Daily Republican., 1879-11-21
THROUGH PASSENGERS.
BY CAPT. CHAS. HOWARD.


"Whers are you going, Dick ~
"Back to chat with my through pas
sengers." j.
And Dick Davis, the conductor, left
the mail car, and entered the through
coach attached to the train.
Closing the door, he walked straigh,
to All old man seated in the centre Of
the car. H.s head and beard were af
white as snow, but there were no crows
feet on his forehead nor wrinkles on his
cheeks. His eyes flashed with lusty
manhood, though his hair would indi
cate that he had crossed the boundaries
of three-s core years.
+, He smiled when the pleasant faced
conductor dropped into the seat before
him, and leaning forward made re
mark in a low tone of voice. This re.
mark caused Davis to raise his head
and pazs at the beautiful face of a gir
who slept in the seat behind the white
bearded passenger.
sshe always sleeps that way re,
sponded the passengers with smile
'and when she wakes she is as fresh al
q rose
Your daughter has company l see,
observed DAVIS, glancing at the remain
der of the car, who appeared to b'
sleeping soundly.
Yes, are they going through
oh yes; none but through passenger
are admitted TO this coach. They arr
not communicative ow-travelers
should say.
They are not, replied the old man
'Mr. Davis, do not like my trayel
ing companions, and the speakers voice
was lowered.
The conductor looked surprised.
win you explain. Mr.. RadclitfeH
A short time previous to the pres"n
conversation the conductor and his pas
senger had exchanged names, and were
thus enabled to call each ether proper
ly.
81 can scarcely explain" was
passengers reply. There is man in
the fourth seat from the stove whom
unaccountably, l do not like ne
boarded the train at Romney, and
have caught hint looking askance al
myself and Mabel. Then the fellow
" ho appears to be asleep three seats
behind him on the opposite side of the
aisle has been guilty of the same thing,
and | believe there is connection be-
tween the parties. do not want you
to think that fear them. Never in my
life, ard have passed through the
wild tribes of the Amozonian valley,
have feared man. Over there lies
the only Jewel to which cling" and
he nodded toward the sleeping girl
.'She is the sole creature through
whose veins runs my blood, and you
must know that she is dear to me-"
"Certainly, MIR. Radcliffe" said
Davis. "Your entire solicitude is fol
her."
"Exactlyl'
"Do you know those two fellows %
81 do not; never saw them before ir
all my life.
Conductor Davis now thought mo
ment. .,
"vourself and daughter can avoid
them by taking up quarters in the Tor
ward car. assure you that you Will
not be regarded as intrnders, and
that the accommodations will not lack
comfort"
But the passenger gently declined
the conductors offer, and said that he
would finish his journey in the coach
he had been placed in for that pnr-
pose. =.
After a few more words Mr.. Davis left
the coach and passed into the express
car, where he soon appeared to forget
his passengers in a conversation with
the messenger.
The door had hardly closed ON the
conductors form when the man nearest
the stove showed signs of animation.
He turned his head and looked up the
dimly lighted aisle. not forgetting to
let his eyes rest on the old traveller
and his daughter. He was handsome
man, about thirty. five years of age,
and above his luxuriant crop of silk,
auburn whiskers shone a pair of milk
blue eyes. =,
Not one man in hundred would
have chosen him for rascal.
He was we'll, almost hashily dressed;
there was a handsome diamond pin
on his bosom, and crested ring on
his hand.
Allowing his gaze to return down
the aisle, he fixed upon another man,
who appeared to be sleeping, a short
distance from him. This man was
quite young; his eyes vesy heavy, and
the only hirsute appendags on his face
was q Iong-haired moustache that drop
ped over his mouth.
The two men exchanged looks which
told that they were not travellers thrown
together, but men who we're we'll &C
quainted with each other.
Again the aforementioned one look
ed at the old passenger, whose head
had dropped on his breast, and who
appeared to be dropping into slum
ber.
Seeing this the man motioned to the
other who straightpnad mn. and thu