Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-02-15

sue kIhuuhiN ltihlfitu anu Svitcuoo
Finally. firing Of watching her, re-
sumed my pastime Of drumming with
my fingers Instantly she stopped, re-
garded me eagerly. then, sadly shaking
her head. dropped her crude plaything
In her lap
What was the girl trying to doy A
look into her set, tense face secuted
fhe idea OF anything So trivial as a dir.
lation. When | stopped drumming she
resumed ber performance. when |
drummcd she was quiet listening In
tently. bur with evident disappoint-
ment Giving up the riddle at last,
leaned back, with folded arms. I'm
mediately. with most inexplicable
look toward her father and toward me,
the girl across the aisle resumed. with
an air of desperate determination, the
same unyarying iteration OF sounds
aud pauses until the performance be
came almost intolerable. Indeed, IL
was getting upon my nerves, aud | was
contemplating an appeal TO her father
when | stumbled into the light. Her
maneuver was making its way not
upon my nerves alone, but upon an in
ner consciousness, slowly responding to
the magic code began to follow and
analyzc that rhythmical succession OF
sounds aud pauses until ! was able to
recognize. distinguish and translate
them The girl across the aisle was
communicating through her crude play
thing telegraph messages To me.
Noting my expression. she stopped.
then flashed significant glance to.
ward her father Obeying her unspo-
ken injunction, | busted myself with Il
book, but IN moment she was at work
again. and her message read
Il am trying to speak to YOU Do
YOU understand
Ny response was TO cast bewilder-
ing glance at her Instantly she turned
her face from me toward the window,
but l was on the alert for the next
message
Drum with your fingers on the arm
OF your seat as you did before can
read that Don't look nj me.
Here was the last link la the riddle
raped
Il understand YOU. How can hell
your"
This man who pretendS | am crazy
is not my father nor an old man-only
twenty-seven Read again
| raped Yes. keeping my eyes on
any book Then her improviSed teie-
graph spoke again.
80 -
and will force me 10 marry him a
soon as he Is safe from capture. He
threatens 10 Kill me If ! try to escape
Oh betrsy him His name is Jeremy
Saunders Have you understoodf'
Had = II ever needed nerve II was
then. On my return home. defeated,
baffied, | found myself by freak OF
fortune hot on the trail. Across the
aisle, 50 near that | could touch him.
yet so secure IN his disguise that he
could mock me TO my face, sat my
quarry. while to this girl, his prisoner,
had come the heaven sent inspiration
we both needed.
Steadyinp my fingers by an EFFORT. i
raped
yes Your name next viii aid You
with my life"
IL am Alma Osgood," She responded
The woman Is Saunders sister. We
alight at Rochester, and unless help
comes quickly | am lost
consulted my time table. We would
reach Rochester In IN hour
DO you fear arrest and temporary
detention?" I raped
II fear nothing that will free me
from this man" was the prompt rc-
spouse
Very good" replied IF in mortal
power | will free you. Say no more
Il is risking too much"
AS raped the last words Saunders
dung down his paper
BE done with that internal dim he
Exclaimed at Is past all endurance
Yes 20 said the girl YEARLY. The
tune won't come. aud IN sleepy 2 She
iay back, with closed eyes. aud the
man turned 10 me
About time " | calculated VIII
YOU have a cigar with me ln the smok-
edf I'm feeling bit dotty myself
Thanks, no. l dare not leave the
girl This is the first outing for three
weeks. and ! swear it will be the
last"
Il don't blame you Well, I'll have
a smoke and dispose of this thing" /
took the toy gently from her lap.
Passing through the train 20 the
telegraph operators car, | sent code
message to the Rochester authorities
Arrest man, woman and girl alight-
ing from car Cumberland, train AZ.
VIII signal Send man who knows me-
Earnham'
When l returned 10 my section Miss
Osgood was still sleeping and Saun-
ders reading, but l managed to engage
him in conversation until we reached
Rochester. Then he made sign 10 his
sister, who shook Miss Osgood none
too gently.
You alight here said so do l.
We may see more OF each other
Il think not" he answered shortly
l stop over but few hours
As his sister was arousing her
charge I raped ono more message.
Stumble when you reach the sta
ton platform Cough II you under
stand me
brief suspense then Miss Osgood
sat up, coughed sharply ana shot
look at me. The woman fairly ierked
her 20 her feet and wo proceeded
Saunders first behind him, aud the
others following Glauein- through the
end window. J spied three men scan.
sci