Silverbeach Manor by Margaret S. Haycraft Page A

carriage. His hat is clearly not of the newest, and the
collar of his overcoat has seen service, and he is not wearing
gloves.
    Only lately
she was reading in a journal that a railway thief had robbed a
gentleman, and then politely lent him half a crown to take him
home, when the poor old gentleman could nowhere find his purse. The
conviction flashes upon Pansy that this quiet young man, hidden so
long behind the newspaper, has possession of her purse.
    "I think you
have taken my purse," she says, with burning cheeks. "I had it only
just now, some time after the last passenger got out. Nobody but
you can have taken it. Unless you restore it directly, I will pull
the communication cord and stop the train."
    "Wait a
few minutes," says her companion, soothingly. "We shall soon be at
Morfill, and then you can state your complaint. Have you
seen The Graphic this week?"
    In his own
mind he thinks the excited, indignant girl is not quite right in
her head, and he experiences a passing thought of regret that one
so attractive-looking should be unaccountable for her ways.
    "I am not so
foolish as all that," says Pansy, astutely. "I have been reading
about the ways of railway thieves, and you cannot deceive me. When
we get to Morfill you will make your escape, so I will stop the
train immediately unless you give me my purse."
    "My dear young
lady, I know nothing about your purse. Let us make a search for it
in the carriage."
    Pansy
looks at his pockets, but he is so strongly built that she does not
attempt the assault. "I know it is in
your possession," she says passionately. "I have two diamonds in it
that fell out of my ring, and I would not lose them for anything.
Once and for all, will you give me my purse? If you do, I promise
to let you go unpunished."
    "I can only
repeat, madam, that I know nothing whatever about your purse."
    "Then I will
stop the train, and the guard shall search you."
    Pansy moves
haughtily towards the communication cord, and can scarcely credit
that the thief has the audacity to seize her hands.
    "Excuse me,"
he says, "we are just approaching the long tunnel, and it might be
dangerous to bring the train to a standstill here. You really must
not pull the communication cord, madam. This is a very busy line,
and at this point it would be a great risk. I hope I am not hurting
you."
    He registers a
mental resolution not to be left alone with a possible monomaniac
again, and Pansy, having some idea he may have concealed a
revolver, dares not resist his hold, though she trembles like a
leaf between fear and anger. No sooner are they out of the tunnel
than she commences to scream as loudly as possible, thereby much
discomforting her companion, and causing a number of people to put
their heads out of the windows of adjacent compartments.
    At Morfill
quite a little crowd surrounds the windows of her carriage.
    "Hello," says
the guard, "what is all this about, sir? Stand aside please,
gentlemen, and let the lady make her complaint."
    "He has my
purse," gasps Pansy, pointing at the much-annoyed young man, who
vainly looks about for a way of escape. "He stole it from me during
the journey. I know he did."
    "A most
evil-looking fellow," she hears someone say in the crowd. "These
railway robberies are on the increase, and it is to be hoped the
magistrate will make an example of this man. The poor young lady is
almost fainting from fright."
    "It is quite a
delusion," says the accused individual, earnestly. "The charge is
ridiculous. Here is my card," and he hands one to the guard. "I
really cannot wait. I have a particular appointment at Masden, and
the train is waiting at the other platform."
    "So it
do," says the guard, "but I'm afraid you can't catch that there
train this time, young man. Them as steals purses can steal cards.
We've no means of knowing this here is your name and address. Anyways,
you'll have to come along to the stationmaster's office. This way
if you please, miss. Mr. Spinks will inquire into this