Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-23
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NSTRAIN-ROBBFRY.H 6N
6S2@ PAUL LEICESTER FORD s.HeO
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By
PAUL LEICESTER FORD

| ton, for the dear girl has had worries
enough already
Miss Cullen not reJoining us. and
Lord Rallies presently doing SO. !
went to my own car, for he and
were not good furniture for
the same room. Before 1 had been there
long. Fred came rushing in
Camp and Baldwin have been In consul
tation with lawyer he said. and now
the three have just boarded those cars
pointing out the window at the branch line
train that was to leave for Phoenix in two
minutes.
Keep us informed as to what they do, for
they evidently are going to set the law on
us, and the g. s. has always owned the
territorial judges, so they'll stretch point
to oblige them"
Have time to fill a bag?"
Plenty assured him, and, going out,
ordered the train held till 1 should give
the word.
What does 1t all mean?" asked Miss
Cullen, joining me.
l laughed, and replied, I'm doing a
Drawer thing even than your party did
I'm holding up train all by my lone
some.''
But my brother came dashing in just
now and said he was starting for Phoe-
nix
Let her CO." / called to the conductor.
as Fred jumped aboard; and the train
pulled out.
Il hope there's nothing wrong?' Madge
questioned anXiously.
Nothing to worry over" 1 laughed
"Only little more fun for our money. BY
the way, Miss Cullen L went on, to avoid
her questions. IF you have your letters
ready. and will let me have them at once
can get them on No. T. so that they'll go
east tonight
Miss Cullen blushed as If / said some
thing ought not to have, and stammered
II changed my mind, and-that isl
didn't write them after all
beg nardOn-I tn hax-
known; L mean, It's very natural" / fall
tered and suffered thinking what a Ounce
| had been not to understand that both
hers and Lord Ralles' letters had been only
pretext to get away from the rest of U.S.
My laundering apology and evident en-
bafrassment deepened Miss Cullen's blush
five-fold, and she explained, hurriedly. II
found l was tired, and so, instead of writ
ing, went to my room and rested"
l suppose any girl would have invented
the same yarn, yet 1t hurt me more than
the bigger one she had told on Hances
trail Small as the incident was, it made
me very blue, and led me to shut myself
up in my own car for the rest OF that af-
ternoon and evening. Indeed l couldn't
sleep but sat UP working, quite forgetful
Of the passing hours till a glance at my
watch startled me with the fact that it
was a quarter of 2. Feeling like anything
more than sleep, went out on the plat
form. and, lighting cigar, paced UP and
down, thinking of-well, thinking.
The night agent was sitting up i'm the
station, nodding, and after 1 had walked
for an hour 1 went in to ask him If the
train to Phoenix had arrived time.
just as opened the door the telegraph in
strument began clicking, and called Ash
Forks. The man, with the curious ability
that operators get of recognizing their own
call, even in sleep, walked up instantly and
responded, and, not wishing to interrupt
him. delayed asking my question till he
should be free. I stood there thinking of
Madge, and listening heedlessly as the in
strument licked off the cipher signature
of the sending operator, and the twenty
four paid" But as I heard the clicks 49,.
-. which meant phi, 1 suddenly became
attentive and when it completed "Phoe-
nix l concluded Fred was wiring me, and
listened for what followed the date. This
is what the instrument licked: