Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18

reading copy OF my evening journal,
and the lights above his head-it was
after dark-shone relentlessly on his COM
monplace features, and his ears stood out
like bats wings.
Il wonder if he sees the resemblance"
/ wondered idly. Il fancy Mr.. Daniel M,
Bailey would not dare to travel SO free
of disguise as the little man sitting over
the way"
Presently put down the paper, not ap-
pearing to need it's protection, and my
ewes being weak / half closed them, lean
ing back my head SO that under my lids
| could see the movements of my neigh
bors. The dark young man began look
ing around him with quick. nervous
glances There was something surrep-
titious about his motions that affected
me unpleasant1y. l felt for him an in
stinctive dislike and distrust.
Presently l detected what appeared to
be a quick and secret signal made with
his hand. apparently to attract the atten-
ton of the restless woman before alluded
to, who was wriggling about her seat
across the aisle. If she saw the gesture
and understood it. she gave no sign; but
continued to look about her with furtlve
chances, first pulling down and then snap
ping up the window shade, then opening
her travelling bag, looking quickly through
its contents, and closing it with hurried
click. looked at her between my half
closed eyelids, feeling that to be caught
mapping was my only chance OF escape.
She glanced over at me with aprop1tlat1ng
smile, rose, and began searching for some
thing on the seat and on the floor of the
car Not finding what she sought, she
crossed the aisle and touched my sleeve:
Though half expecting an advance of
some sort, started violently; for l have
a nervous temperament, although it does
not work itself off on other people as was
apparently the case with my neighbor
T BEG YOUR pardon" she said gently.
do you by any chance happen to
have bottle of smelling salts with you!
Mine has disappeared, and l have an in
tolerable headache.
l smiled deprecatingly and pointed to
my swathed throat. Forgive my voice.
l have such a cold l can scarcely speak
above whisper. / am very sorry / have
no salts with me. Perhaps the lady in
front with the little girl
oh, it doesn't matter. l get so nerv-
Gus thinking about my headache with
nothing to distract mel May l talk to
YOU a minute? The truth is ] have been
sent for by my husband in New York.
My only child is very i'll, and am almost
out OF my senses with anxiety.
The woman spoke with the easy loquac
ity of the middle classes who enjoy shar-
ing their most sacred experiences even
with total strangers. l murnured per-
functory expressions of sympathy, and
said finally:
Il am sorry that / have nothing better
with which to distract your painful
thoughts than the evening paper. Will
YOU take this?" And l handed her the
sheet l had just laid down.
Looking up, l saw the little brown eyes
of the commonplace young man boring
into us like gimlets. To my surprise and
ANNOYANCE the woman not only con-
sented to share my paper, but insisted on
sharing my seat as we'll. She created IN
me curious sense of distrust and aver
sion, and felt shiver of dislike tickling
my spinal column.
Dear, dear! How dreadful this latest
defalcation ISL she exclaimed. Il have
often seen Mr.. Bailey; l have stayed
great deal in Albany should know him
anywhere" Instinctive1y we both looked
toward the dark young man with ears,
who now seemed to have lost interest in
us and had returned to his paper.
/ felt surrounded by choking at