Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-30

try's horror OF mixing business with the
social diversions. But with one example
of the presidents obstinacy fresh I'm mind.
he yielded and climbed ohediently to the
rallied platform. Whatever happened. he
should see Alicia again. a privilege never
to be too lightly esteemed. whatever II
cost.
The social ordeal was not so formidable.
The private-car party was made up o. the
president and his sister-in-lsw. the pres
dents family physician. DR.. Van Bruce:
the doctors wife, his sister. maiden
lady Of no uncertain age. and Alicia.
These with Penfield and Ford. made the
eight at table in the open compartment
in the Nadia: and Ford in the seating
was lucky enough TO ind his place he
tween Miss Van Bruce. who was hard or
hearing. and Miss Alicia. who ives not.
Luckily again. Mr.. Colbrith omitted all
talk of business drawing his end Of the
table into discussion OF the effects OF
the dry attitudes in advanced stages or
tuberculosis.
What a dreadful night you mus, have
had. Mr.. Ford said Alicia. when the
tuherculotic subject was well launched at
the OF her end Of the table. Were you on
the engine all the timer?
Most of the time he confessed But
that was nothing. 1t wasn't my first
night in the cab. as ii won't be the last,
by many. l hope"
why? Do you like it,"
Not particularly. But l hope to live
doubtless have 10 ride with the engine
men now and then"
WAS it very ballast night" she
asked.
Il am afraid you know it was Could
You sleep at all?'
"Oh. yes: slept very well-after that
terrible shaking up we had just before
bedtime: What was happening then?
Nothing much. We were about TO try
the old experiment of passing two trains
on a single track
Mercy she exclaimed.
II was safely retrospective now. and
Ford could smile al her belated shock.
Were the others alarmed" he asked.
Mrs. Van Bruce and Aunt Hetty were.
But Uncle Sidney fairly coruscated. He
said that an engineer who would make
such stop that ought to be dis
charged
Hector was willing to quit" laughed
Ford. He grumbled for full hour
afterward about the wrenching he had
given the 1912. You see. he might have
taken about six feet more for the stop. IL
he d only known II"
Miss Alicia said Mercy" again. Were
we as near as that to collision" she
asked. in hushed whisper.
I'VE were. indeed The freight was sup
posed to be on a siding-broken down.
The crew tinkered things up some way
and the train proceeded. Luckily. the
freight engineer saw our electric head
light farther than we could see his oil
lamp. and the track happened to he
mea surably straight
Miss Adair was silent for A little time.
waiting for the lapsed tuberculotic dis
cussion to revive. When IL was once more
in full swing she asked quickly:
What Is the program for today? Must
We all stay in the car, as you intimated
yesterday"
Ford glanced across the table to make
sure that Penfield was not eavesdrop-
ping.
1T will not be necessary. Your coming
or the presdents-ha reformed things
wonderfully. Frisbie says-but never
mind what he says-the miracle has been
wrought"
He said ii with such an evident air OF
detection that she wondered. And with
Miss Alicia Adair the step from wonder
ment TO investigation was always short
You say it as If you were sorry, she
said. Are you?"
wonder if you could understand IL I say
that it will make it thousand times
harder for me?"
II can understand when I'm told she
retorted.
The table for eight was no place for
condolences and Ford knew Penfeld's
weakness for soaking up information.
Yet he took the risk.
"You remember what I limited at yes
terday." he said. in low tones. about the
rough house We have been having in the
camps. 1t hasn't stopped short OF MUIR
der. objected to the MacMorroghs be-
since l have fought the lawlessness as L
could. Now your uncle comes over here
and doesn't find any lawlessness. what
is the Inference"
up quickly, and there was swift indigna-
ton in the blue eyes.
lying TO gain personal end he
finished for her.
avidly to the presidents praise of the dry
attitudes as a sure cure for consumption.
but now he had his face in his plate. Ford
devoted himself for the moment to the
deaf Miss Van Bruce. and when he turned
back to Alicia he was telegraphing with
his eyes for discretion. She understood,
and the low-toned tete-a-tete was not re-
sumed. Later. when they had moment
together in the dispersion from the break
fast table. he tried to apologize for what
he was pleased to call his playing of
the baby act But she treasured him in
a low-spoken word
give me credit for, Mr.. Ford Mr.. North
doesn't like you-he would be glad If you
would resign. You must not resign!
The others. personally conducted by
platform for an after-breakfast view of
the headquarters camp. Ford and Alicia
followed. but without haste.
You have CHANGED upon the word. Miss
Ada:r." Ford was saying. II decided last
night that l should resign"
No she objected.
YES 1 must Sometime / may tell you
why
Il say you must not That was the
last word in brothers letter, and he
wished me to repeat II to you.' she in
sisted.
Where is your brother?' he asked.
He was in London when he wrote"
HE has thrown up his hand" Ford
was pessimistic again.
Miss Adair looked about her despairing-
" for some means of prolonging the whis-
pered confidence. Penfield. deferentialy
in the rear of the platform group, was
never safely out of earshot.
II want to see the engine that so nearly
plunged us into collision last night
she said. aloud and Penfield's visible ear
betrayed the listening mind.
Ford took his cue promptly. I'VE can
go on. the. other way" he said and the
secretary pro tempore had no excuse for
following
They found the cab of the 1912 deserted.
with the steam i'm the huge boiler singing
softly at the behest of the banked fire.
Miss Adair lost her curiosity as soon as
Ford had lifted her to the foot plate.
Now you are to tell me all about it
quickly" she commanded. Uncle Sidney
will be calling for you as soon as he
misses you. Why are you so foolish as to
talk about resigning? Don't you see what
they will say then?-that you were
afraid?"
Ford was leaning against the centered
reyarSipg lever and face WAS Rloomv