
he trains Is his speciality, and he al