The newspaper., 1907-02-22

MIN. WOulu Sne pc loyal 10 neT men
torship and tell him he must win. at
whatever the cost to Mr.. Somerville
Darrah and his business associates?
Or would she, woman-like, be her
uncle's partisan and write one John
Winton down IN her blackest book for
daring to oppose the Rajah?
He assured himself 1t would make
no jot of difference If he knew. He
had thing to do. and he was pur-
posed to do 1t strenuously, infiexibly.
Yet in the inmost chamber of his
heart, where the barbarous ego stands
unabashed and isolate and recklessly
contemptuous of the moralities minor
and major he saw the birth of an in
fiuence which must henceforth be des-
perately reckoned with.
Given a name. this newborn factor
was love: love barely awakened. and
yet no more than masterful desire
to stand well in the eye of one wom-
an. None the less, he saw the possi-
bilities; that a time might come when
this woman would have the power 10
intervene; would make him hold his
hand in the business AFFAIR at the
very moment mayhap. when he should
strike the hardest.
It was a rather unnerying thought.
and when he considered It he was glad
that their ways, coinciding for the mo-
ment, would presently go apart. .cav-
ing him free 20 do battle as an honest
soldier in any cause must
The Rosemary party was rising. and
Wnton rose. too, folding the seat for
Miss Virginia and reaching her wrap
from the rack
Il am glad TO have met you" she
said, giving him the tip OF her fingers
and going, back 10 the conventional
files as If they had never been ig-
nored.
But the sincerity in winton's reply
transcended the conventional form
OF It
Indeed. the pleasure has been
wholly mine. | assure you. hope
the future VIII be kind TO me and let
me see more OF you
who knows?" she rejoined. smiling
at him level-eyed. The world has
been steadily growing smaller since
Shakespeare called 1t narrow
hope. Then we need not say good
by7"
mo: let 1t be auf wiedershen." she
said; and he stood aside TO let her
Join her party.
Two hours later. when Adams was
reading in his section and Winton was
smoking his short pipe in the mems
compartment and thinking things un-
speakable with Virginia Carteret for
nucleus. there was a series of sharp
whistle shrieks. sudden grinding of
the brakes. and n jarring stop of the
"Limited"-a stop not down on the
time-card.
Winton was among the first To reach
the head of the long train. The halt
was in a little depression OF the bleak
plain. and the trainmen were in con-
ference over badly derailed engine
when Winton cme up. A vast herd of
cattle was numbering away into the
darkness. and a mangled carcass under
the wheels of the locomotive sufii-
ciently explained the accident.
We'll. there's only one thing to do"
was the engineers verdict That's
hVi ~ h'St cn'h " Niipyo
to wire for the wreck wagon"
Yes. by gum! and that means all
night" growled the conductor
There was stir in the gathering
throng of half-alarmed and alI-curious
passengers. and red-faced. white
gentleman, whose soft
southern accent was utterly at vari-
ance with his manner. hurled a Ques-
ton bolt-like at the conductor.
IAN night, you say. seh7 Then we
miss ouh Denver connections. ?''
you cap bet to win on that" was
the curt reply.
"Damn!" said the red-faced gentle
man; and then in lower tone: II
beg your pahdon. my deah Virginia; 1
was totally unaware OF your pres
ence."
Winton threw of his overcoat
''If you will take bit OF help from
an outsider. | think we needn't wait
for the wrecking car" he said tc the
dubitant trainmen. Its bad, but not
as bad as It looks. What do you
Iay?"
Now. as everyone knows. It is not
In the nature of operative railway men
10 brook interference even OF the help
ful sort But they are as quick as
~thor SoIL 20 ra,&-~y,a tho ,,an d, ~..o