The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-31
A RED TAG
BY CLARIssA MAcK1E.

He had worked the first bitter citing OF disap-
pointment but there still remained the heartaehe and
the growing conviction that there could be
another girl in the world for him.
In May the surveying party within stones
thr"" Of the railroad whose shining rails flashed
from east TO west the fiat. gray prairie. Each
DAY at noon the steel rails quivefcd under the tnun-
dering burden of the express train behind whose
plate glass windows there a neetng glimpse of
faces before the train became mere speck in the
Dan Kcnnett learned to long for its coming;
there was always the possibity--a foolish and vain
one indeed-that some day it might come flying out
OF the cast bearing the girl he loved to other
catch glance OF her eye or see her face-just once
And yet never had happened; but there always
the hope
All things probable when one is thousands OF
miles from home and surrounded by fat stretches or
me =" -eN columns of sunday paper paragraph
about -Nelyn Lane. She preparing to
california TO be gone year among friends
So Kennett had watched the trains with some
real nope that ne might see her passing. and he had
might. after all have chair on the opposite side
To-day hot and close: the sun shone merciless-
y down on the little camp: the sage brush cracked
erisp9 under foot and great and undyiHs thirst
seized the whole crew.
We're going give UP for tn" rest of the day,
pan, said one OF the boys about 10 o'clock; Its
too blamed hot to do another stroke of work."
Very Well" returned Dan. listlessly: Pm pretty
wei done up myself Guess I'll turn in for while"
re going 10 ride over to the Springs and load
IN some water-the casks are getting low; it's lots
Soeer fassng around the water than rusting around
Perhaps I'll ride over a little later" evaded Dan.
turning into his
express IN bet cookie' II you were girl Dan. I'd
say you had crush the conductor OF train,
the hungry way you look at IT,
You'd be hungry looking II you looking
Tor your rich uncle" retorted Dan. cooliy.
Get OUT shifted Browning striding of, Wen
expect you after your uncle arrives. Ell ?"
Dan did not reply He stood In the doorway of
not understand PERHAPS IL was because us Rrownns
mad put some of his thoughts into words Orwell,
nothing would happen to-day. Probably Evelyn had
gone by another route--it would be just his luck
As noon drew near he wandered about the de-
serted camp and along the railroad, with his watch
IN his hand And then, just on time. he heard the
distant humming that announced the coming of the
then thunder
He stepped back, the better watch the windows
when they should fash past, and then--wc nder Of
wonders-as 1t approached the camp the train slow
ed down almost to standstiil man dropped
' 'n nv eiHiii1 anu an 70 tlt Ao' "1t Inns
through the noon stiffness
Kennett walked eagerly along. looking up at the
windows where stranger faces peered curiousy down
at the tall strong figure clad in khaki with broad
passengers
When he reaoh4l The open door of the baggage car
the engine uttering preliminary and thick
black smoke drifted back, half obscuring the door
way. There was the barking of several dogs and
vaguely familiar
The smoke swired aside and he caught a glimpse
Of the interior Of the and several crates contain
ing dogs In different degrees of contentment They
seemed joined IN protest against the liberty allowed
end OF lonf chain held by girl whose head was
turned aside
The plunged forward the fox terrier uttered
one shrilI bark and dashed through the doorway
striking kennett fairly IN the chest and knocking
speed and numbered away leaving kennFtt sitting
dazedly beside tn. track while crazy fox terrier
excited yaps OF joy. The chain dangling from the
collar Mapped in the brush and from ring
in the collar hung red tag
1t all and a miracle had happened Eve
Ign had been on that train She was the girl who
had had fieeting glimpse the train dashed away!
This crazy fox terrier. who had recognized in him
"A former master. was none other than Eveiyns dog.
Flip lie gathered the wrigglns little beast In his
arms and rocked him lovingly,
The red tag bore number and most precious
name~-Evelyn's- the destination. Los Angeles.
lie stored IT away in his pocket
He related the incident. shorn of Its personal de-
tails TO the wondering party of water carriers when
they came back to camp, and they accepted the ad-
dton Of Flip with a hearty good Wal
Several days passed while Dan maryeied that
inquiry had been put in motion by the railroad peo-
pie for the absconding bit OF baggage.
Late afternoon ire rode over to the springs;
there was no mail at the postofee and when he had
finished his business he mounted his horse and rode
slowly out Of the town back to the camp Fhp gam
boiled about the heels of the horse
The led among sand dunes standing like
hooded monks along the trail; he stopped and.
half turning in his saddle, looked at the sunset 1t
Redeemed his bronzed face and glinted the damp
rings OF hair his forehead lie pushed back his
hat from his head and listened
The steady beat beat Of hoofs grew nearer: some
was coming from the town--perhaps one of the
boys had been in--but he had left all OF them at
him. The horse strange and the rider
did resemble any OF his friends A broad hat
tapped up and down
kennett's heart went up and down. up and
down. a girls lovely face revealed under the
brm Of the Tapping hat; 1t stopped altogether
when the rider resolved into Evelyn Lane herself.
coming toward him with tremulous smile and plead
ing eyes Flip raced crafty toward her
DAN she called and II woke him from his stupor
o surprise. In instant he the ground
holding out his and she slipped down from
the saddle and into his embrace with the hnpptest
sigh OF content in the world.
Perched a sand dune, after long period II
bliss. she told him how she came to be there.
She had loved him. but had doubted her own
and he had gene away so quickly. If he
had waited a little! Then things had been very
dull and she had decided to spend n year with
aunt in Los Angeles She and Flip had started,
and the day train had stopped she had been WIS.,
iting the terrier the baggage When the ehaiR
slipped from her hand, she had caught instan's
glimpse of her lover.
At the first stop she made or the information
gathered to the stopping place in the praries;
had taken local train to the point to Horse
Lick Springs: had taken stage to the Springs and