The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-12-15
was rafting upon the open siding.
Virginia drew back.


He said yes, and made the afirma.
tive good by lifting her in his arms
over the high railing. Once safely ON
the car, she babe him leave her.
slip in quietly and they won't no.
tice," she said. "1'll come presently"
Calvert obeyed. and Virginia stood
alone in the darkness. Down in the
Utah construction camp lights were
darting to and fro; and before long
she heard the hoarse puffs OF the big
octopod, betokening activities.
She was shivering little in the
chill wind sliding down from the
snow-peaks, yet she would not go in
until she had made sure. In q little
time her patience was rewarded. The
huge engine came storming up the
grade on the new line. pushing It's
three flat-cars, which were black with
clinging men. On the car nearest
the locomotive, where the dazzling
beam of the headlight pricked him
out for her, stood Winton, braced
against the lurchings of the train over
the uneven track.
God speed you, my love!" she muir
INJURED, softly: and when the gloom of
the upper canyon cleft had engulfed
man and men and storming engine
she turned to go in.
She was cropping for the doorknob
in the darkness made thicker by the
glare Of the passing headlight when
a voice, disembodied for the moment.
said: wait minute. Miss Carteret;
80 like to have a word with you"
She drew back quickly.
as it you. Mr.. Jastrow! Let me
go in, please"
'In one moment. I have something
to say to you-something you ought
to hear"
Cant it be said on the other side
of the door? l am cold-very cold,
MIR. Jastrow"
1t was his saving hint, but he would
not take it.
mo, 1t must be said to you alone
We have at least one thing in com.
mon, Miss Carteret-you and I. That
is proper appreciation of the sue.
cessful realities. l."
She stopped him with . quick little
gesture OF impatience.
will you be good enough to stand
aside and let me go fn?"
The keen breath Of the snow.caps
was summer-warm in comparison with
the chilling iciness of her manner;
but the secretary went on unmoved:
Success is the only thing worth
while in this world. Winton will fail.
but I shan't. And when l do succeed
shall marry a woman who can wear
the purple becomingly.''
II hope you may, I'm sure" she
answered. wearily. yet you will ex-
cuse me IL say that don't under
stand how 1t concerns me, OF why you
should keep me out here in the cold
to tell me about It"
Don't you? 1t concerns you very
nearly. You are the woman, Miss
Carteret."
Indeed? And II I decline the
honor?"
The contingency was one for which
the sutton seemed not entirely pre-.
pared. Yet he evinced a willingness
to meet the hypothesis in . spirit of
perfect candor.
You wouldn't do that, definitely, I
fancy. 1t would be tantamount TO
driving me to extremities."
IF you will. tell me how I can do
it definitely shall be most happy to
drive you to extremities, or anywhere
else out of my way" she said, frigidly.
"Oh, think not" he rsjoined.
"You wouldn't want me to go and tell
Mr.. Darrah how you have betrayed
him to Winton. had the singular
good fortune to overhear your con.
versation-yonrs and Winton's. you
know: and IL Mr.. Darrah knew, he
would cut you out Of his will with
very little conjunction. don't you
think? And, really, you mustn't
throw yourself away on that Senti-
mental Tommy of an engineer, Miss
Virginia. He'll never be able to give
you the position you're fitted for.''
Since French was dead language
to Mr.. Arthur Jastrow, he never knew
what it was that Miss Carteret named
him. But she left him in no doubt
Is to her immediate purpose.
If that be the case, we would bet
ter go and find my uncle at once" she
said in her softest tone; and before he
could object she had led the way to
the Rajah's working-den stateroom.
Mr.. Darrah was deep in one Of the
cipher kilograms when they entered,
and he looked up to glare fercely at
one and then the other of the intrud-
ers. Virginia gave her prosecutor no
time to lodge his accusation.
Uncle Somerville, Mr.. Winton was
here an hour ago. as you know, and
I told him what you had done-what
l had helped you do. Also. I sent
him about his business; which is, to
win his railroad fight if he can. Mr..
Jastrow overheard the conversation,
purposely, and as he threatens to turn
informer, l am saving him the trou-
IL