The Holly chieftain., 1907-01-11
On the Boston
Cypress
By EDITH J. HULsmr
copyr.sAt. isa. by Homer spr.su.

Copyright. lss. by Homer Spragus
Wentworth paused In the doorway
and glanced carelessly over the car.
Then he turned to the porter with an
Involuntary sigh Of relief.
Either Of these two vacant seats
will do" be said.
The porter consulted his book.
NO. II Is engaged. sab, but you car
have l3."
''All right" said Wentworth, taking
possession.
After his belongings had been fin
gered for the conventional length Of
time and the dusky official had re-
treated Wentworth looked at his
watch.
Five minutes to starting time" hs
murmured, land no sign Of her yet, for
which fact the lady has my heartfelt
gratitude"
"Niy. won't Collins be in the deuce
Of funk. though! He seems to be un-
commonly keen over the affair. I'll see
what he says again" And, fumbling
In his pocket. he produced crlmpled
slip Of paper.
Smoothing 1t out, he read half audi.
bly,: Look out for Annette Blain on
Boston express. She has wind Of the
states intention to call her as wit
ness In the Brent murder trial and Is
going to cross the border. Is about
twenty-five and slender, with brown
hair and gray or blue eyes; timld man
ner: dresses well, but plainly. Get an
interview with her and fnd out all she
knows about the case. Don't let this
slip. Should be a beat. Other papers
not on.''
Nice .isins to foist en-sA man Just
starting on Z vacation" grumbied
Wentworth. Anyway I've been
through all the cars-they're all jam
med-and there's no such person In
sight. That let's me out. and-Jover'
The porter had come back, followed
by a heavily yelled young woman In
long dark blue travelling coat. As she
sank wearily into the seat opposite
No. 13 a warning shriek came from
the great engine, and the train puffed
slowly out Of the station.
Wentworth eyed her furtively, while
the porter punctiliously arranged her
luggage In the rack.
my victim undoubtedly" he solilo-
Quized. Poor child! wonder II she
thinks that covering her face with
thick veil when the thermometer Is
80 Is good way to escape notice.
How had best open up the attack?
Moral certainty all's very well, but I'm
afraid mine would become shaky II she
should deny her identity. There's
that Indicates she'd have the nerve to
do it. too. and I've really nothing to
go by. Confound that veil!'
At this point q small leather hand
bag obligingly slid of the newcomers
lap. and Wentworth promptly present
ed It to her with his best bow.
Thank you." she murmured politely.
but in tone that distinctly discourag-
ed any attempt at conversation on bis
part. He felt instinctively that It
would not be advisable even to make
dow or the chair. He resumed his seat
and sulkily regarded the flying land.
scape for several minutes.
When he turned again. his yis-a-vis
had thrown back her veil. As he look
ed at her Wentworth found it difficult
to suppress an exclamation of amaze
ment. She was 10 like and yet SO un-
like Collins terse description Of the
fugitive witness. Slender she certain.
ly was; twenty two she might be- al
though sixteen would seem nearer the
truth. and her manner was undoubted-
ly timid. But surely the phrase brown
hair conveyed no adequate conception
Of those rippling. gold hecked chestnut
waves that swept away from her
broad white brow and were gathered
In loose coil at the nape of her neck.
Surely the man who had told Collins
about her gray or blue eyes" never
had picked violets diamonded with the
dew of an early May morning. Surely
no one but brute could endure the
thought of the delicate pink Of those
softly rounded cheeks deepening to
scarlet and those exquisitely curved
lips qulvering under the pltiless fire OF
cross questioning from half dozen
lawyers regarding the h!deous details
Of the Fret murf