The Columbus journal., 1908-09-30
CHAPTER xxII-continued.

The train had not gathered Roadway
before a man bent beside me, and
Abrams voice spoke softly in my ear.
There are two of 'em aboard"
Yes? Where did you find them?
asked.
In the stoke hole | hid behind a
bench till every one had gone and saw
EN- crawl out. They bribed a fireman
or deckhand or some one to keep EN-
under cover They got OF the boat
at the last minute and l sneaked after
en-
And they're on the train?'
Yes, three cars back-next to the
sleepers. Shall we chuck EN- over
board as soon as We get out of Oak
land?'
Not unless We are attacked" l re-
turned. Just sit down by the rear
door and give the signal if they come
this way There'll be no trouble if
hey are only two"
We reached LivernOre at near II
o'clock, without further incident than
"A report from Abrams that the spies
of the enemy got OF the train at every
station and watched for our landing.
Yet when We stood On the platform of
the bare little station at LivermOre
and saw the yellow cars crawling
away on their eastward journey. We
looked in vain for the men who had
tracked us.
Fooled. by thunder" said Fitzhugh
with a laugh in which the others
joined. They're off for Sacramento"
They'll have to earn their money
20 find us there" said Abrams.
The gray day had become grayer.
and the wind blew fresh in our faces
with the smell of rain heavy upon it
as we sought the hotel. 1t was a
bare country place. yet the trees grew
by the hotel and there were vines
climbing about its side and 1t looked
as though We might be comfortable
FOR a day, should be have to stay there
so long
Plenty of room" said the landlord
rubbing his hands.
We wish a large room. you know,
where We can be together" l said
and sleeping rooms adjoining"
Here's just the place for YOU" said
the landlord, taking the way to the end
of the upper hall and throwing open
a double door This is the upstairs
parlOr, but l can let you have it.
There's this large bedroom opening off
1.-THE corne: bedroom. strand this
small one here at this side opens into
the parlor and the hall. Perhaps you
would like this other. too"
This is enough for our comfort"
assured him.
"There'll be fire here in minute"
said the landlord. regarding the miser-
able little stove with an eye of salts
faction that l attributed to its eco
nomical proportions.
This is good enough" said Lock
hart. looking about approvingly at
the prim horsehair furniture that gave
an awesome dignity to tie parlor.
Beats our quarters below hollow
said FitzhuSh. And no need to have
your gun where you can crab it when
the first man says boo"
Don't get that idea into your head"
said |. Just be ready for ANYTHING
that comes We're rot out Of the
woods yet. by a long way.
They've gone on TO Sacramento"
laughed Fitzhush: and the Others
nodded in sympathy
Indeed" | said. How MANY of
you could have missed seeing a party
OF nine get of at a way-station on this
line?"
There was silence.
If there's anyone here who thinks
he would have missed us when he was
set to lock for US. just let him speak
up. l continued with good-natured |
raillery.
Il guess you're right" said Fitzhugh !
They couldn't have missed SOFA
US"
Exactly. All they're ret of fer
Sacramento, a. not far from Liver
more
Wei, they're on. two." said Lock-
hart