Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-08-08

FHch a Dag or so, ana oine with ie a.
o'clock" |
IF / thought"
Thought is dangerous in crisis"
rejoined, "and may be fatal to a
game"
So far, so well. 1t was heavy
risk. At any moment during dinner
could have thrown discretion to the
winds, but Margaret trusted me.
And here we were, without hltch,
at Charing Cross. Margaret was al
ready ensconced in a snug compart-
ment, and friendly guard had locked
her in.
1t was now time to look for the
runaways.
"You are quite safe if I leave you."
said /.
But she dared not trust herself to
answer.
Her bag l had taken care to leave
with a porter, so that for the moment
1 was quite unencumbered when, as
watched under the gloomy portico of
the station, / saw, to my relier. the
familiar face of the man l sought.
The woman was striking, bold; a
radiant devil. What a contrast to Mar
garet! 1 could have cursed Eustace to
his face.
But suavity was the right note, and
/ easily assumed X.
Eustace, of course. frowned as l
thrust my attentions upon him.
Thought you'd like someone to see
you off,"
Very good of you." he said me-
chanically.
Look after your bags and things"
/ murmured, seizing the lady's dressing
case. My porter was at hand. l
handed 1t to him while her attention
was distracted. Put that in the cloak
room and bring me the ticket" / in
structed him. He vanished.
Then l took them both in hand. There
was the usual furry of departure all
around us. invented several new va
rieties of officiousness which delayed
them considerably. / insisted on regis
tering the luggage for them. l got
them to study the bookstall while I
| mismanaged that bit of business, after
which. having secured the ticket for
the dressing bag from my porter, l felt
equal to any emergency. l took Mar
garet's valise in my hand and faced
them.
"There." I said triumphantly. II
think have saved you some troubled"
Where's my dressing bag?" she
asked
Isn't this it?" / demanded blankly.
She almost shrieked with dsmay.
But Eustace was looking at the ini-
| tials: Margaret's initials.
L TOOK advantage OF tnlS DeWlluef-
ment.
THE contents of my case are price
| less" said my lady, her eyes glitter
| inC.
That ass of pOrter!" I cried.
whats to be done?" she asked, look
| ing at the clock.
Hang on to this bag. Eustace, old
| chap."I said. you've just time. A
| mistake--an eXchange--these things Of
Tan, hn, 10
their baggage in the train, depend on it
| Take ii along and see if anyone claims
| it. I'll stay here"
I could see by the look in his eyes
that his thoughts were straying to
Margaret.
He took the bag and went off in the
direction of the barrier.
| l turned to her.
| "It can never be replaced!" she cried
wringing her hands.
What If undertake to replace it?'
"Oh, she cried, impossible! What
shall I do?"
THE lost property Officer" I sug
gested.
This place swarms with thieves"
Shall we wire to Scotland Yard?'
We ran from bureau to bureau. Tim,
was slipping away: felt happier. She
gained the ear of the station master
at last and began to harangue him.
said l would go and look for Eustact
| and return.
l found him.
He had reached the reserved carriag,
in due course. He had clamored for i
| to be opened.
1t now wanted a minute to the hour
Margaret clung to him and would no
let him go.
"Eustace, come with me: Come will
me! You cannot have the heart"
| peeped In, hearing her pleadin,
voice. How could he resist her? / re
solved TO strengthen her apneal, though
it choked me to hear her. AS the guarC
passed l signalled him to turn the Ike.
once more.
In another minute the train steame,
out of the station. and l breathed free
ly. They were Ill equipped for thei
journey, but luckily as l reflected, tn
eloping angel had set up a big estab
lishment in Paris.
1 discovered the flaming lady withou
difficulty.
Your bag Is found" told her ioy
fully. There has been a little mis-
take. I have thwarted a deliberat
theft"
handed her a little green case whic
contained three items.
1t is no business of mine of course
but ! have reason to believe that
Few days later She used those two tick
, cts to Paris in spite of the amazemer
with which she turned them over as
bowed and left her.
Since their return from that secon
and sweeter honeymoon. how ofte
have Eustacc and Margaret thanke
! mel Especially Margaret
TT was a narrow shave" am wor
, to reply. THE things that might hay
happened"
sT must nor baar a hout tbay, ro,,.i
, Arthur. NJ not even in confidence