The Washington times., 1912-11-05

no, her behaVlOr was certainty strange,
and she seemed hysterical. but mad--no
and yet that would explain everything.
II am sure It was the hard crossing
which upset you-as much as anything
else," he said.
| Il didn't cross. i" She stopped
abruptly and bit her lip.
1t was quite obvious that for some
reason or other she had not wished him
| TO know that she had got In at New
maven. He knew that politeness de-
manded he should not pursue sub
ject which was evidently distasteful to
her. But his curiosity overcame his
| scruples.
Really? 1t was rather unusual to
take this train unless one Is coming
from the Continent"
! YES she answered. "One has to
start so frightfully early. l had TO get
UP little before s oclock."
! That meant she must live In New
maven, and not far from the station at
that-but was 1t true? She had about
! her that indescribable something pos
sessed only by those whose social po-
| sitlon had never been questioned.
| NO. Newhaven did not seem the back
ground for her. But, then, had she not
herself told him that she did not live
an errand Of charity Or
| After all, what business was II of
his? Why should he attempt to pry
INTO her life? II was abominable.
She settled herself in II corner of tho
carriage. and he rancied that she
wished to avoid further conversation.
Serve him jolly well right. he thought.
During the rest OF the journey his
behavior was almost ostentationsly dis
Greet. If she feared that he was likely
to take advantage of the situation, he
1 was determined to show her that he
had no intention of doing so.
To avoid staring at her, he kept his
eyes fixed on the rapidly changing land
scape; but they might have been sud
denly transported to China without his
observing the difference. In fact. he
had not realized that they were nearing
their destination TIL he saw his COM
panion readjust her veil. few min
utes later the train stopped at Heame
Crichton put his head out of the win
dow.
There is something up" he said a
moment later turning to her. There
must be IA criminal on board. There are
lot of policemen about and they seem
to be searching the train"
oh! what shall | do?" she cried.
starting to her feet
What Is the natter"
They will shut me up. oh! save me
save me-"
For moment he was too startled to
speak.
Was it possible? This girl a criminal
a thief? He couldn't believe It.
But what have you done?"
Nothing. nothing. | assure YOU. Oh!
believe me- II Is all Il mistaker'
He looked at her again. Innocent or
guilty, he would stand by her
They will be here directly" he said
Have you enough self-contrOl to re-
main perfectly calm and to back up any
story I tell?"
Yes"
sit down. then, and appear to be
talking to me-"
Tickets. please" The guard was at
the door. and behind him stood a police
Inspector.
Crichton having given up his ticket.
turned to S.t the ,i,. girl and ,i6, said;
She handed II over.
From Newhaven. see" The in
speCtor stepped forward.
II must ask the lady to lift 'er vail.
What do you mean. my man? Are
you drunk?'
STEADY. sir. DO you know this
LADY,"
This lady happens to be my wife. 30
you will kindly explain your extraordi-
nary behavior"
The inspector looked little non
plussed.
Sorry to Inconvenience you, sir. but
we ave borders to search this train for
a young lady who got in at Ncwhaven.
Now, this is the only lady on board
whose ticket was not taken in Paris.
So you see We have got to make sure
this Is not the person we want"
But man alive. tell you this lady
is my wife"
80 you say, sir, but you can't prove
Il, can, you now? You're registered
through from Paris, and this lady gets
In at Newhaven. How do you explain
that?"
"Of course. one doesn't travel about
with ones marriage certificate: but as
II happens, / can prove that this lady Is
my wife. Here i3 my passport; kindly
examine 1t. Mrs. CriChton returned to
England several months ago and went
down to Newhavcn last night so as to
be able to meet me this morning. As
to lifting her veil. of course, she has no
objection. thought II idle curiosity on
your part, but as 1t Is a question of
duty that alters the case completely"
opened the passport and read aloud:
cyril Crichton, lieutenant in the rifles;
age, twenty-seven years; height, six
feet one inch; weight, twelve stone: hair,
ruddy; eyes blue; nose straight, rather
short; mouth. large; distinguishing
marks. cleft IN chin" AS he read each
item, he paused to compare the written
description with the original
"Well, that's all right" he said. And
row for the lady's, viii You kindly
lift your veil. m'm?"
To Crichton's surprise, the girl did so
quite calmly, and her face, although
deadly pale was perfectly composed.
The inspector read: Amy Crichton,
wife of Cyril Crichton, age twcnty-six
years. HIM, that seems "A bit old Tor
the lady"
The girl blushed vlvidly, but to Crich-
tons infinite relief. the smiled gayly,
and with u slight bow to the Inspector
said:
You fatter me-"
Crichton breathed more freely. Her
manner had done more to relieve the
situation than anything he had said.
The inspector continued In quite a diff
ferent tone:
Height 5 feet 4 inches-you look a
bit shorter than that"
Measure me. II you doubt it." she
challenged him.
"Oh. we'll l am sure It's all right.
Weight, stone pounds" He paused
again. but this time made no comment,
although Crichton felt sure that his
companion weighed at least ten pounds
less than the amount mentioned
Hair black: complexion, fair: eyes,
blue: nose, straight: mouth. small; chin,
oval distinguishing marks, none All
right. man. Sorry to ave disturbed
you, but you understand we ave got to
he very careful. We'd never ear the
last Of Il II we let the party we're after
slip through our fingers"
"What Is the woman you are looking