The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23
Copyright by Bobbs-Merrin Co.

ont TO the platform, wondering
II what had happened and where
II had happened. He glanced up at
the telephone wires; two of them ran
up the graveled driveway toward
Breezeland Inn: the poles of the other
TWO Eentineled the road TO the west
down which the tally-ho had driven in
the early morning.
In the reflective instant the tele-
graph operator dashed out OF his bay
window retreat and ran uD the track
TO the private car. In a few minutes
he was back again, holding an excited
conference with the chauffeur of the
inn automobile, who was waiting to
see If the flyer should bring him any
fares for the hotel
Curiosity is said to be peculiarly a
foible feminine. l. is not. as every
one knows. But OF the major mascu-
line allotment, Ormsby the masterful
had rather less than his due share.
He saw the chauffeur turn his car in
the length of it and send it spinning
down the road and across the line into
the adjoining State; heard the mel
low whistle of the incoming train ana
saw the station man nervously setting
his stop signal; all with no more than
a mid desire tc know the reason
for SO much excitement and haste-a
desire which was content TO wait on
the explanation OF events.
The explanation. such as ii was. did
not linger The heavy train thundered
in from the west; stopped barely long
enough TO allow the single passenger
70 swing up the steps of the Pullman;
and went on again to stop a second
time with a jerk when il had passed
the side-track switch.
Ormsby put his head out of the win
dow and saw that the private car was
10 be taken on; remarked also that the
thing was done with the utmost cele-
rity. Once out on the main line with
car Naught-seYen. coupled in, the train
was backed swiftly down TO the sta
tion and the small mystery Of hurry
ings was sufficiently solved The Gov
ernor and his party were returning,
and they did not wish to miss connec-
tiOns.
Ormsby had settled back into the
corner Of his section when he heard
the splitting explosions Of the automo-
bile and the crash Of hoofs and IRON
tired wheels on the sharp gravel. He
looked out again and was in time to
see the finish Of the race. Up the
road from the westward came the six
horse tally-ho. the horses galloping in
the traces and the automobile strain
ing in the lead at the end of an i'm
provised tow-line In a twinkling the
coach was abreast of the private car,
the transfer Of passengers was ef-
fected, and Ormsby was near enough
at his unlocking window TO remark
several things; that there was pell-
nell haste and suppressed excitement;
that the Governor was the coolest man
IL the group and that the receiver had
TO be helped across from the coach
10 the car. Then the train moved out,
gathering speed with each added wheel
turn.
rrho o~roor-e- 1a,ve5 r~o,,, 1,fs 1,-;-do-,,
10 see what became OF the tangle of
horses and autocar precipitated by the
sudden stop of the tally-ho. Mirage ef-
fccts are common on theNyestern plains
and IL Ormsby had not been familiar
with them he might have marveled at
the striking example afforded by the
backward look In the rapidly increas-
ing perspective the six horses of the
tally-ho were suddenly multiplied into
a troop and where the station agent
had stood on the platform there seemed
10 be a dozen gestirulating figures fad
ing into indistlnctnvss as the fast train
swept on its way eastward
The clubman saw no more of the
3Unketing party that nignt- Once when
the train stopped to cut out the din
ing-car and he had stepped down for
q breath Of fresh air on the station
platform, he noticed that the private
car was brilliantly lighted and that the
curtains and window shades were
closely drawn. Also he heard the pop-
ping. OF bottle corks and the clink of
glass, betokening that che Governors
party was still celebrating its success
full race for the train. Singuiarly
enough Ormsby's reflections concerned
themselves chiefly with the small dis
honesty.
Il suppose it all goes into the receiv-
er'6 expense account and the railroad
pays for IT," he said 70 himself. so
and so much for an inspection trip to
Megilp and return. / must tell Kent
About II. II viii, put another shovel
full Of coal into his furnace-not that
ne is especially needing it"
At the moment of this saying-ft was
between ten and eleven o'clock at night
David Kent's wrath-fire was far from
needing an additional stoking. Once
more Miss Van Brock had given proof
OF her prophetic gift, and Kent had
been moodily filling details of the pic
ture drawn by her woman's Intuition.
He had gone late 10 the house in Ala
media square, knowing that Portia had
dinner guests. And II was imperative
that he should have her TO himself.
You needn't tell me anything but
the manner of fits doing" she was say
ing. Il knew they would find a way
TO stop you-or make one. And you
needn't be spiteful at me-" she added,
when Kent gripped the arms OF his
chair.
II don't mind your saying I told you
So" he fumed. It's the fact that
didn't have sense enough TO see what
an easy game I was dealing them. It
didn't take Meigs five minutes to shut
me OF"
Tell me about it," she said; and he
did II crisply.
Tho quo warranto inquiry is insti-
tUted IL the name OF the State, or
rather fbe proceedings are brought by
some IersOn with the approval Of the
Governor or the Attorney General, one
CT both. I took to-day for obtaining
this approval because Il knew Bucks
was out Of town and thought could
bully Meigs"
And you couldn't?" she said.