The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-10

f 1900
the girl half upon him.
Not in the least" he gasped. the breath
Knocked out of his body. Just the same, he
was very much alarmed. 1t was as dark as
pitch outside and in, and he could not help
wondering how near the edge of the noun
tain side they were running. a false move
of the flying horses and they might go roll
ing TO the bottom of the ravine, hundreds
of feet below. Still. he must not let her see
his apprehension. This fellow is considered
the best driver i'm the mountains he pre-
varicated. Just then he remembered having
detected liquor on the mans breath as he
closed the door behind him. Perhaps he was
intoxicated,
do you know him. questioned the clear
voice. her lips close to his ear. her warm
body pressing against his.
Perfectly. He is no other than Light
horse Jerry. the king of stage drivers" In
the darkness he smiled to himself ma
liciousIy.
'Oh, then, we need feel no alarm" she
said. treasured. not knowing that Jerry ex-
listed only in the yellow-backed novel her
informant had read when a boy.
There was such a roaring and Gathering
that conversation became almost impossi-
BILE When either spoke it was with the
mouth close to the ear of the other. At
such times Grenfall could feel her breath
on his cheek. Her sweet voice went tingIing
to his toes with every word she uttered. He
was in a daze, out of which sung the mad
wish that he might clasp her in his arms,
kiss her. and then go tumbling down the
mountain. She trembled in the next fierce
lurches. but gave forth no complaint. He
knew that she was in terror but too brave
to murmur.
Unable TO resist. he released the strap to
which he had chung so grimly, and placed
his strong, firm hand encouragingly over
the little one that gripped his arm with the
clutch Of death. 1t was very dark and very
lonely, too!
OH she cried, as his hand cIasped hers.
you must hold to the strap
1T Is broken!' he lied. gladly. There is
no danger. See! My hand does not tremble.
does 1t? Be calm. 1t cannot be much
further"
VIII 1t not be dreadful If the conductor
refuses to stop?' she cried, her hand rest
Ing calmly beneath it's protector. He de-
tected a tone of security in her voice.
But he will stop Your uncle will see to
that, even if the operator fails
MY uncle will kill him if he does not
stop or come back for me- she said. conn.,
placently.
L was not wrong" thought Grenfall: 'he
looks like a duelist. Who the devil are
they, anyhow" Then aloud: "At this rate
wed be able to beat the train to Washing
ton In a straight-away race. Isn't it a de-
hshtfully wild rider"
Il have acquired a great deal of knovI-
edge in America, but this is the first time
have heard your definition of delight. l
agree that it is wild"
FOR some moments there was silence in
the noisy conveyance. Outside, the crack of
the drivers whip, his hoarse cries. and the
Notwithstanding crash Of the wheels pro-
ouced impressions Of a mighty storm rath.
er than of peace and pleasure.
L am curious to know where Won oh
tanned the coin you lost in the car yester-
day' she said at last, as if relieving her
mind OF a question that had been long sub
dued.
1.-The one you SO kindly found for me?',
ne asked, procrastinatingly.
eyes. They are certainly rare in this
country"
Il never saw a coin like it until after I
had seen you" he confessed. He felt her
arm press his a little tighter. and there was
u ( mead which told
him, dark as it was, that she was trying 70
see his face and that her blue eyes were
wide with something more than terror.
Il do not understand" she exclaimed.
II obtained the coin from a sleeping-car
porter who said some one gave il 10 him
and told him to nave a high time with il -
he explained in her ear.
He evidently did not care for the sbiob
Tina che cafI of41u.
have given a fortune for one glimpse of her
face at that instant.
II think he said it would be necessary 10
go to Europe in order to follow the inirnc-
ton of the donor. As / am more likely 10
go TO Europe than he, l relieved him of tho
necessity and bought his right to a high
time"
There was a long pause, during which she
attempted to withdraw herself from his
side. her little fingers ~strugglin timidIv be-
meath the big ones.
Are you a collector Of coins - she asked
at length, a perceptible coldness in her
voice.
NO. 1 am considered a dispenser of
coins. Still. 1 rather like the idea of nos
sessing this queer bit Of money as a pocket
piece. l intend TO keep il forever. and lot II
descend as an heirloom to the generations
that follow me- he said, laughingly. WHY
are you so curious about ito"
Because it comes from the city and
country in which l live" she responded
IF you were in a land far away from vour
own would you not be interested i'm any,
thing-even a coin-that reminded Won of
homer"
Especially if l had not seen one Of its
kind since leaving home he replied in
sinuatingIy.
"Oh, but 1 have seen many like it In nv
purse there are several at this minute
isn't it strange that this particular coin
should have reminded you of homer"
You have no right to question me-. sir"
she said. coldly, drawing away. only to be
lurched back again. In spite Of herself she
laughed audibly.
II beg your pardon" he said. tantaliz-
ingly.
when did he give 1t to your
"Who2"
The porter. sir"
You have no right to question me- he
said.
oh" she gasped. Il did not mean to be
inquisitive."
but l grant the right. lie gave it me in
side of two hours after / first entered the
car"
AT Denver?"
How do you know I got on at Denvcr?'