Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-06-09
CHAPTER IL

4 =
ON to the connecting train. and in an
hour we Were back Cn the Ilaim line.
While waiting for the overland To ar
rive, Mr.. Cullen asked lie Ia do some
thing which, rs il later proved 10 have
considerable bearing on the events of
that night, is worth mentioning. trivial
as IL seems. When l had first Joined
the party, had given orders for 81 TO
be kicked in between the main string
and their special, so as not 10 deprive
tlic occupants Of 2lS of the view from
their observation saloon and balcony
platform. Mr. Cullen came to me now
and asked me to reverse the arrange
mcnt and make my car the tail end !
was giving orders for the splitting and
kicking in when No. arrived, and
thus did not see the greeting of Frederic
Cullen and his family When Joined
them, his father told me that the high
altitude had knocked his SON up, so that
he had had to be helped from the or
binary sleeper to the special and had
gone to bed Immediately. Out west we
have TO know something of medicine,
and my car had its chest Of drugs. So
took some tablets and went into his
statcroom.
Frederic was like his brother in ap-
pearance, though not in manner, having
quick, alert way. He was breathing
with such difficulty that l was almost
tempted to give him nitroglycerin, ill.,
stead Of strychninc, but he said he
would be all right us soon as he became
accustomed to the rarefcd air, quito
poohpoohing my suggestion that he
take No. 2 back to Trinidad. And while
was still urging the train started.
Leaving him the walls Of digitahs and
strychnine, therefore, I went back and
dlned solus Gu my own car, indulginC
ut the end in a cigar the smoke of
which would keep turning into pictures
OF Miss Cullen. 1 have thought about
those pictures since then and have con-
cluded that when cigar smoke behaves
like that Il man might as well read his
destiny in it, for it can mean only one
thing.
After enjoying the combination l
went to No. 2lS to have look at the |
son and found that the heart TONES had |
benefited him considerably. On leaving
him | went to the dining room, where
the rest OF the party We're still at dim
her, to ask chat the invalid have a
strong cup Of coffee, and after deliver
ing my request Mr.. Cullen asked me to
join them i'll cigar, This did gladly,
for cigar and Miss Cullcn's society
We're even pleaSanter than q cigar and
Miss CuIlen's pictures, because the pic
lures never quite did her justice and,
besides, didn't talk
Our smoke finished, we went back to
the saloon, where the gentlemen sat
down to poker, which Lord Rallies had
just learned and liked. They did not
ask me to take Il hand, for which | was
grateful, as the salary of railroad su-
perintcndept would hardly stand the
game they probably played And had
my compensation when Miss Cullen
also was not asked to join them. She
said she was going to watch the moon
light on the mountains from the plat
form and opened the door to go out
inding for the first time that No 81
was the "cnder." In her disappoint-
nent she protested against this and
wanted to know the why and wherefore.
We shall have far less motion,
Madge, " Mr.. Cullen explained. and
hen we shan't have the rear end man
n our car at night"
But | don't mind the motion, "
Urged Miss Cullen, "and the fag1nan is
here only after we are all in our
ooms Please leave US the view"
II prefer the present arrangement,
Iadge, " said Mr. Cullen in a very
positive voice.
was so sorry for Miss Cullen's dis
appointment that, on impulse / said.
The platform Of 81 is entirely at your
crvice, Miss Cullen" The moment if
vas out realized that I ought not to
AVE said it and that I deserved re-
aie for supposing she would use my
ar.
Miss Cullen took it better than |
opcd for and was declining the offer
S kindly as my intention had been in
making it when, much to my astonish
ont her father said:
By all MEANS Madge. That relieves
S OF the discomfort of being the last
ar, and yet let's you have the scenery
nd moonlight. "
Miss Cullen looked at her father for
moment, a. if not believing what she
ad heard. Lord Rallies scowled and
pened his mouth to say something, but
hecked himself and only flung his dis
ard down rs if he hated the cards.
THANK you, papa, said Miss Gull
M But L think I will watch you
lay"
Now Madge, don't be foolish"
nd Mr.. Cullen irritably. "You might
1st as well have the pleasure, and
on IL only disturb the game if you stay
ere"
Miss Cullen leaned over and whisper
something, and her father answered
er. Lord Rallies must have heard for
muttered something which made }
llss Cullen color up, but much good it '
i'd him, for she turned to me and said
since my father doesn't disapprove, |
Ill gladly accept your hospitality, Mr.. j.,
,ordon. " And, after glance at Lord '
allies that had challenging I'm do ;
please" in it, she went to get her
ut and coat
The whole incident had not taken ten
'condS yet it puzzled me beyond meas d
re, even while my heart beat with an y
unreasonable hope, for my better sense a
I'd me that it simply meant that Lord !,
allies disapproved, and Miss Cullen, l.
Ike any girl Of spirit was giving him a
7tice that he was not yet privileged to -
'ntrol her actions. Whatever the scene D
cant, his lordship did not like it, for q
, swOre at his luck the moment Miss
allen had LETT the room. IL
When Miss Cullen returned, we went D
'ck to the rear platform of 81. let u