Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-09-24
THE TALE THE
ASHES TOLD,
copyright, 1902 by Associated Literary
Press.1

copyright. 1909, by Associated Literary
Press.1
@HOUSANDS Of men throughout
II the world are each day pa
IL tlently seeking in the LADY,
rinthlne wayA Of evidence the
proof or disproof Of some poor wretch's
guilt, the penalty Of whose conviction
perhaps is death, and the life Of man
may be lost or saved by thread slen-
der, yet so unbreaking and sure that 1t
holds inevitable truth in its meshes.
Sometimes there is only tiny seed Of
truth, but grain of gold outSalues ten
Of dross.
One afternoon last summer q man
occupied the rear end compartment in
a train bound north from Lucerne. He
was leaning leisurely against the door
frame watching the crowding throng
In the station as the train took 81 its
burden preparatory for the journey.
He was powerfully built, and even
In this attitude of repose he betrayed
the tense control with which he domi-
mated the abundant energy which per-
vaded him. He was an American.
The train was about to start when
the traveller noticed a woman strug-
Cling through the crowd toward 1t.
She had scarcely reached the rear end
when the train started, and the Amer
lean, jumping down. caught her bag
gage and assisted her to mount to the
compartment which he was occupying.
When they had recovered their COM
posture and he had slowed away her
baggage he remarked that she was
young, richly dressed and wore jaun-
ty travelling hat which seemed haunt
ingly familiar to him. She was unnis-
takably French.
Oh! He remembered her standing OPP
posite him at Monte Carlo on the night
Of his fortunate play. when the crou-
pier had put into his hands the returns
Of his lucky hazard. He also remem-
bered the expression of hatred and
avidity from the eyes across the table
AS he turned to leave. Presently she
felt his questioning gaze and spoke:
"Oh, MOI Sieur, je vous remercie!
VOus m'aveZ sauvee"
Though he caught the meaning OF
her words IN her smile and gesture. he
only bowed his acquiescence and set
tied back to read his paper. She sigh
ed and glanced at him from time TO
time, but his attention was soon abb
sorbed, and silence reigned except for
the rumble Of the speeding train. Once
he laid aside the paper to draw out
and light a cigar. but she was gazing
intently out into the closing darkness.
Then suddenly she spoke in English:
"Monsleur. give me 5000 francs"
The American looked up question
ingly.
Monsieur, give me 5000 francs" she
repeated calmly. looking directly into
his eyes. He returned her look fixelly.
Madame. you are mistaken. lam an
American traveller. We have never
met before"
"But monsieur will give to me the
money" she said. this time with I'M
mistakable menace in her voice.
He did not answer her at once. Evil
IDENTIFY this was not case Of mistaken
identity. 1t was threat. But how
could this mite Of a woman carry out
the menace she implied In her per-
sistent demand and eloquent gesture?
His hand clasped the butt Of his re-
volver as he answered:
"And II will not?"
"Then / will scream" she answered
simply.
He smiled at his own credulity. The
woman was mad. But this idea was
quickly disrelled by the look of des-
perate determination she fixed upon
his as she said:
81 will give to monsieur three min
utes."
They sat doggedly facing each other,
she watching the hands of a tiny
watch, he valnly conjecturing her next
move. The train began to slow up for
the next station. The three minutes
licked by.
Then she deliberately threw aside
her watch. tore her hat from her head.
disheveed her hair till 1t streamed in
wild disorder over her shoulders and
even dug her nails into her cheek till
the blood smeared her face. Mean
while she threw open the window and
"a mol! A moi! Help. re
American" and uttered signs and
stifled groans. The American leaned
back in his seat and waited. the only
evidence Of bis excitement in the furi-
ous putting of his cigar between his
set teeth.
Before the train had come to stop
IN the station the gendarmes had
boarded and the accused man faced
four revolvers. Still he waited, a
frown of peIplexity on his brow. while
The woman gave the officers a hurried
account Of her struggle and held up
10 them the portemonnaie which, she
averred. he had not been able to wrest
from her before the train arrived at
he station.
The case looked clear. The Ameri-
IAN rose to accompany the gendarmes
Is their prisoner when suddenly he |
stopped and motioned them aside with |
/ gesture so convincing that they |
oosed their rough hold ard stood back.
He took the cigar from between his
eeth. The ashes clinging to its end
we're an inch long.