The Irish standard., 1910-02-19
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platform lamps Of q station shone a
quarter Of mile ahead. The feverish
steel yielded reluctantly to treatment,
and Griswold went forward and
watched the men at work for a few
minutes, then returned to the end Of
the train. He swung himself into the
vestibule and leaned upon the guard
rail, gazing down the track toward
the brakeman's lantern. Then he
grew impatient at the continued de-
lay and dropped down again, pacing
back and forth in the road-bed behind
the becalmed train. The night was
overcast, with hints Of rain in the
air, and = little way from the rear
lights it was pitch dark. Griswold
felt sure that the train would not
leave without the brakeman, and he
was further treasured by the lanterns
Of the trainmen beside the baggage
car. Suddenly, as he reached the car
and turned to retrace his steps, a
man sprang up, seemingly from no.
where, and accosted him.
II reckon y'u're the gov'nor, amt
y'u?"
Eyes, certainly, my man. What
can do for you?" replied Griswold,
instantly.
II reckoned It was y'u when y'u
fust come out on the platform. I'm
app'inted to tell y'u, gov'nor, that If
y'u have Bill Appleweight arrested In
South Car'lina, y'u'll get something
one Of these days y'u won't like. And
If y'u try to find me y'u'll get it quick
er. Good night, gov'nor."
"Good night" stammered Griswold.
The least irony had crept into the
word governor as the man uttered it
and slipped away into the darkness.
The shadows swallowed him up; the
frogs in the ditch, beside the track
chanted dolorously; then the locomo-
tive whistled for the brakeman, whose
lantern was already bobbing toward
the train.
As Griswold swung himself into the
vestibule the girl who had borrowed
his newspapers turned away hurried
ly and walked swiftly before him to
her section. The porter, who was
gathering her things together, said, as
she paused in the aisle by her seat:
"Beginnin' to get ready, Miss Os.
bon. We're gwine intu Columbia 80
minutes late all account dat hot box"
Griswold passed on to the smoking
compartment and and lighted cigar.
His acquaintances of the supper table
had retired, and he was glad to be
alone with his thoughts before the
train reached Columbia He dealt
harshly with himself for his stupidity
in not having associated the girls
perturbation over the breach between
the governor Of North Carolina and
the governor of South Carolina with
the initials on her travelling bag; he
had been very dull, but 1t was clear
to him now that she was either the
daughter or some other near relative
of Gov. Osborne. In a few minutes
she would leave the train at Column
bia, where the governor lived, and, be.
ing gentleman, he would continue
on his way to Richmond, and thence
to the university, and the incident
would be closed. But Griswold was a
lawyer, and he had an old-fashionea
southern lawyers respect for the
majesty Of law. On the spur of curios-
ity or impulse he had received q
threatening message intended for the
governor of South Carolina, who,
from the manner of the delivery of
the; message, had been expected on
this train. Griswold argued that the
man whs had spoken to him had been
waiting at the little station near
which they had stopped, in the hope
of seeing the governor; that the wait
Ing messenger had taken advantage Of
the unexpected halt of the train, and,
further, that some suggestion of the
governor in his own appearance had
deceived the stranger. He felt the
least bit guilty at having deceived the
man, but 1t was now clearly his duty
70 see that the governor was advised
Of the threat that had been communi-
Gated In so unusual manner.
He was bordering whether he
should do this in person or by letter
pr telegram, when the rattle of the
train over the switch frogs in the
Columbia yards brought him to the
point of decision.
The porter thrust his head into the
compartment.
columbia, sab. Yo' barth's all
ready, sab. Yo' gwine t. Richmond
yes, sah."
His hands were filled with the
Young lady's luggage. The lettering
On the suitcase seemed, in a way, to
appeal to Griswold and to fix his de-
termination.
Porter! Put my things of. I'll
wait here for the morning train
CHAPTER II.
The Absence Of Gov. Osborne.