The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1910-02-12
THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN


going 20 be so different when she had
come up from her aunt's dull home to
live with her brother Ia the city. but
Leonard only Kissed her and was gone
Il know be IS mixed up With some
dreadful people" olga Thurston
thought as She returned to the little
sitting room ana rased the dying en-
bers OF tho Dire into "A glowing heap.
Because poor mother was a Russian
Leonard thinks himself bound 10 fra
ternize with al the black sheep who
come over here. Why can't he be con-
tent with nice English friends like
the CunninghamsT'
A blush oyersprcad her face as the
remembrance az Hugh Cunninghau's
parting that very afternoon crossed
her mind aud she could feel once more
the warm pressure OF the hand and
hear the mellow voice saying: Good
by. Olga VIII come again tomor-
row"
She had risen 20 extlnguish the lamp
before retiring 10 her own room when
she heard the sound OF key being
turned IN the front door and. fearing
lest Leonard should be angry IL he
found her still up. she slipped behind
a curtain that was drawn across the
window TO walt until he had gone to
HIS room TO her dlsmay however,
her bro.ncr was not alone.
His friends KroutalZki and Schroeder
were with him, aud they began 10
opooi- 80 oman oviIanfIv goptfntFp., a
conversation.
you understand what you have 10
do" said Schneider. addressing Leon
ard. II viii ten YOU once more that
you mike no mistake. The train bear
ing that Internal villain passes your
station here at l2:i0 ana reaches Red
vile az los. You must get In here
and leave the train again az Redvile,
and mind you select the carriage In
front Of the saloon and leave your
parcel under the seat as close 70 the
partition as yon can get a."
How long viii Il last as Il isf' ask
ed Leonard IN faltering tones.
For an hour and a hnlf IL Is set
TO 80 OF at 100, and the train will be
terham then That gives you plenty
Of time. even allowing for delays
Schneider had spoken IN English.
though with strong foreign accent.
and the trembling girl behind the win
dow curtain had heard every word
with z 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 I'm London that night and
would almost certainly go back by the
midnight train. The conspirators left
almost Immediately, first carrying into
the room n square package done up In
brown paper and placing IL carefully
on 2 chair.
AS IN dream Olga watched Leon
ard through a rent IN the curtain. Hav.
Ing drunk or some whisky, he picked
up his burden ana let himself out at
the door Within 1--WE minutes a close
~ yelled figure was following him, and
the brother and sister reached the sta
ton simultaneously. They took tick
cts for Redyllle and Letterham re-
spectvely. Olga getting into a com
partment at the end or the train and
Leonard entering the one next 10 the
saloon carriage.
At Redyille both got out, and Olga
had the satisfaction OF seeing her
brother hurry away, while she speedily
took his place and perceived 90 her
horror that a man IN a fur coat was
asleep I'm one corner.
She had learned from n porter that
the train stopped once more halfway
TO Letterham, and with all her heart
she prayed that the awful thing might
not go or until she could get ont with
II NJ the little roadside station. She
sat trembling from head 90 foot
AT last came a shrill whistle. aud.
with her heart beating in her throat
as Il seemed TO her. Olga began 20
grope under the seat.
The man IN the fur lined coat sat up.
can help you 10 find anythingf"
he asked, aud Olga saw that one OF her
fears was realized. for II was Hugh
Cunningham.
Nv ll'hNt bhl -Nhu I Ntufu IT.
she gasped and as the train stopped
she lifted the parcel and placed II on
the seat.
II was very heavy. and from II came
n terrible ticking sound. which ihe
noise of the train had prevented them
from hearing before. Hugh looked az
her curiously
"Oleaw he exclaimed. what "a
this2" He got out quickly. but In the
delay caused by having 10 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 big field invited her To
enter. she did so and having set
down the awful package. turned back
again with long. sobbing breaths A
she reached the gate an explosion rent
the air. and. with wall OF anguish
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