The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-05-08
THE KISS
STEALER
He Was Very Adroit In
His Thefts
By F. A. mitchell

The railroad, like everything else. is
q development. The first rails were
strap iron on wooden beams. The first
car was stagecoach, then several
stagecoaches together mounted on
wheels. Then came the passenger car
of the present day, only much smaller.
When these cars were pulled through
tunnel the passengers were left In
total darkness. Indeed, the lighting OF
railway cars passing through tunnels
Is a feature of recent years.
When Tom Arnold was about to re-
turn to college for his sophomore year
he was asked if he would escort little
girl who was going in the same direc-
ton to boarding school. Tom didn't
like being burdened with the care Of
'little girl" but he couldn't very well
decline. When he saw his charge he
didn't mind taking care Of her so much
as he had thought he would. Lucy
Atwood was fourteen years old, but
tall enough for girl Of sixteen. She
was very demure and appeared to be
utterly devoid Of conversational pow
ers. Her protector, having reached the
advanced age Ito herr Of eighteen,
probably filed her with such awe as to
prevent conversation with him.
But If Miss Atwood was tongue tied
she was very pretty. There is nothing
more delicate, to young man espe-
cially, than pair of pink coral lips.
Lucy's complexion was as soft and
downy as a peach, and her lips were a
combination of beautiful curves. Tom
couldn't keep his eyes off them. He
was young and u sophomore in college,
a combination that can occur but once
In mans life. His thoughts, his ar
guments, therefore were sophomore:
81 have been burdened with the care
of a tongue tied kid without recon-
pense. 1t behooves me to look out for
my own reward. l don't know any
payment that would suit me better
than Just one kiss Of those lips. In
half an hour wen get to the tunnel. 1t
requires three minutes for train to
20 through it, and one can do a great
deal in three minutes"
This was the basis Of plan Tom
formed. Before reaching the tunnel
he would go into another car, first
noting the exact position Of his charge.
As soon as the train plunged into dark
ness he would re-enter, make his way
to where Lucy sat, take the kiss and
retire. Some time after the train had
emerged into the light he would go
back to his seat, yawn, take up a
newspaper and begin to read as If
unconscious of anything eventful hav-
ing happened.
1t was a very pretty scheme, but
more tempting to youngster of eight
cen than to full fledged man. There
was one thing about 1t, however, that
Tom didn't Ike. The kid had been
placed in his care, and he didn't con-
slider 1t quite honorable to avail him
Sell OI " luhC NhuL hluh
belong to him. But the more criminal
the act, the more horror attached to
being found out, the more attractive
the scheme.
Tom sat looking sideways at those
lips, before which every yestige of
honor faded. Nevertheless as the train
approached the tunnel his courage be
gan to fail him. What an awful thing
for him to do! But how nice! Sup
pose the girl should scream and some
one should grab him! The very
thought gave him the shivers. But he
was at an age when the greater the
risk the greater the temptation. he
fell, and great was the fall thereof.
He had often been through the tun-
mel and knew the approaches we'll
Some ten minutes before the train
reached 1t he told his charge that he
would go into the smoking car for q
while If she didn't mind sitting alone
She said she didn't, and Tom, having
noted that the seat was the third one
from the door on the right, left the
car. He didn't smoke, fearing that
the odor of tobacco would give hin
away. He sat looking out through q
window, prey to numerous emotions
When the train entered the tunnel
yummoning all his resolution, he hur
Red into the car he had left and count
ed the seats ON the right by putting 9
hand on each till he came to the seal
required. Folding Lucy in his arms
he took the desired kiss. There was 6
smothered cry. followed in few mo
ments by the sound Of an opening ant
closing door, then no other than thu
rafting Of the train.
When daylight came again severa
passengers who sat near Lucy locke,
In her direction for an explanation o
the cry they had heard. She gave nj
Indication of anything unusual. Sh
was wiping the dust from her fac
with her handkerchief. She would re
move portion of 1t, look at the smudg'
It had made on her handkerchief, theI
rub off some more, scrutinizing 1t also
especially in one corner.
Some twenty minutes after the trail
had left the tunnel Tom Arnold cam'
back and sat down beside his charge
Had Lucy looked him In the face sh
would surely have seen signs OF gull
which, despite his efforts, he was I'm
able to conceal, but she was lookin