Mexico Missouri message., 1906-02-22
Copyright, BY The casssll Publishing Col
CHAPTER X.-CoNrNUEp.

between repartees marlborough broad
grin to the faces of his associates,
managed to introduce certain terse
questions as to the matter in hand.
Eastern depot? Why, Big Jim had
a fare from there tonight Here, Big
Jim, leave of your palaver with the
danes at that table a moment and
come and see Thomas!"
Obedient to the summons, with ready
goodwill, Big Jim nodded 10 the re-
porter, and was presently STATED with
him at conference carried tn by both
parties in an undertone.
"The fare was woman, Thomas
"A woman is what I'm looking for"
We'll, this one was so wrapped up
1 couldn't make much Of her looks; but
4 will say this, she wasn't old, and she
was scared at something or other al
most to DEATH"
Where did you take her, Jim?"
''To the Albany"
'"To the Albany" Thomas face fell.
'Yes, sir; just there. She said to
me in quick sort Of way, like as. If
frightened at something: 'Hackman,
won't you please take this money aud
buy me ticket for Hartford? To be
sure / would and did, old man. The
woman was all of tfemDle when put
the ticket and the change in her hand.
She mumbled out something or other
thank you, suppose--and ran to the
train, although she had Is minutes to
spare; that IL o'clock express, you
know. Something wrong with her, of
'course?"
II don't know that, JIM" answered
Thomas, cautiously. 81 guess she can't
be the person l wanted, after all"
The two parted excellent friends, as
always. For an hour or more the re-
porter worked at his desk. Then he
curled up in his chair for a nap, inn
pressing upon one of the "night-owls"
there on duty to wake him at 4:45
without fail.
When the gong clashed at the AL
bany station at five the next morning,
Rmong the passengers on that early
Sraiu-well-named accommodations
war Mr.. Thomas. In one hand he held
q ci'0y of the city edition of the morn
ing Globe. The other held ticket to
Har ford.
1t was 10:30 before the Charter Oak
city was reached. Mr.. Thomas first
efforts brought him into contact with
the Jehus of the Connecticut capital.
1t was not at all a difficult matter to
find the whereabouts of the solitary
hack driver who waited for a chance
passenger on the night trains; but Tom
Ludlow was asleep, and the reporter
found the time on his hands until noon.
How are you, sir?" said Ludlow,
stretching himself and yawning as he
met the inquirer, who had been wait
ing for his awakening. Both were at
the door of the hotel stable. "a lady
fare? Yes. She's safe enough. Friend
OF yours-rt lRtive?"
Mr.. Thorn rs thereupon set forth,
with much AArnestness, that he had
missed the young woman through an
unavoidable accident, that they were
going to friend in Hartford, and that
he had been much disturbed over the
fact that she had been obliged to make
the journey at night alone.
Naturally" he said, in closing, II
oA3AAOAo NAON6A GbOub nGls que .
a timid girl; too young to be out alone
like this. But couldn't help 1t. /
hope you bestowed her safely some
where. At her friends, suppose?"
The coachman fiicked a fly on the
post near which he was standing with
great accuracy.
you are wrong there. Her friends
were out of town. The girl did not
know what to do; cried and took on.
Course felt sorry for her, and drove
her to the hotel. Knowing the night
clerk, just said a word In his ear
that the lady was all right, and he
gave her a room. Curious, though,
. why she'd wrap herself up sol didn't
get a peek at her face at ALL"
She's not been well at all recently.
Fact is, the journey was partly taken
on account Of her health" answered
the reporter. But I am greatly in
debted to you for the kindness you
have shown her under these .unfortun-
ate circumstances. Here's two-dollar
bill to prove It, Take 1t, man; it's all
right. And now where is the lady?"
I'm the house, yonder," returned
Ludlow, pointing with his whip. Il
registered her mamie as Miss Brown,
Boston, The clerk VIII fud out for
you whether she IA up YETI
The City hotel register bore the
name, and the clerk listened with FRO
fessional courtesy to Mr.. Thomas
statement OF the case.
We've NOT seen her yet" he said.
''VerI likely, however, she may be up
and dressed by this time. will send
up your card II you wish, 'FRONT.'"
Mr.. Thomas, taking blank card
from the pigeon,hole, wrote hurrledly
the following name, which a bell boy
soon carried to room r;
mr.. William G. Watelston"
Whoever she may be, she VIII be