The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-25

7 LOUNGED in the corridor Of the
i express, staring at the country
we were laundering through. be-
cause-and it will seem incredible
tc many-I couldn't afford ha'penny
paper.
We clattered into a tunnel. The
window became a mirror. l had
been looking through it diagonally.
It now reflected the brilliantly lit in.
terror of the next compartment.
saw a girl-such a pretty one
that I was glad to stare and yet be
unseen. She was gazing out into the
corridor from the corner. But for
herself the carriage was empty. Sha
rose, bent over a bag which stood
on the opposite seat about midway
She unlocked it saw her with
draw the key. Her hand disappeared
in its jaws and brought out a bundle
Of papers. She glanced throuci
them, discarded some, chose others,
thrust the former back into the bag,
closed it, slipped the latte: into the
pocket of the heavy fur coat she
wore, and sat down once more in
the far corner.
Pardon me, sir"
A man stood behind me. He
smelled Of whiskey and strong cigar
smoke. He had evidently come from
the dining car.
Sorry" 1 said, and stood aside.
The incident was trivial. He went
into the compartment where the
girl sat, and settled down into his
corner. The express roared out into
the daylight. The window became
a moving panorama of Devonshire
scenery once more.
Had I not left the train at Teign-
mouth I should undoubtedly have
forgotten both girl and bag and man.
But this accident-I was travelling
down to see Lord Ruscombe by ap-
pointment. My friend, Frank Clever,
to whose sister Rachel l had long
been engaged-had put in good
word for me to RuscOmbe, who
wanted secretary-the accident Of
my getting out, I say, at the same
station as girl and bag and man put
a very different complexion on af-
fairs -" :
For the man carried the bag, and
ne bowed distantly to the girl as she
stood by her trunk on the platform,
and said:
Good evening. Miss Langley"
"Good-bye,' she said.
glanced at the label-it was
white, with a red star, and very
ccnspcuous-on her box. Miss Ida
Langley, The Lymes, Shallow Road"
l read.
hesitated. So the bag was his.
They were acquaintances.
What was she doing among his
papers?
/ knew her name and address. His
] didn't know. l followed him out of
the station.
Il beg your pardon, sir" l said at
his elbow. Gould you direct me to
Ruscombe Hall?"
I'll drive you there" he roared,
turning to me and laughing. you've
trl,
whoever you are. CAS- t happens. I
am Ruscombe."
He was scarcely sober. Frank had
not prepared me for anything of the
sort. From the look of him l guessed
the occasion was not an isolated
one But beggars cannot be choosers.
When ones a pauper. and the girl
to whom ones engaged is both ex-
travagant and ambitious, one cant
be stickler as to ones employer.
I'm Littleton-Rodney Littleton."
Forgotten all about you-very
glad to see you," he bawled, wiring
ing my hand. where in the name
o. Hades is my carr"
A nervous footman came forward
and bowed.
He doesn't look like a fool, does
he? So nice and clean-but, oh,
such fool" declared Ruscombe.
Hi. Jump in,'
We drove off at furious speed.
Ruscombe Hall stands about two
miles from the station. On our ar
rival Ruscombe, who had been ques