The Washington times., 1912-11-05
CHAPTER I.
The Woman in the Compartment.
IN $3.50, n',Innlx ~. m r,.,

morning. and the cross channel boat
had just deposited its cargo Of pale
and disheveled passengers at New
haven. Cyril orichton. having seen his
servant place his bags In n first-class
compartment. gazed gioomily at the
scene before him.
1t was the first time in three years
that he had set foot on his native shore.
and the occasion seemed invested with
certain solemnity.
What a mess | have made of my
lie! Yet heaven knows l meant well!'
he muttered in his heart. '1f l hadn't
been such good-natured ass, l should
never have got into all this trouble. But
j won't be made fool Of any longer. |
will consult Campbell AS to what
He paused: II suddenly occurred to him
he had forgotten to let the latter know
of his impending arrival
Il will send him n WIRE" he decided.
The telegraph office was farther of
than he expected, and TO Crichton's dis
gust he found II shut. lie had forgotten
that In well-regulated England even
matters Of life and death have to walt
till the offices open at a. m.
He was still staring at the closed win
dow when he was startled by the
guards whistle and the shutting OF the
carriage door. Turning quickly, he ran
back, trying to find his compartment.
iuN II was wv i"NSt shN l" "ii "ob ~
Fiinglng on a porter's OBTAINING hand,
he jumped on to the fOotboard and
wrenched open the nearest door The
impetus flung him headlong into the
compartment toward lady-the sole
occupant Of the carriage.
To his horror and amazement. In
stead of listening to his apologies, she
uttered a piercing shriek and fell for
ward into his arms.
For a moment Crichton was too dazed
TO move. There he knelt, tightly clasp
ing her limp form, and wondering fear
he managed to pull himself together
and. staggering to his feet. laid her
gently on the seat near the window.
Strangely enough, he had gained no
even the age OF the lady with whom
fate had thrown him into such inti-
mate contact.
Consequently. he now looked at her
with considerable curiosity. Her slight,
graceful figure proclaimed her youth,
but hei face was completely concealed
by a thick black veil, which prevented
bin from so much as guessing the out
line OF her features.
AS she continued TO show no signs OF
returning consciousness. Crchton look
ed helplessly around for some means Of
reviving her. More air was what she
needed: so with much trepldation he de-
Cided to unfasten her veil. His fingers
fumbled clumsily over their unacCus-
toned task, but finally the last knot
was dis entanged. the last pin extracted
Tho unknown proved to be even young
er than he expected. and to possess
beauty of the kind which admits of no
discussion.
At present, however, It was sadly
marred by a red welt. probably the re-
suit of Il fall, Crichton decided. which
disfgured her left cheek.
A minute before he had been cursing
his luck. which invariably landed him
in strange adventures: but the sight OF
her striking beauty had put an end to
any feeling of annoyance.
His interest. however, increased his
alarm. What II she were dead or
dying? Heart attacks were not uncom-
mon. Bending over her. he laid his
hand on her heart. As he did so. the
long lashes lifted and a pair of sap
phire blue eyes looked straight into his.
Before he had time to move she threw
out both hands and cried:
"Oh. let mo co.
Don't be alarmed. Notwithstanding
NY unceremonous entrance, | assure
you | am perfectly respectable mem
Der of society. My name is Crichton."
Ihe,rbtdr,5! The Sfl staggered sSd ,o to her feet
He looked at her in surprise.
Yes, crichton DO you know any men,
Der spf my family by any chance? My
cousin. Lord Wilmersle, has Il place
No" she faltercd. IL am quite a
stranger in this part of the country"
He was sure she was lying: but what
could be her object In doing so? And
why had his name caused her such
alarm? What unpleasant connection
could she possibly have with Il? The
only male members OF his family who
bore 1t were a curate serving his proba-
tion In the East End of London and
boy at Eton.
THAT is n pity" he said. Il hoped we
might find some mutual friends who
would vouch for my inoffensiveness
An lNN.s
given you such a fright. It was unpar-
donably stupid OF me. The fact is, | am
rather absent-minded. and l should
have been left behind II / had not tum-
bled in on you as did. Please forgive
me-"
ION the contrary. 1t Is | who should
apologize to you for having made such
Q fuss about nothing. You must have
thought me quite out OF my mind" She
laughed nervously.
Madame" he replied, with mock So
lemnity. e assure you | never for
moment doubted your sanity. and l am
an expert In such matters
Are YOU rcally?" She shrank farther
from him.
Really what" he inquired. consider
ably puzzled,
GA brain specialist? That Is what
they are called, isn't IT."
He laughed heartily.
mo, indeed. am only soldier
"Of course. How stupid of me-
ny sIouiu JOu hIOW tndt i aIl Il
soldier?'
She blushcd vividly.
You don't look like civilian"
at all events, | hope I don't look
like the keeper of an insane asylum"
mo. indeed. But you said
oh, as to being an expert Was that
It? I must plead guilty to having at
tempted a feeble joke though. as Il mat
ter of fact 1t so happens that / do
know something about iunatics"
Aren't you drcadfully afraid of
them"
nm afraid of nothing; but I fancy a
full-grUwn lunatic with a carving knife
and a hankCring for my blood would
have a different tale To tell"
ooh, don't speak OF them" She COW
cred her eyes with her hands.
II hcg vour pardon
"Wh,' should YOU beg my pardon"
she asked. looking at him susptciously
IT really don't KNOW" he acknowl-
edged.
81 know that 7 am behaving like n
hvsterical schoolgirl. What must you
think Of me? Rut-hut am just recov-
crlng from an illness and am still very
rorVous. and the mere mention OF luna-
tics always upsets me. have the
greatest horror of them"
Poor child, she must nave been
through some tcrrtblc experience with
one" thought CriChtOn,