Amador ledger., 1905-02-10

switch aside the curtains below her.
Two masculine voices were waited to-
ward her, then the sound of q deep
grunt that was decidedly masculine
and silence.
Up in her eyrie Amy lay, still flush
ing hotly with modification. She knew
that porter would tell everybody on the
train next morning. She wished she
could change cars. Then suddenly from
the berth below the hated sound rose
again. Evidently there was no respite
from this infliction, and oddly enough,
she felt herself pitying the man who
was responsible for it. 1t was really
disease, she decided, and he was so
young too!
The next morning she met him face
to face in the dining car. Her cheeks
were flooded with crimson. She knew
by the quizzical light in his eyes that
he had heard of her mistake, and I'M
doubtedly every one on the car knew it
by this time and would consider it a
fine joke.
She ate her breakfast in a resentful
humor. She felt reckless and misera-
BILE, and 1T may have been this mood
which caused her to sway uncertainty
as she crossed from the diner back to
the sleeper. She reached out hand to
steady herself against the side of the
vestibule. Suddenly it seemed to her
as If a sharp, redhot iron had been
thrust into her finger tip and run up to
her shoulder. She tried to draw away
her hand as a child does from hot
stove but something held it tight, and
then she awoke to the truth. The train
had been swinging around curve, and
the iron plaits, or folds, of the vesti-
bule, left uncovered by a careless en-
ployee, had opened just far enough to
admit her finger and then had closed
upon it again. She was held as in a
wise, and her calls for assistance could
not be heard above the roar of the
train. And SO 1t happened that the
hateful young man" came upon her,
white Tipped and fainting. When they
had pried the hand loose he carried her
unconscious figure into the vacant
drawing room. The conductor came
hurrying up, greatly perturbed over the
accident, which meant damage suit
for the company. He turned to the
porter.
Hustle through the train and find
out whether there is a physician on
board"
The young man spoke sharply. 81
am a physician. Porter, bring me that
long, narrow black bag from my
berth.''
And so it happened when Amy woke
up it was to find the hateful young
man deftly bandaging her injured
hand. The drawing room was placed
at her disposal by the anxious conduct
or, and the entire train force was on
its knees before her. The uncovered
vestibule meant that some employees
head would fall into the basket.
Toward noon, in spite of the terrific
pain in her crushed finger, Amy COM
menced to feel drowsy, thanks to the
mild narcotic which DR.. Mexican had
administered. He pumped up the pill
lows for her, and she murmured drow-
L
night
Mexican bit his lip. 81 was afraid
you wouldn't. That was the worst
part of my having to put Mr.. Carter
in the berth with you. but 1 couldn't
get him another lower in the car, and
he stubbornly refused to buy up a
drawing ROOM"
Amy felt suddenly wide awake. 'N1r.
Garter, why didn't YOU
Lord, no. You didn't think was
raising the roof Of my berth, did you?
Mr.. Carter has been at q sanitarium
just east of Harrisburg. He is pa
tient of my fathers, and his people
asked me to pick him up and bring
him on to Colorado Springs, where
am visiting for a week or so. That's
what 1 was trying to tell you last
night"
A sudden light dawned on Amy. "Oh,
it's all the fault Of that newsboy! I
am going to the Carriers myself. They're
giving house party"
Eyes, l know" said Mexican. ST
saw your name on your luggage. But
now you're going to sleep, and if you
don't mind 1 shall sit here beside you
and see you are not rocked off when
we make q fast run"
Amy dropped back weakly among
the pillows. mo, don't mind. will
be only too glad to haye-you-stay."
Suddenly she raised her heavy eyelids.
But promise me you will never tell
what said to the porter last night"
DR.. McKean's eyes twinkled. 81
nromisa on NV bonoro