The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-04-23
ODD ADVENTURE ON
A RAILWAY.
Ruse Of a Criminal to Escape
Arrest Comes to Nauqht.

father having lost his fortune. it was
decided that the girl should study mu.
sic. with a view to earning her own
living.
She went all alone on the train and
was alone in the compartment until ut
one Of the stops q nan got in. The
train had no sooner started on than he
said to Gretchen:
"Fraulein. I'll trouble you for your
coat"
Gretchen looked at the man, not un.
Outstanding what he meant.
"Your coat. and be in a hurry. Take
It of. I'm going to put it on and you
shall put on NINE"
Before Gretchen could he made to
understand that he was III earnest he
was obliged to threaten her. and even
then the taking Off Of her outer gar.
ment before q man was SO obnoxious to
her that she did it very slowly. The
man was twice her age, but not much
taller. being small and wiry. He put
on Gretchen's coat. which ut him.
compelling her to put on his own
coat. Then he took out Of a satchel
a number of cosmetics and began to
maLc himself up for a woman He
also took out a mustache' and. giving it
to Gretchen. ordered her to stick IL on
to her upper lip.
Gretchen, who had never before been
out in the world without Il maid. was
Of course terror stricken. She obeyed
the man mechanically, expecting every
moment that he might find it to his
interest to murder her. After they
had changed apparel he said to her:
Little girl, If you do what l want
you to do. I'll not hurt you. The next
station will be B. and I except to leave
the train there. If I decide not to
and any one gets into this compart.
ment. you must pretend that you are
a young man. If eyou don't, I'll kill
you"
When the train stopped at B. the
man was about to get out when he
caught sight of a policeman standing
right where he must be passed. The
man hesitated and decided not to risk
it. He covered back in the a and
remained there while the train was
at q standstill. Just before it moved
of a young man In a students cap
got into the compartment
The student was evidently In an
amiable mood-most students are-and
as soon as he was seated took out a
cigarette and. turning to the criminal
who he supposed was a woman. ask
ed If she objected to smoking. The
man replied III so coarse a voice that
the student smiled. and. permission
being granted. he offered Gretchen q
cigarette. She was about to decline
when !; glance from the criminal warn
ed her to accept. and. taking the cigar
cite. the student held II match while
she lit it. The student insisted on
opening IL conversation with her. At
the first sound Of her voice he looked
her surprised and smiled again.
You two Ind better change your
Clothes" he said. Tile woman has
the voice of u man. while the man
has the voice of q woman"
Poor Gretchen now began to show
signs of sickness. and the student
asked what was the matter. Gretchen
admitted that it must be the cigarette.
Poor little boy" said the student.
'You should be at home with your
m0tAcr."
Taking her head In his ARMS. he
p%layfnlly pulled II down on to his
breast. The criminal. not relislling this
close proximity and fearing the girl
might communicate with the student.
said:
'L.et the boy alone"
What business is 1t Of yOurs?" asked
the student haughtily. "One would sup
pose the boy to be a girl. Ill hug him
IL l like"
With that he seizetl Gretchen and
pulled her face down on to his chest 81
vigorously that when he released her
the mustache had fallen OF.
We'll. well!" said the astonishel stu
dent. whats this? Are you trying
to escape from justice in disguise?"
That's IT,. cried the criminal. HE
must be u thief"
The student looked at the blushing.
innocent face Of the girl. and. noticing
that her hair had partly slipped from
under her hat where the criminal had
placed 1t, took hold of q coil and pulled
1t down over Gretchen's shoulder.
you're a girl" he said. that's Ger.
tain. Now, how about your" he added.
looking at the other. who cried:
"a man!' And. whipping out a re-
volver. he attempted to cover the stu
dent, but the latter, who was a re
nowned member Of the dueling corps
at his university, quick a lightning
knocked up his weapon. and in the
scufae that followed the, criminal. be-
ing encountered. with a long coat. was
overpowdered and lost his revolver.
For the rest Of the Journey the stu
dent kept the criminal covered and got
from Gretchen a brief story of bow
she had been forced into mans attire.
On reaching the next station the Grim
innl wa turned over to the police, and