The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7960, 25 October 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

TUP SMKo.I.KII TKKI!!<:IS. (Continued). , the train wemlnl its Way townnll Alps; oiK" by one snow-peaks t ii-ln.il thi'inst'lves from tin- luoiin.ii raiaimrt tlivnliirg; Kraii-v and It-i . ami »loo*l out -bnhlly againsi ' hllle sky : the ul Unisphere -.'rciv ii. Down in tile valley w,altar--■■leu Utile hainlvls n.if hiulill.il ..other Inn cluster of stivp roofs ■ river (oaintil in silvery ripples. P'-asanis worked in tin- blooming .Is. ,WM4rin|tlii' railway enniag.' ..ss Norfolk-Stanley, im|.il K .>l in l«-i .ii meditations, uotl I'.ijoii cain Ted mil at pleasure. Hie l.'i'lv ma-.le ; plans nilh slightly rouiprrssiil ■ ;s. She would go to I'aris nnrl '.nee ilirect to 1.0n«1..ii N.-plnw !•.:■!. might ivrll lo<ik to hims.li ! . .lie train paused. 110 Biiou ' Miss ...folk-Stanley hail scarcely time to | I; r- her pot to the bag mike! ea tbc Opposite door flew open, j , 1 the surly guard llitust in bis ; ,d. Her heart fail d h r. Ii the ;<y ;;uard hail smi Bijou, 1.0 had right t<> carry the dog off in it ililfh to llu- ba|!Rage-\alt. ami liu- ■ ; < ii herself the ignominy of a ,-.. . ■. Instead, tn- txplaintd that two : .' s must be admitted, as th-crgi .v.i-.okf oi their carriage m.'ilc lb,m ; : . Again that loim yelh.nr band •-, .-id upward for the door handle. . ,; the two women in cloaks imaild Mr-s Norfolk-Stanley's urnw.iy. r sijrncil herself with a sien to , iii>-\il*Wr. After all. thisy lad- • . were on'y a trifle peculiar and mere harmbss felI creatures, and Bijou had ~1 .d.- mjoyril two hours ( ,f h.e'..i. Miss No.lolk-StamYy's lirst ■•::tse was to throw h.-rsrtf on O ,r mercy to the extent of reh-as- ;;;, her ilog. In travellins sin- bad . • r >ct encountered another woiiiin who diil not assist in smij.i:l:::£ Bijou «iti) the dcliftht in eoiiii ,i,aml warfare ol any kind ixviiliai, to she fi'X. A sxcond plame at t.'iosn i si and Illulibll figures ilelind ii.. Tlie strangtrs, «-jih a inurmur- ■■■ >:olo,ry in Krcnch for the intius ■-:, sink into their places at the 1

oslnr exlt'cmiti oi" the carriage ami r.nuiiixl as siii-jii as statues. Tl.i-y earned no l'il,- s '"" parrel.-, nf any kind. The yellow hand productd a smelling boille oi cut steel, au.l a pungtiu odor ilitiu.M';! Hselt" •iiadttally as llv windows were closed in ei.eU.iU' l lie smoke. Now lhe lumu'ls vv,..;e gain.d. Willi the I: I.shol.i oi Mont Ccnis on llie Italian side, and which ale itiimeasuiably iiior,- black au.l oppressive. A rush oi slcalii, a shuck of Ihe he motive .'.ml lbe liain was cnguliiil n. ih.' hist oi the lhr,v long inn - 1,.-!-, 'l'lir -as liurniil in a lm> statin the look oi ihe carnage, llorriii-* •iar!.n-ss and ih ns.' smoke, like an opu'ine wall against 11n- window sash '

Hijnii's inisin-v, unfashii, tl her, collar, anil -ought 1., r I. n. At ih'other end of the carnage I In- yeilow hand w.i.. ,|.fii> opening the nwnci's el at. while a pair oi glittering eyes ftele tuned on the uasuspiciing Mis.-, Norfolk-Stanley lio,;n the folds of the v.-il. 'lh.- Miieilinii-lctile oi cut steel had Vanished. A rush of steam, a shriek oi the locomotive, and ti.e Ham pinned into the stconl tunnel. Behold the companion oi the traveller with yellow hands quietly unfastening her cloak, and producing her smellingbottle, this i.in- a slender vial oi cdouriiss glass,, wn:ch she retained between he! lingers instead of using.

