The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-08-21

pAfA W6dLu6g x0hSHco AuBauOf . W
sort for tourists at the foot Of the
southern slope Of the Alps, before be-
ing obliged to halt. At Lugano he was
obliged to stay over till the following
morning. He asked the landlord OF
his hotel how he could kill an evening
and was told that the kursaal or
casino. was open, though since the
war it was not much frequented. He
went there and found a small orches-
ira. refreshments and a number of
patrons. Seating himself at one of the
tables, he called for liter of wine and
a cigar. he had listened to several
pieces from the orchestra when a cou-
pie entered and took a seat at neigh
boring table.
The man looked like a German or
an Austrian; the woman was dark
complexioned and appeared to be
French. At any rate, she spoke French
to the man, whose accent was reuton-
e. She seemed very III at ease.
Presently the man arose from the
table and went to the cashiers desk.
he had no sooner left the woman Than
she leaned toward Starkweather and
said:
Monsieur, are you FrenchT'
"No, madame, am an American"
i am French end am trying to get
to France. This map Is trying to head
me- Off For heavens sake, help meP'
/ The woman's companion at this mo-
ment turned and, seeing her thus speak
ing to starkweather, giared OF him,
returned at once to her, and together
they left the kursaal
An American gentleman y nothing
II not defender Of woman. STARR
weather longed to assist this one. but
dtd not know how 20 go about II Be
sides, be considered the responsibility
he had assumed In bearing the king Of
Italy's message quite enough for him
TO offend 10 without getting into trou,
BILE with Teuton who was tyrannizing
over o lady. He therefore resisted
an impulse to follow the couple end
endeavor to afford the poor wQrnap
another chance TO communicate With
htm. He sat where be was TIL be bad
finished his cigar and his wine, then
returned to his hotel aud went TO bed.
The next morning OF the railway Sta
ton one of the uniformed attendants
who carry hand baggage for travellers
sn9tched at StarkweatheTs suit case
and Wrenched It from hts hand The
American, who was something Of an
athlete. sent the man sprawling with
| bis fat a crowd was collecting when
Starkweather jumped ON the train,
which was moving out he had Dot
cauied bis 4lgpath b the csA b1t
| 2e tncidRu1 VeTned hin het wh0H1Ar
Il was b tpas b danger Looking ogb
| II DE coach window. he sav ne man
be had knocked down running after
the train. But he had been hruiseA
ana the train had achieved . good
Roadway, 30 be was unable 10 catch It.
AS soon as 6tarkweather had become
composed after bis fracas be looked
about hiw. and there sitting IN D seat
at the other end Of the compartment
was the woman who had appealed to
him at the kursaal the previous even
Ing. She smiled at him, and be took
d Seat beside her. She told him that
she bad succeeded IN eluding her per.
secutor and bad reached the station
and boarded the train.
During the day the train sped
through valley In which dashed a
stream. Early IN the afternoon the
famous SO. Gothan1 tunnel was reach
ed, to pass through which some fifteen
minutes are consumed starkweathel
conversed with the lady, who informed
him that she was on secret service fo1
the French government. When the
tunnel was reached Starkweather yes
surprised TO notice that the lamp IN
the top Of the car was pot lighted.
Why II was not be could pot explain
till after haying passed through the
tunnel. and even then be did not know
bow the failure 70 light 1t had been
accomplished.
When the train entered the tunnel
Staykweather was sitting In his own
seat OF some distance from the lady.
Being plunged 10 total darkness, be
naturally, placed his hand on his dis
| patch. which was tn the left side coat
pocket, directly over the heart The
train bad not been 70 the tunnel min
ute when be felt pair Of viselike
arms about his chest, piniontng both
bis own arms. Then he was held by
one arm OF his assaflant whfle the 9TH
en- hand was thrust under his coat and
grasped his hand which held the dis
patch.
It was Greek meet Greek. Stark
weather's grip was Of iron, and his ad-
yersary's was Of steel But Stark
weather had the advantage Of holding
the dispatch. though he was not In
training for spch On encounter. BIS
opponent finally clutched his throat
6tarkweather before leaving his no
tel had picked up a stiletto be had
bought for cQrio and hung h, Amer
lean plains fashion, to the back Of his
neck. He Just HAD time before losing
consciousness to free one arm, draw
the stiletto and stab tn the dark.
| When the train shot out into the
light. revived by fresh afr be say the
woman WHO had appealed to him Tor
protection lying 90 the floor II q BOOB
Of blood But her disordered apparel
showed under Il the clothes Of o man.
StarAweathef climbed out OF the win
dow op to the footboard, and as the
train slowed up at the station near the
mouth Of the tunnel be jumped down
on terra hrna and ran like a deer.
At the time the world wondered why
France took away her troops from the
italian frontier. sent them against the
Germans and Saved Paris. Now It Is
known that the prime minister Of
France received the message Of the
king of Italy at midnight and al once
set free the troops held on the italian
border.
Merely Symptom