Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-06-20

ward his house. intent upon beating him once
and for all.
And, in the compartment at which she stared
with unseeing eyes Thompson regarded her in
the mirror, his own eyes glittering with mali
cious triumph and with avarice.
CHAPTER xXXvI
Thompson Finds Persistence Is Its Oaon Reaoard
THOMPSON crouched back in his compartment,
feigning slumber while the porter made up
his bed. He awakened drowsily and tipped the
man, then made pretence of slipping out of his
coat. Immediately the porter disappeared he
became the incarnation Of energy. His hands
nervously fumbled with the lock of his grip,
opening it finally and disclosing a secret trap in
the bottom from which he took atomizer,
pair OF nppers and bottle of pale viscd fluid
For an hour he waited, motionless not even
his fixed eyes blinking as he regarded the cur
tains of the berth Lucille occupied After that
time he slipped to the smoking compartment, to
lind the porter engaged in an argument with
the club car man. He listened moment then
strolled back to his compartment.
He was swift; he certain; he was sure.
Not a sound did he make as he strobe boldly
down the lurching aisle, his tools in his hand
Deity parting the curtains, he looked down upon
the sleeping girl. No atom of pity was in his
heart. All the thief now, his eyes glittered as
he allowed them to rest upon the glowing strand
of stones about her neck.
Swiftly he leaned over, applying his pnchers
to the gas jet and unscrewing it so that the
odor of the gas slowly began filing the stuffy
section. Then he gently sprayed the ether across
her face, never moving when she unconscousy
stirred to fight off the anaesthetc.
Her breathing became heavier while her lips
took on blush tinge. The gas becoming
stronger and he knew her condition would be
ascribed to asphyxiation when she recovered
from the effects of the ether. STOPPING with no
appearance of care now, he unfastened the
rubes from her throat. moment he waited,
slipping them in his pocket, then he slipped back
to his compartment
Carefully he repacked his grip tucking the
necklace in his breast pocket Against the door
he crouched waiting.
No trace of anxiety he showed. He was con-
fdent of himself Came a clamping down upon
the ties as the air brakes worked. Thompson
threw open his window, looking out to discover
it was opposite a tiny station. With a pocket
knife he cut out the screen that separated him
from the tracks.
Cautiously he looked up and down the track
The train was slowing down. He tossed his bag
far out from him then slipped partially through
the window. The lights of the station were al
most in his eyes when he jumped, landing on
his feet and regaining his balance with an effort
Then he permitted himself the luxury of smile.
The next train through would be time
enough and-the booty in his breast pocket was
worth many risks
CHAPTER. xXyvII.
The ColorIess Passenger With a Scar.
I .UCILLE felt herself struggling with desper-
ate enemy, one whose fingers were of steel
they fastened themselves about her throat,
grasped at her breath and held it despite her
utmost efforts. Even in the effort to waken, un-
successful though it was, she seemed to recog-
nize the calm, imperturbable, business-like fea-
lures of Thompson.
Then she felt sensation of ease and com
fort and peace such had not been hers for q
long time, and she allowed herself to drift away
upon the gently flowing river that hummed it's
song in her ears.
She awakened to find herself being shaken
violently by the conductor and porter whose
ebony face had changed to saffron shade. Her
head. ached fearfully that she pressed her
feverish palms to her temples to keep it from
bursting. Her throat and mouth felt as though
she had been subsisting upon diet of cotton
soaked in oil.
She staggered to her feet and stood, dazed
and bewildered, in the aisle Of the car. The con-
ductor turned her over to two women, who stood
with her upon the platform, supporting her
trembling figure while the fresh air drove away
the fumes of chloroform and gas to which she
had been subjected.
First she felt the rush Of the train, the dot
ting of lights in the distance, the rush of the
train past the lights only to upon new
cluster And she was rushing -rushing-rushing
Just like these lights to q cavernous blaclxness