A rush oi sleani, and the train passed into tin- third lunnci. Silence rcigiud m the ladies' carriage. After this there was a pause, and. Miss Norfolk-Stanley opened in 1 window lo inhale the pure mountain air, while each link of the train Was tesiril f..V.lnie the I rial of the greut '.unlit 1. Then Mont Cenis opened that giyal mouth and received the human ircighl. the feeble atoms of an hour, into its rocky heart. Thirty miii'ilis ! Miss Norfolk-Stanley o]K eiicd her watch. Much may happen, in thirty inimiU'.s. Site had turned to the window, which had teen closed again, when her head was seized, a nervous hand was pressed over her mouth, she was forced t 0 inhale chloroform, and a heavy cloak evelnped her, clicctivcly stilling the faun ere, scarcely more than a sigh, which es-. capid her. Ih;. victim speedily lost, con. ciousiiess, and the leather* hag rolled fiom her lap lo the lloor. Ui.iou fell on his head. Astonished at such treatment, he crept oitl ol his pocket—of which the strap had nol been refastentd whin the surly guaid brought the other occupajits into Ihe carriage so umexpectttlly—and hid bcneaih the folds of his mis less' dress. Mark Ihe wisdom of tins little dog. and explain it by any law short of reason, -actual insenee oi mind, i! \ou can.. lie was afraid, and concealed himself, •lVmbliug in evil'}' limb, lie hn-iv that something dreadful i, ;l d happen-

ll;.' !«(i WoiI;, ii. ili'.esli.l oi their finals, stood iiv.i- y-tss Noil'tdkSunl.'y. Much can be i! me in llorly li.inuliS ~i outer daih:.o:s. 1. si in the ii art ot Moat Cents.

'•lii> inn kill her. IJisCoury would be awkward." whispnvl ibe elder, a keen yellow face appealing ou; o, tlie I .e I which bad picviuuslv cuuccah<l it.

H, r accompli, e reumvul the bottle in .in ihe insmhl oi Miss XoifolkSt.iiili. ,>ii.! liit'd lb.- cio.'k urn ),. r laee. The latter .!i.| not ti.ov.-. Then the yeilov. elaws ;.n,l. tin waitb ai.tl iii.-in. lints, | i,,i„ ,i ~\:i, Ihrnl-t llillli IV s:!led Ihe villi ems i.i the lack aiinte i, r valualibs, .uiii

1. is.ti the bath i h.u, Hi-.hi s lions.' in ho|.es of lis cniailliiit; a .vwelbox.

"Now n]H-ii the ~;!,, r window. Tiec.iiiace must not :-imil oi chime. fi rin when 5f r.-afii >io;.,'lane. I wiil Kive bit alio; bet tit s • l,e,,ie w, tlnoW away Ihe bottle. " "It w„". such a la!, eh.iia.- ! ( n h it We -1...U1.1 he d.tiCiT.i at lb, iMtiitn 1 "' mi,in,•,:,.! l!„- yiunn woman "Atti-ii 1. ma eh re . I ba-.e idaaia .i ■all." lei. M.,1 li.e eld. I. with ..1 cm! sinii,-. --Mi,, wiil r c .-,,r. !■■. siup.d »h ii We aiT.c at Ihe Kit ~c, t'lstoni Ilou»e. a:i'i wai' Or ii,i maid. R.dl ir w .ti„'i the cb.als and ie Is in this i,uH,.s i,„-. . . our .In.sics ai:d hats hale nn* . ■ . sen oil lie Ua.ii. V. if. ii v.c .1ee,..1. 1 loin Adoipl.e. and lean on ins aim. wa. Ko with the l.ocs and s]:,ak delman. We know' loni.i r know lacli o:ii,r. \i,u lake the (rene'.a it.me. and I jouriiei to Macon. Th ic is plciiiy of mile. 11, r.-, put hack h,i purse i-.;i:laii:iun a iitlle silvv:.

