Barton County democrat., 1901-08-23

y "
burned like tinder, and what was
there to cause it but those blazing
boxes on the forward truck. The
conductor knew there had been no
smoking aboard the car, and that
every man was asleep when he went
through at two o'clock. The brake
man had prophesied disaster and
danger. It was Gods mercy that
| warned the poor fellows in time.
Not until along in the afternoon,
as they were spinning swiftly down
through the marvellous scenery about
Blue Canyon and Cape Horn, did Miss
Ray again appear. Stuyvesant had
been sitting awhile by Connolly, and
had arranged with him to wire to the
Preside for ambulances to meet the
party at Oakland Pier, for two at
least would be unable to walk, and,
until provided with shoes and cloth
ing, few could march the distance.
Then he had spent a few minutes
with the other patients.
When he returned to the sleeper,
there at last was the object of so
many of his thoughts. But she was
reclining wearily, her head upon
pillow, and the austere maid and two
other women stood guard over her.
"a severe headache" was the ex-
planation, and Stuyyesant felt that
he must defer his intrusion until
later.
Somewhere down the westward
slope of the Sierras he found at
station some delicious cherries, and a
little basket of the choicest he made
bold to send with his compliments
and the hope that her indisposition
would soon disappear. The porter
came back with the lady's thanks.
The cherries were 'lovely," but
Stuyvesant observed that not more
than one or two found their way to
those pearly teeth, the rest being de-
voured by her too devoted attend
ants!
1t was after nine at night when he
marshaled his motley party into the
dining-room at Sacramento and they
were made glad by substantial, we'll
cooked food, with abundant hot cof-
fee. They thanked him gratefully,
did many of the young fellows, and
hoped they might meet more such
officers. An elderly passenger who
had quietly noted the outlay of
money to which Mr.. Stuyvesant had
been subjected strolled up to the
| manager. "That young gentleman
has had to pay too much to-day. just
receipt the bill, if you please said
he, and drew forth roll of treasury
notes. Stuyvesant went in search of
| this new benefactor when he heard
| of it. "There was really no sneces-
sity, sir" said he, Though fully ap-
preciate your kindness. The COM
pany will doubtless reimburse me for
| any such outlay
eff they will reimburse you, my
young friend" said the veteran trav-
eler, dryly, "they'll reimburse me. At
all events, know them better than.
you do, and don't intend to let you
bear all the risk The lieutenant
| argued, but the elder was firm. AS
the men. shuffied back to the train
with full stomachs and frightened
faces, Murray hulking by them with
| averted eyes, and Mellen rendering a
| grinning salute, the manager came
forward. 'There's one man shy, sir,
even counting the dinners sent
aboard" said he, and Hunt, hearing
| it, turned back and explained.
| ''It is Foster, sir. He said he wasn't
hungry and couldn't eat. reckon it's
because he wouldn't turn out in such
looking clothes as were given him."
Yet when Stuyvesant went to the
car to see whether the young soldier
| could not be induced to change his
mind, it was, discovered that he had
turned out. His berth was empty.
Nor did he appear until just as the
train was starting. He explained that
he had stepped off on the outer side
i So
fresh air. There was plenty of bread
and cheese left from luncheon. He
didn't care for anything, really. And,
| indeed, he seemed most anxious to
get back to his berth and away from
the lieutenant, in whose. presence he
was obviously and painfully i'll at
| ease.
Stuyvesant turned away, feeling a
trifie annoyed or hurt, he couldn't
tell which, and swung himself to the
| platform of the sleeper as it came
gliding by. At last he could hope to
| find opportunity to thank Miss Ray
| for her attention to the injured man
and incidentally her ministrations on
his own account. Then, once arrived
at San Francisco, where he had
friends of rank and position in the
army, he would surely meet some one
| who knew her father well and possi-
bly, herself, some one to present him
in due form, but for the present he
could only hope to say conventional
word or two of gratitude, and he was
striving to frame his thoughts as he
fastened into the brightly lighted
car and towards the section where
| last he had seen her.
| 1t was occupied by a newcomer, a
| total stranger, and the three women
recently sharing her section and