The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-07
CHAPTER l..
En- VOYAGE.

III NSySACs
The great liner Anne OF Austria lay
in her slip at the dock. her giant
pulses Just throbb!ng now and then.
Everywhere men and women were
hurryng to and fro in the customary
orderly confusion Of the last few mo-
mentS before the departure Of an
ocean steamer.
Calmly Kitty Gray passed on her
way to the boats Office and asked for
her mail and her keys.
As she turned. she almost stumbled
against man who had just hurried
aboard-a dark man, thickset. foreign
IN appearance. She had the strange
conviction that she had seen him be-
fore
Then she turned to settle herself
down in her quarters. So far as she
knew. she had not an acquaintance
on the boat
Now. oddly enough. she recalled the
face Of the stranger, the dark'visaged
foreigner whom she had met at the
ships office. Surely 1t must have been
the same man who had handed her
her package when she dropped 1t in
the little antique shop! Why should
he be on board this boat? Why should
he recognize her. remember her-for
he had, Trust woman to know that
he had-he did. Yes. he had known
her Again a cold feeling Of appre-
henslon clutched at Kitty Gray's stout
little heart.
She rose and tried to fling Of her
depression by means Of visit to the
dining saloon. But for some reason
she felt she would be more comfort
able-or safe-in her own room.
Here she lay down upon the single
berth, which was directly beneath the
portfolio.
She woke-she knew not when nor
why-woke with her eyes staring,
passing in her instant from sleep to
waking
A face was looking in upon her! A
man had been looking at her. or try
ing to look at her, as she lay asleep.
Kitty Gray's instinct spoke to her
some message-she could not tell
what. Swiftly she caught the chamois
bag from her bosom, and, emptying its
main treasures into her hand, placed
them In that other treasure house OF
woman-her stocking. Again feeling
the drowsiness invoked by the fresh
salt air, at length she lay down once
more upon the little couch and re-
signed herself more comfortably to
slumber.
But again she woke-this time Il
was with a scream OF terror. She
had felt the touch Of hand. Some
thing had tugged at her neck
She raised her hand. The cham
dis bag was gons-it was the jerk
OF the broken silk cord that had
awakened her! And there was the
hand that had done 1t. strong, dark
hand, full-veined, hairy. It still
clutched the bag-it still was visible
at the portfolio. A ribbon end had en-
tangled itself for Just an instant In the
portfolio fastening-an instant long
enough for Kitty to see what had been
the hand that had committed this rob
berry.
But who was the robber himself?
Quick as thought Kitty sprang to the
door, ran down the deck. out the next
deck door. che band was giving its
first saloon concert, and the decks
were sparsely tenanted. 1t seemed. Far
of towards the bow a man was pass
ing-what man she could not say. He
seemed neither to hurry nor to linger.
She could not make out who II was
dared not hang upon him her own sus-
picion.
She turned to the captain now and.
made report OF what had happened
not once but twice; but even as she
went she smiled gr!mly to herself. The