Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-19

the girl in blue was jus, ahead Of me
Car by car she preceded me through the
train. unconscious that wts he.,ind her.
looking ~ tci, passenSts ~ she passed.
l fancied the proceeding Was stastefui.
but that she had determined on a course
and was carrying it through. We reached
the end Of the train almost togethe:-
emptN-handed, both OF us.
The girl went out To tie platform.
When she saw me she moved aside and
/ stepped out beside her. Behind MS the
track curved sharply: tie early sunshine
threw the train. in long black shadow.
over tie hot earth Forward somewhere
they We're hammering. The girl said
nothing, but her profile was strained and
anxious.
IF you have lost anything I be
gan. Il wish yeu would let me try TO
help. Not that my own success IL any
thing to boast Of.
She hardly glanced at me. II wss not
ffattering.
4 have not been roboed. IL that is
what YOU mean" she replied, quietly, Il
am-perplexed. That is all
There was nothing to say to that.
lifted my hattie other fellows hat
o. three members Of tie train crew. in
Guiding the conductor. We're standing i'm
the shadow talking. And at that mo
nent. from farmhouse near came the
in the hands from barn and pasture.
/ turned back to tho girl.
I'VE may be here for an hour I said.
land there Is no buffet car on. II | re
and eggs and country butter and coffee.
If you care TO run the risk"
Il am not hungry" she said. but per-
haps a cup OF cofree-near me. l believe
am hungry" she finished. Only
She glanced back Of her.
II can bring your companion" ] sug-
| gested. without enthusiasm. But the
| young woman shook her head.
ho 10 ot h,,n ah S,h cd ND
she is very-weli. i know she wouldn't
come. Do YOU suppose We could make
| 1t il we rum
Il haven't any idea said, cileerfulIy.
ANY old train would be better than this
| one. If it does leave us behind
Yes. Any train would be better than
this one" she repeated. eravely. 1 found
myself watching her changing expres-
her ana already / felt that 1 knew the
lights and shades in her votce-I, who
had always known how woman rode to
| hounds. and. who never could have told
| the color of her hair.
| / stepped down on the ties and turned
| to assist her. and together we walked
\ back to where the conductor and the
porter from our car were in close CONVEX
| SatiOn. Instfnctively my hand went To
my cigarette pocket and came out empty.
| She saw the gesture.
| IF you want to smoke, you may, she
said. Il have a big cousin who smokes
Il
| / drew out the gun metal cigarette case
| and opened it. But this most common
place action had an extraordinary result
| the girl beside me stopped dead still and
stood staring at 1t with fascinated eyes
"Is-where did you get that?" she de-
4 manded, with a catch in her voice: her
gaze still fixed on the cigarette case.
Then you haven't heard the rest OF the
Its frightfully bad luck for me. but IL
makes a good story. You see"
At that moment the conductor and pof-
ter ceased their colloquy. The conductor
came at his bristling gray mustache.
Il would like to talk 70 YOU In the oar.
he said to me. with curious glance a.
| the young lady.
on our way to a cup Of cofree ana
slice of bacon. Be mercifui. az You are
powerful"
sTm afraid the breakfast win have 10
he rep ss note s OF aseg IN
his voice which I resented: but. after all.
the circumstances We're unusual.
| We'll have to defer that cup OF cof-
| fee for a WHILE" l said to the girl; but
don't despair; there's breakfast some
where
/ AS we entered the car she stood aside.
4 but I felt rather than saw that she fol-
/ lowed us. I was surprised to sec q half
4 dozen men gathered around the berth In
l had not yet been made up
1 AS We passed along the aisle was con-
! scious of q new expression on the faces
| Of the passengers. The tall woman who
i had tainted was searching my face with
4 narrowed eyes. while the stout woman or
! the Kindly heart avoided my gaze and
4 pretended to look out the window.
As we pushed our way through the
1 group l fancied that il closed around me
4 ominously The conductor said nothing.
| but led the way without ceremony to the
side of the berth.
/ whats the matter?' I inquired. I
| was puzzled. but not apprehensive. Have
YOU some of my things? I'd be thankful
even for my shoes; these are confound-
| eddy tight
Nobody spoke and I fell silent, too. For
/ one of the pillows had been turned over.
/ and the under side OF the white case was
| streaked with brownieh stains. think IL
was a perceptible time before realizes
that the stains were blood, and that the
faces around were filled with suspicion
| and distrust.
| why, ft-that looks like blood,
4 said vacuously. There was an incessam
pounding in my ears, and the conductors
! voice came from far of.
1T is blood he asserted, gsinnS.
+! CTo be continued tomorrow