The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-23
Nv cLARIssA MACKTE.


sCopyright. 1919. by the Associated
Literary Press
Carl lowering dashed for the sub
~ay and caught the uptown express
without an instant to spare before
she gates changed after him.
A local train on the next track was
pulling out at the same time and for
awhile the two trains kept apace.
From his seat in the eyaress Carl
was facing row Of people in the
local train. Two faces. sioe by s.de.
stood out from the others clearly.
One was that of a thin-faced,
~easei-cyed man. well dressed. who
sat with arms folded and "a shifting
glance darting hither and thither
from under sandy brows
Beside him sat 81 girl. girl with
clear brown eyes and charming face.
she was dressed in brown velvet that
matched her eyes and hair and her
hat was the same sober hue. On her
left arm there carelessiv danEled u
golden mesh bag, while her hands
were thrust into a brown fur mum.
AS Carr looked at the girl with
eager admtring eyes he was conscious
that his train was pulling ahead OF
rhe slower one-~-as ~ the custom with
express trains. In another momen
he wouid lose sight of the Brown
Girl, as he called her In his mind.
perhaps forever, and he felt d vague
p attraction toward EeT,
Then something happened in the
next train. lie witnessed u with
angry ayes knowing that lac vas
helpless to interfere.
The man who was sitting te
the Brown Girl shipped d hand ~
toward the golden purse hangi8S eh
her arm. Something flashed and the
bag dropped. The mans hand Was
Withdrawn and without apparent
movement he was stili sitting there
with folded arms. The girl was look
ing the other way.
At that moment the express forged
head and left the other train behind
the pickpncket the richer by golden
purse and the Brown Girl all I'M
conscious az her loss.
Carl wondered what lie could do.
The local was probably stopping now
at Twenty eighth street while the
.rst stop OF his train would be at
Thirty third street, OF course. the
pitkEocket would leave the local at
wents eighth street. and disappear.
As he sat there Tuning over the
fates that had aecrced he should see
THE Brown Girl for the tlrst time and
then lose sight of her SO quickly when
che needed help. he became aware
that h.s train was slowing down and
presently il stopped entirely In the
tunnel.
A few minutes later the same local
caine up alongside and that too. be-
came stalled from some unknown
reason.
Carl was elated to discover that
the pickpocke. had had no emporium
ity to leave his train. He still sat
there beside the Brown Girl, VINO.
guile unconscious of her loss. WAS
looking abscntly across the car
straight into Carts keen biuo eyes.
"By Jcve, | wish | could make her
understand without appearing 10
iirt with her. OF course. II wouldn't
10 the least bit OF good, anyway.
The fellow probably has already
passed the ba~ along TO confeder-
ate" mu,tered Carl to himself.
Just then he observed that the
Brown Girl WAS staring at him with
alarmed eyes. She suddenly lifted a
white gioved hand and gestured fran
tically toward him and made motion
with her llps.
Carl. uncomprehending her mean
ing. vet feeling d vague disappoint-
nent AZ this evidence of boldness on