I)jyli,ln a! Lim ' l'j;oii thins: mil iiK m. S; . from |||, ,;>;,,. ~; his nn><r.ss mi..-. 'Hi.- lidii r..issiiK.i hj,;;,. Sudi a i.-lly 01 sharp. l.aiks liu-ainc a'irttWr ji, || ;l . | a ,|| ts ' cain.u;c as could n.,lv emanate from tin- Ilno.it ..i an iralc- IMiier. The IlilCW'S Well' |,.»l . Illv S'.iMil'd ami

disconcerted, hut completely myslifi- I id. At lirsl they supposed tlie dog i was harking in an ad.iac.nl carriage. ' Mow c.piilil a living cre a lnie of any soil he corny'led in Uieir own, when every article oi MiSa Noi lolk-Stan-lav's has hern searched ■'

lUit.u harked v.un frantic zeal, a'ul' sprain; toward tin' <"t'tu wiiiilow. redoubling his clamour. Then the older woman saw him, darted i.invard, and si-iy.nl him. The terrible yellow hand closed aboul Hiton's neck ; she lifted and prcpand to throw ' lum out of the window. Bijou's silky little hotly landed e.n Ih,: edge ol the sash lust as the surly guard appealed, who was Walking along the outer railing or plal- ' (ol'lii, in'response lo that volley of harks. What, a dog in the ladhs' carriage, afttr ail ' Aim! one must M-e al>'»'t it ' '""' sl "''' r.'uird eaiiLh! tli.' in nor in his hands ; heads appeared at neighbouring witiilt.ws. The poor little beast whim peivd. licked the guard's face in a I r.i|iiti>itory manner, and looked at him wilh Viie most agonised eaiime intelligence.

A dog in the ladies' ornate ! Moicovci, Hung out m' the window by a vengeful hand ! One glance r" m his point of vantage revealed 111., truth to the oflicial. Miss Nor-folk-Stanley reposed in her coiner in ligid insensibility, the cloak still about, her ; hags and eases were scattered on the lloor ; a faint seiiit oi chloroform still lingciid. A very well arranged plan, hinged on the train not pausing again till Mundane was readied, when all traces of disorder would have hem removed, but for f111strut it 11 by a wgilanl lillle dog, so liny as lo he stowed away in the pocket of a leather bag.

A group of those highly onumciital gens-d'amies in cocktii hals and brilliant uniforms wTio pose n- gracefully at French and Italian railway Nations were given rnployme-ii in arresting the thieves. Miss NorfolkStanley came to a condition of.confused consciiousness, and was remov■'l to a hotel under guidance of nor frightened" maid, ihe st-rly gu„r.l a °- tualiv kept Bijou in his arms, and caressed Ihe little d,,g instead ol ilen.niling his lie-l.f. Next evening Nephew !)iek apPeur--il al Mundane in response lo tlie maid's telegram sent nack l-.i Turin, .le had been delayed 'by. reason of i robbery, in which he r.ad lost both watch ami pocket book, on a ni-Jil tourney between Home and I'Toi'euee. He was disposed to suspect Iwo genlleinen who stayed at the same hotel in Home.

In (lie years 1.57? ami IS7S ,i band if thicvis n-;i. K ;i| war mi the ('onlm- :,(. their cciiiifclii n ciMcinbtr; from 'l c'.lioliii tn Xapl.-s. They appeared 1 ; ladies iiinl ficiiilriniii at leading 'uti'l.s. ami pursued everywhere tlie - ;',ranches i,[ ihe profession. '.Hi'Hiss Miss Xorfoik-Stanlev and cpbew llick Were bmh their vtcii'is. 'I he latter was speidily tciiiO.ii; :l in lis aunt's iavour l:v his i.olity displayed ilnrinp ill:' trial am! '■ ir.ii-tii.ii nf the miserable Wonien. Hi hi lias none into honourable re 'ir, menl in the coiinfrv. His piciuI:its are respictcd. If lie sr.s ' a railway and a moving train lie runs ■may and bowls, in leincm'iiaiice of I"' awful day when a cruel yellow ■'iii.'i s.i/ed iin-I hurled him front th c window as the ladies' eaniace etn- '' •'■l "-oiii Hie Mom t.'eios Tuiiifl