Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-05-02

VSAo SiA NAVii wv GyGs, uSGu
to ride my own horse, but I've lost him,
so it's got to be one Of Uncle Sam's.''
For moment nothing further was
said. A pair Of frank blue eyes were
gazing smilingly down into the engi-
neer's face, and that ex-trooper could
find no excuse for another expression of
doubt Slowly he held forth the half
emptied flask.
Here" said he, "take this. I'm
id if you're not too many for me!
But, sudden thought striking him,
why don't you sell this and your
watch and them clothes and go to the
mines and make q stake there:''
Because I'd rather soldier, man."
was the smiling answer-Gray's good
humor was indomita ble-"and down in
the bottom of your heart you know per-
fectly we'll you never see the uniform"
and here he laid hand on Kearney's
shoulder-"that you don't more than
half wish you were in it again and rid
ing the trail or the prairie rather than
the iron track. / don't have to sell any,
thing yet, he added, with almost a
laugh. Keep the whisky, Mr.. Long.
You We moro need Of it than / have. I'll
see you again after awhile. - And with
that he rose and, nodding smilingly to
kearney, sauntered from the car.
We'll, it. that's train robber,' said
the latter as he reached and took the
flask from Longs unresisting hand,
there s'-the top came off, and the
flask was lifted to his lips-"here's
long life to him!"
Late that morning the relief train
came down from Pawnee, the east
bound express at its heels. Passengers
and baggage were laboriously transfer
red from one train to the other around
the scene of tho wreck. Mr.. Long, bid
ding mournful adieu to No 1888, asked
Sergeant Kearney to see that the now
empty flask was returned to the tall
Teller that talked Of enlisting. "He may
talk till hell freezes over, said Long,
''but not till see him in uniform will
believe he isn't lying, and even then
I'll misdoubt him for reformed train
robber or an escaped lunatic''
But of this and other unflattering
comments Mr.. Gray was unconscious
BY s O'Clock some railway men arrived
from the Gap on a hand car, proving
that the suspected tramp had at least
delivered his dispatches. People were
getting hungry by that time, and it
presently transpired that the tall gent"
in the first sleeper was going back with
the hand Car to see what he could buy
and send to them, as it would be noon
perhaps before the wrecling train, etc.,
could come. Then the porter addressed
Mr.. Gray with a message. Mrs. Main
waring begged to see the gentleman be-
fore he started.
She was calm and collected now, and
evidently ashamed of the trouble she
had given. The young lady was seated
by an open window, languidly drinking
in the fresh air, silken handkerchief
bound about her head,
"We are so very much indebted to
you," said the matron, rising at the en-
trance of the young man, and both my
niece, Miss Leroy, and / wished to
thank you before we parted. am Mrs.
Mainwaring, and my husband, Major
Mainwaring, whom expect to meet
today, will be glad to add his thanks to
mine if you will kindly give me your
| address,"
II assure you the thanks are unneces-
sary. am only too happy to have been
| OF the faintest service. I am awfully
clumsy, fear" said Gray, smiling, as
his eyes wandered to Miss Leroy's face.
| She was leaning forward now and ex.
tending the pretty white hand he had
| SO admired much earlier that morning.
And want to say, yet l don know
how 10 say, how very much thank
you," she murmured, her words fall
ing hesitatingly, "and-pray, do not
think me impertinent, but did not see
| you-were you not on the Rhine last
May?"
His whole manner seemed to change
instantly. Quiet good humor and cour.
tesy gave place to embarrassment, even
awkwardness.
ut was-possibly brother of mine, u
he faltered. I'll hope you'll have a
very pleasant journey. Such i'll luck
thus far, you know''- He barely
touched the extended hand. "Goodby.
Goodby, Mrs. Mainwaring. They
they're waiting for me with that hand
car. And in an instant he was hasten.
ing away.
"But you haven't told us your name
or your address,, persisted the eide,
lady.
"Oh, it's of no consequence. You re.
member Mr.. Toots, don you?' he called
back over his shoulder as he made his
escape from the car But on the plat
form without the fitting smile vanished
and his face grew gray and sad as he
stopped and took long, long breath.
Lesson number one, and tough
one, Darcy. my boy" he painted. "My
God, what is my name to be now?"
CHAPTER v.
The --th had been having what Gap