The Owosso times., 1917-01-19


held 1t to her cheek and lips, her face
Instinct with passionate yearning, then
slowly and timidly drew the string
back and forth, producing a succession
OF short, jerky, rasping sounds, which
she gradually tempered and softened.
Finally. firing of watching her, l re-
sunled 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 do? A
look into her set. tense face secuted
,he idea of anything SO trivial as a fir
tation When stopped drumming she
resumed her performance; when |
drummed she was quiet, listening in
ten;iy. but 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 unvarying iteration of sounds
and pauses until the performance be-
| came almost intolerable. Indeed, It
was getting upon my nerves, and / 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. l began to follow and
analyZe that rhythmical succession of
sounds and 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 a
book, but In a moment she was at work
again. and her message read:
II am trying to speak to you. Do
you understand"
My response was to cast a 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. I can
read that. Don't look at me-"
Here was the last link in the riddle
I raped.
II understand you. How can help
you?"
This man who pretends l am crazy
Is not my father nor an old man-only
twenty-seyen. Read again."
| raped "Yes," keeping my eyes OH
my book. Then her improvised tele.
graph spoke again.
''He robbed my father, abducted me
and will force me to marry him as
soon as he is safe from capture. He
threatens to kill me If try to escape
or betray him. His name is Jeremy
Saunders. Have you understoodT'
Had I? If l ever needed nerve it was
then. On my return home, defeated,
bafled, l found myself by freak Of
fortune hot on the trail. Across the
aisle. so near that l 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.
Steadying my fingers by an effort.
rapped
Yes Your name next. Will aid you
with my life.''
81 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 an hour.
do you fear arrest and temporary
detention" l raped.
II fear nothing that will free me
from this man." was the prompt re-
sponse.
"very good" replied. If in mortal
power 1 will free you. Say no more.
1t is rislxing too much"
AS raped the last words Saunders
flung down his paper.
BE done with that Internal din !" he
exclaimed. 1T is past all endurance!'
"Yesw said the girl wearily. "The
tune won't come. and I'm sleepy" She
lay back. with closed eyes. and the
man turned to me.
about time" l calculated. will
you have q cigar with me in the smok-
ed? I'm feeling bit dotty myself"
Thanks, no. ! dare not leave the
girl. This is the first outing for three
weeks. and swear it will be the
last"
II don't blame you. Well, I'll have
smoke and dispose Of this thing" ]
took the toy gently from her lap.
Passing through the train to the
telegraph operators car, sent a code
message to the Rochester authorities:
ARREST man, woman and girl alight-
ing from car Cumberland, train AZ.
Will signal. Send man who knows me.
Farnham."
When I returned to my section Miss
Osgood was still sleeping and Saun-
ders reading, but / managed to engage
him in conversation until we reached
Rochester. Then he made sign to his
sister, who shook Miss Osgood none
too gently.
"You alight hereY I said. 80 do !.
We may see more Of each other"
81 think not" he answered shortly.