Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1906-09-01
SSEF7lAI8

CHAPTER III.-Continued.

are talking about. | have been read
ing in the papers about these right-of-
way troubles, and they are perfectly
terrible. One report said they were
arming the laboring men, and another
said the militia might have to be called
out"
We'll, what of it," said Virginia,
with all the hardihood of youth and
acknowledge. Its something like a
burning building; one doesn't want to
be hard-hearted and rejoice over other
peoples misfortunes; but then, II it
has to burn, one would like to be
there to see."
Miss Bessie put stray lock or the
f1axen hair up under its proper comb.
I'm sure prefer California and the
orange groves and peace" she asserted.
Don't you, Cousin Billy"
What Mr. Calvert would have replied
is no matter for this history, since at
this precise moment the rajah came
in, ''coruscating," as Virginia put it,
from his late encounter with the su-
perintendents chief clerk.
Give them the word to go, Jastrow,
and let's get out of heah," he COM
manded. And when the secretary had
vanished the Rajah made his eXplana-
tions to all and sundry. I've been
Obliged in a manneh to change Duh
itinerary. Another company is trying
to fault us up in Qua'tz Creek canyon,
and l am in a meashuh compelled to
be on the ground. We shall be delayed
only few days, | hope; at the worst
only until the first snowstorm comes;
and, in the meantime, Califoni won't
run away"
Virginia linked arms with Bessie the
flaxen haired when the wheels began
to turn.
I'VE are off," she said Lets go out
on the platform and see the last Of
Denver"
1t was while they were clinging to
the hand-rail and looking back upon
the tumble of railway activities out of
which they had just emerged that the
Rosemary, gaining Roadway, overlook
another moving train running smooth
ly on track parallel to thar upon
which the private car was speeding. 1t
was the narrow-gauge mountain con-
nection Of the Utah line, and Winton
and Adams were on the rear platform
of the last car. So it CHANGED that the
! four OF them were presently waving
their adieux across the wind-blown in
terspace. In the midst of it, or rather
at the moment when the Rosemary,
gathering speed as the lighter Of the
two trains. forged ahead, the Rajah
came out TO light his cigar.
He took in the little tableau of the
rear platforms at a glance, and when
the slower train was left behind asked
question of Virginia.
"Ah-wasnt one of those two the
young gentleman who called on you
yesterday afternoon. my deah?"
Virginia admitted it,
Gould you faveh me with his
name?"
He is Mr. Morton P. Adams, of Bos-
ton"
"Ah-h; and his friend-the young
gentleman who laid his hand to Duh
pillow and put the engine on the track
last night?"
HE is Mr.. Winton-a- an artist.
believe; at least, that is what | gath
cred from what Mr.. Adams said OF
him."
Mr.. Somerville Dsrrah laughed. a
slow little laugh deep in his throat.
BLESS your innocent soul-he a pic
chuh- painteh? Not In thousand
yeahs, my deah Virginia. He Is a rail-
road man, and right good one at that.
Faveh me with the name again; Win
teh, did you say"
mo; Winton-Mr. John Winton."
"D-d-devil!' gritted the Rajah, smit-
ing the hand-rail with his clenched fist.
"Hah! beg your pahdon, my deahs-
a meah slip of the tongue" And then,
to the full as savagely, by heaven,
hope that train will fly the track and
ditch him before ever he comes within
ordering distance Of the work in
Qua'tz Creek canyon!"
why, Uncle Somerville-how vim
dictive!" cried Virginia. Who is he,
and what has he done?"
He is Misteh John Winton, as you
Informed me just now; one OF the
brainiest constructing engineers in this
entiah country, and the hardest man in
this or any otheh country to down in
a right-of-way fght-that's who he is.
And it's not what he's done, my deah
Virginia, it's what he is going to do.
II can't get him killed up out of Duh
way" but here Mr.. Darrah saw the
growing terror in two pairs Of eyes,
and realizing that he was committing
himself before an unsympathetic au-
dience, beat hasty retreat to his
stronghold at the other end OF the
Rosemary.
WE'LL" said the faxen-haired Bes-
sic, catcheing her breath. But Vir-
ginia laughed.
I'm glad I'm not Mr.. Winton," she
said.