Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-01-30
TOO hHTE
BY
WIhhIHM BhoSS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
lcopynght. Ig9I. By Author. synaisats.l

Copyright, 1871, by Authors syndiaate.l
For the twentieth time that long
gray day Wetherby yawned, in the very
desperation of deep ennui. The Pull.
man was filed with its fair quota OF
passengers, one TO every double seat.
and, because he was a reasonably well.
bred person, Wetherby followed his
furtive yawn by surreptitious
stretching Of his arms and legs. II is
bad form to tire other people, just be-
cause one is tired oneself. His berth
was lower ], at the forward end 81
the long, luxurious coach. and when in
/ his seat looking out into the dismal
sky upon the dismal landscape. his fell
| low passengers were not within the
range IF his glance. Still, he had al
ready sized up most of hem. They
seemed hardly worth cultivation-cat
| tie men, hurrying home 10 their vast
herds ~ beeves out toward the broad
reaches 70 the LIauo Estacado. or Ari-
iona sheep owners who had learned the
eos tiy lesson that a Texas steer needs
plenty 81 grass 70 1T himself for mar
ket while the sheep can pick up fair
y good living of a hillside wherein a
yearlng calf would become a depress-
ing rack Of bones. There were some
loud-yoieed mountaiueers he reck-
oned them as such, with that uncon-
scious summing up Of tone and man
ner and attire a man will accord 10
strangers into whose contact he is
thrown upon a long Journey going
back 10 their mines: and a travelling
man or two. bound for Rio Grande
towns In The interest 81 iobbing firms
east Of the big river No. they were
hardly worth while, even TO smoke
with. Still, be wanted to smoke II
could be no more duller looking from
the rear Of the car than from his win
dow al the side.
So. yawning once more behind a de-
eorous palm. stretching himself once
more as unobtrusively as might be, he
rose languidly and made his way leis-
urely 10 the smoking room and OBJ |
servation car at the other end Of his /
oar. at the very rear Of the train. Here
he selected from a morocco case a cigar |
with that care man bestows upon |
trifes. when the larger concerns Of life !
are lacking. lighted il with close atten-
tion to the point that IL burned quite
evenly, and leaned listlessly back in a
cushioned seat, looking back al the re-
ceeding track.
Upon each side a somher wall Of
heavy live oak and cypress trees,
cloaked in their gray. funereal inves
titure Of Spanish moss, stretched i'm
terminably. roohess tunnel,
which the train sped with
heaviness of heart, as If
il longed for free air and a broader
view Of the outside world. Only when
the rumblng wheels dashed upon a
.restle spanning some sluggish bayou
aid the wearisome outlook vary.
bit into his cigar in sullen
against so dull a jour
ley
Looks ike a procession Of Qua
Iars." he muttered. surlily lifting his
ylance 10 the face of the other occu-
pant Of the smobing-room, who sat
igidly IN an opposite chair, read
ng The New Orleans States. The
stranger scanned Weatherby coldly.
oiled himself another cigarette with
.asy deNterity in one hand. lighted
/ in calm silence and resumed his
'eadiug without response. His face
vas hard. from his thin, pointed
beard and waNcd mustaehe 20 his
harp. black eyes He seemed 70 sug-
rest a stiletto in a jar q vinegar
yetherby felt Eke slapping his face
s a diversion. hut cOutented himself
With the reflection that his fellow ,
ravelcr was a discourteous brute
With whom he didn't care to talk,
nyway
"Some Of those Creole ducks think
hey are spanish dukes yet" he muir
aured under his breath, irritably.
hen ne shut his eyes and fen into I
nap. lulled by the rumbling mono 7
one Of the flying train. When he +
woke darkness had fallen without +
oors. The train was al rest az way
tation and a moment later a dining a
ar which had stood upon an ada
mt siding was backed down upon
hem and coupled 10 the sleeper. =
supper time" thought Wetherby, +
18th a feeling Of relief. Here, at
asst. was a diversion. lie would eat, \
nd give thanks that he had an IN h
,iling appetite. Perhaps a bit Of q
"a snapper and some gulf coast
ABS would restore his spirits. He +.
,se quickly and made his way +,
, his own seat in front. 1
As ne stopped over his valise to c
oen il for some accessory Of his tot
4 his glance fell upon what seemed
, be a small piece of gold, lying in J
,e aisle beside him. He picked ID up. 4
was a dainty ornamental pin, q
oman's trife. 20 fasten scarf OF C.
bbon. in the shape Of . miniature G