Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-30

had shown no signs OF knowing anything
about what had occurred, and the two
women who filed the dressing room elbowed
her in the usual fashion, without curiosity
or interest Certainly the woman had said
nothing to any one; she wanted secrecy.
Marie took her suitcase and went eau
tiousfy to her section The porter had put
up her berth; the berth opposite was shroud-
ed still: 20 were all the others. Marie had
hoped intensely that the woman had gone;
evidently she was still there. It was nearly
o'clock, the hour at which the woman
had told the porter to call her, and Marie
braced herself for the time when she would
emerge from her berth. She had wound a
scarf about her swollen and aching throat
and. In addition, she put her fur about her
shoulders; she sat looking out at the sleet
encrusted landscape, but vividly conscious
Of the close drawn curtains Of the woman's
berth.
Marie breathed quickly when, at o'clock
the porter appeared and said to the closed
curtains. It's seven o'clock. madame"
Marie heard no answer, but the porter de-
parted as II satisfied with having done his
duty. "Ehe Is there" Marie said to herself
and continued to look at the landscape
She decided that just as soon as she could
escape to tho dining car she would do So
and that she would remain there as long
al possible.
But in few minutes the porter returned
and repeated his call. It's after seven
O'Clock, madame" This time he parted the
curtains and looked in, then drew them
aside; there was no one in the berth. He
looked puzzled. q 1 amt seen her get out"
he said, more to himself than to Marie, and
looked under the berth. Then he looked the
md Jod ho f,,,,,h
apart. and. finally, went forward, Marie
guessed, to the ladies' dressing room.
In few minutes he returned HAS you
seen the lady what was in that berth?" he
inquired. She amt in the dressin' room
nor waitin for the diner"
Marie was more determined than ever not
to confide her experience to any one. II
she should tell Of it now she would be sus-
pected Of strange conduct Evidently the
woman was a criminal of some sort, and
she had left the train a. quickly and as
secretly as possible.
I have seen no one leave the berth since
l came here" she said. 1t was the first
time she bad spoken aloud since she had
been attacked.
Her voice Was husky.
Its queer" tho porter muttered. I'D
like to know where she got of at-we amt
night. She were bound for New York, too"
and he left the car. probably to consult with
the conductor.
Marie welcomed the nrst call to breakfast.
II the passengers were questioned she might
escape. Food was an impossibility, but she
managed to swallow some coffee, and spent
a. much time as she could over it. She
returned to her car with trepidation. but
everything was Just as usual there. The
porter, hh black face inscrutable, sat In tho
rear Of the car.
Munled to tho chin, Marie sat waiting for
the morning papers. She reflected that 1t
was good thing that she was Injured to
hardships, else she would be ill. for her
throat was 80 painful. She felt much worse
than she had ever felt after hard day OF
ambulance driving in France. The nights
experience was the worst she had even
known: she had come nearer to death than
shs had vhen a piecs Of shell had torn her
shoulder.
Such persons as took notice Of Marie An
gouleme thought her a small person to be
travelling alone. young and velvety eyed
and innocent faced-she looked a young
nineteen. She looked foreign, as If her
accent would be piquant and her little
hands given to gestures. In travelling there
Is almost always some woman, either mother
ly or curious or Ill intentioned, who takes
an interest In pretty girls who are travelling