Putnam patriot., 1909-11-12
HE TILE HE
 ASHES T0LD,
ICopyrlght, ioq. by Assoc.atas
 Press a'y

@l noUsANDS of men thFaa..... the world are each dav .- tieatly seeking ia fha l.t- - rinthine ways of eyitieDrs \. proof or disproof. of some paar wr...ns'. guilt, the penalty of whose eonvi.,s-. perhaps is death, and the life of 2 ,~.- may be lost or saved by a thread sIa. der. yet so unbreaking and sure fhst i. holds inevitable truth in it's rnesh.. Sometimes there is only a tiny ses.s !. truth. but grain of gold outvaluss ,.- of dross.
 One afternoon last summer ma. occupied the rear end compartma,, = train bound north from Lucerpe u- was leaning leisurely against the soo. frame watching the crowdIng thro,. in the station as the train took on ,.s burden preparatory for the jourpev
 He was powerfully built. and ere, in this attitude of repose he betrarsa the tense control with which he don, mated the abundant energy which ns,. vaded him. He was an American
 
 the traveller noticed a woman s.r,, gling through the crowd toward r She had scarcely reached the rear ens when the train started. and the ars- iean. jumping down. caught her ba. gage and assisted her to mount te tba compartment which he was oeeupyino
 When they had recovered their con. posture and he had slowed a#ay he, baggage he remarked that she vss young. richly dressed and wore jam. ty travelling hat which seemed haopt. ingly familiar to him. She WAS unm,S. takably French.
 Oh. He remembered her standing m. posite him al Monte Carlo on the piuAr of his fortunate play. when the erou. pier had put into his hands the returns of his lucky hazard. He also rernem. bered the expression of hatred and avidity from the eyes across the table as he turned to leave. Presently sba felt his questioning gaze and spoke.
 "Oh. monsieur, je vous remereie, Vous m'avez sauyee,'
 Though he caught the meaning of her words in her smile and gesture. he only bowed his aequiescenee and SCI. tied back to read his paper She sigh ed and glanced at him from time to time. but his attention was soon ab- sorbed. and silence reigned except for the rumble of the speeding train. One he laid aside the paper to draw out and light q cigar. but she was gazing intently out into the closing darkness
 Then suddenly she spoke iii English:
 Monsieur. give me 1000 francs
 The American looked up question ingly.
 Monsieur. give me 5000 francs,- she repeated calmly. locking directly into his eyes. He returned her look fxeily.
 Madame. you are mistaken. ana American traveller. We have never met before :"
 But monsieur will give to THe ihs money" she said. this time with un- mistakable menace in her voice.
 He did not answer her at once Erf dently this was not case of mistaken identity. It was a threat. But how could this mite of woman carry out the menace she implied in her per sistent demand and eloquent gestures His hand clasped the butt of his n volver as he answered.:
 And if l will not ?''
 .Then l will scream" she answered simply.
 He smiled at his own credulity. The woman was mad. But this idea vas quickly dispelled by the look of dss perate determination she fixed upoa his as she said:
 "I will give to monsieur three min utes.'
 They sat doggedly facing each otneE she watching the hands of a tiny watch. he vainly conjecturing her nfx' move The train began to slow up rf the next station. The three minutes licked by.
 Then she deliberately threw asids her watch. tore her hat from her heaa' disheyeled her hair till II streamed n wild disorder over her shoulders and
 
 even dug her nails Into her ebeek ua the blood smeared her face. Neah while she threw open the window aaa scream A moi. moi. Help v and uttered sighs aaa stifled groans. The American lesna back in his seat and waited. the onn evidence of his excitement in the Iuff ous pufiing of his cigar between as set teeth
 Before the train had come to ssp in the station the gendafiies aza boarded and the accused man ls'rs four revolvers. Still he wai,ed. 2 frown of pernlexitv on his hreW Has the woman gave the officers hfFF'h account of her strucsle al'd helc v to them the pertemonnaie whiee. " a,erred. he had net been abe ta VT. from her before the train asTlEes 2 the station
 The case looked clear The AHf's ran rose 10 accompany the seieaf9s as their prisoner when si.ssts4ae stopreti and motfeaed them asile - s gesture so conviHcire fsai 's oosed their rough held ard slsssa 1@
 He took the ci-ar from heiwess teeth The ashes clinGins ie hs were an inch long.
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