Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1910-02-11


sit up for me-"
Olga's dark eyes filed with tears as
she assented. She had thought it was
going to be so different when she had
come up from her aunt's dull home to
live with her brother in the city, but
Leonard only kissed her and was gone.
II know he is mixed up with some
dreadful people," Olga Thurston
thought as she returned to the little
sitting room and raked the dying en-
bers of the fire into glowing heap.
Because poor mother was Russian
Leonard thinks himself bound to fra
ternize with all the black sheep who
come over here. Why can't he be con-
tent with nice English friends like
the CunninghamsY
A blush overspread her face as the
remembrance of Hugh Cunningham's
parting that very afternoon crossed
her mind, and she could feel once more
the warm pressure of the hand and
hear the mellow voice saying: Good
by, Olga. | will come again tomor-
row."
She had risen to extinguish the lamp
before retiring to her own room when
she heard the sound of a key being
turned in the front door, and, fearing
lest Leonard should be angry if he
| found her still up, she slipped behind
a curtain that was drawn across the
window to wait until he had gone to
his room. To her dismay. however,
her broLner was not alone.
His friends Kroutalzki and Schneider
were with him, and they began to
speak at once, evidently continuing a
conversation.
"YOu understand what you have to
do" said Schneider, addressing Leon
ard. 81 will tell you once more, that
you make no mistake. The train bear
ing that Internal villain passes your
station here at 1910 and reaches Red
vile at 1:05. You must get in here
and leave the train again at RedviIle,
and mind you select the carriage in
front of the. saloon and leave your
parcel under the seat as close to the
partition as you can get it."
How long will it last as it is?" ask
ed Leonard in faltering tones.
"For an hour and half 1t is set
to go off at 1:20, and the train will be
halfway between Redville and Let
terham then. That gives you plenty
Of time, even allowing for delays
Schneider had spoken in English,
though with a strong foreign accent,
and the trembling girl behind the win
dow curtain had heard every word
with shuddering horror not only on
account of the dastardly crime they
were plotting, but because she remem-
bered that Captain Cunningham was
Quartered at Letterham and that he
was dining in London that night and
would almost certainly go back by the |
midnight train. The conspirators left |
almost Immediately, first carrying into |
the room a square package done up in
brown paper and placing it carefully |
on a chair.
AS in a dream Olga watched Leon
ard through rent in the curtain. Hav-
ing drunk off some whisky, he picked
up his burden and let himself out at |
the door. Within FIVE minutes a close
~ yelled figure was following him, and !
the brother and sister reached the sta
ton simultaneously. They took tick |
cts for Redville and Letterham re-
spectively, Olga getting into a COM
partment at the end Of the train and |
Leonard entering the one next to the |
saloon carriage.
hot
had the satisfaction of seeing her |
brother hurry away, while she speedily |
took his place and perceived to her
horror that a man in a fur coat was |
asleep in one corner.
She had learned from a porter that |
the train stopped once more halfway |
to Letterham, and with all her heart |
she prayed that the awful thing might |
not go off until she could get out with |
it at the little roadside station. She |
sat trembling from head to foot.
At last came a shrill whistle, and,
with her heart beating in her throat
as it seemed to her, Olga began to
grope under the seat.
The man in the fur lined coat sat up.
Olu Ac4p JOu W LlO any IA4u5
he asked, and Olga saw that one of her
fears was realized, for it was Hugh
Cunningham.
''No; please don't-don't touch ity'
she gasped, and as the train stopped
she lifted the parcel and placed it on
the seat.
1t was very heavy, and from it came
a terrible ticking sound, which the
noise of the train had prevented them
from hearing before. Hugh looked at
her curiously.
"Olgar' he exclaimed. what is
this?' He got out quickly, but in the
delay caused by having to give up his
ticket he lost sight of her, and she ran
swiftly down the dark road away from
the station.
She dared not go too far. A gate
leading into a big field invited her to