The Irish standard., 1906-10-13

there had been volcanic explosion
and hurried dash for the telegraph
office, as recorded.
Sifted out by the Reverend Billy;
and explained by him to Mrs. Carteret
and Bessie. the firing spark of the ex-
plosion appeared to be some news OF
an untoward character from a place
vaguely designated as "the front"
1T seems that there is some sort Of
a right-of-way scrimmage going on up
in the mountains between our road
and the Utah Short Line" said the
young man. ut was carried into the
courts. and now 1T turns out that the.
decision has gone against u.s.
How perfectly horrid!" said Miss
Bessie. Now 7 suppose we shall have
Somervlle does things" And placid
Mrs Carteret added, plaintively: Its
too bad think they might let him
have one little vacation in peace"
"Who talks Of peace?" queried Viz
ginia. driven in from her post Of van
tage on the observation platform by
the smoke from the switching engine.
Didn't sec Uncle Somerville charg-
ing across to the telegraph office with
war written out large in every line
Of him."
II am afraid you did" affirmed the
Reverend Billy; and thereupon tho
explanation was rehearsed for Vir-
ginia's benefit.
The brown eyes flashed militant
sympathy.
"Oh, I wish Uncle Somerville would
90 to the 'front.' wherever that is, and
take us along!" she cried. 1T would
be ever SO much better than Califor-
MIA"
Tho Reverend William laughed: and
Aunt Martha put in her word of ex-
postulation. as in duty bound
why, my dear Virginia--the idea!
You don't know in the least what you
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
armfng tho laboring men, and another
said the militia might have to be called
out
well, what of it?" said Virginia,
with all the hardihood of youth and
acknowledge. ITS something like
burning building; one doesn't want to
be hard-hcarted and rejoice over other
peoples misfortunes; but then. II 1t
has to burn. one would like to be
there to see"
Miss Bessie put a stray lock Of tho
taken hair up under its proper comb.
I'm sure l 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 1t.
from his late encounter with the SUI
perintendent's chief clerk.
Give them the word to go, Jastrow,
and let's get out of heab," 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 1 am in meashuh compelled to
be on the ground. We shall be delayed
only few days, hope: at the worst
only until The first snowstorm comes:I
and, in the meantime, Califo MIA won't
run away
Virginia clapped her hands.
"Then we are really to go to the
front and see right-of-way fight?
Oh. won't that be perfectly intoxicat-
ing!"
The Rajah glared at her as II she
had said something incendiary. The
picturesque aspect of the struggle had
evidently rot appealed to him. But he
smiled grimly when he said: Now
there spoke the blood of the fighting
Carterets: hope you won't change your
mind my deah." And with that he
dived into his working den, pushing
the lately returned secretary in ahead
of him.
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"
the fland-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 that 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 1t 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.
To Be Continued