The Elbert County tribune., 1910-03-25
CHAPTER I.--continued.

Prof. Griswolds eyes wandered re-
peatedly from his manuscript to the
car ceiling, then furtively to the un-
compensatory averted shoulder and
head of the young lady, then back to
his lecture notes, until he was weary
of the process.
The alligator-hide suitcase thrust
under the seat bore the familiar label
of Swiss hotel where Griswold had
once spent week, and spoke of the
girls acquaintance with an ampler
world. When Phoebe had brought 1t
forth the initials "B. O." in small
black letters suggested Baltimore &
Ohio to Griswolds lazy speculations,
whereupon he reflected that while
Baltimore was plausible, the black
servant eliminated Ohio; and as every
virginian knows every other Virgin
ian, he tried to identify her with
Old Dominion family names beginning
with o. but without result
He went out to supper, secured the
only remaining table for two. and
was giving his order when the young
lady appeared. She had donned her
hat, and as she stood a moment in
the entrance, surveying the line of
tables, her distinction was undeniable
There were but two vacant places in
the car. one facing Griswold. the
other across the aisle at larger
table where three men were en-
gagged in animated discussion. The
girl viewed the prospect with evident
disappointment as the waiter drew
out the vacant chair at Griswold' s
table. She carried herself bravely.
but wore still triste air that
touched Griswold's sympathy. He
rose. told the waiter that he would
sit at the other table. and the girl
murmured her thanks with a forlorn
little smile as she took his seat
The appearance OF Griswold aroused
the Mississippian to renewal of the
discussion of the New Orleans Incl
dent. He was in excellent humor, and
had carried to the car quart bottle,
which he pushed toward Griswold:
AS the governor of North Carolina
said to the governor OF South Caro-
lima"
NO. thank you." and as he spoke
Griswold's eyes fell upon the girl.
and he saw annoyance written fleet
ingly on her face.
well, SIR the Mississippian de-
clared. after you left us awhile ago
we got to talking about Dangerfeld
and his trouble with Osborne. There's
something back of this rumpus. You
see, If they lived in the same state
you might account for fierce rivalry
between them Both of 'em, for ex-
ample, might have the senatorial bee
in their bonnets; but either one of
'em could make the senate any time
he pleased. / guess they're the two
biggest men in the south right now.
They're too big to be touchy about
any small matter; that's why | reckon
there's something behind this little
racket over there at New Orleans
No passing remark would send men of
that way. so wild that they wouldn't
travel on the same train together
Why. gentlemen-"
Please pass the SALT" interposed
Griswold.
The Mississippian enjoyed the
sound of his own voice. which doomed
out above the noise of the train with
broad effects OF dialect that these
types will not be asked to reproduce
Griswold's eyes had again met those
OF the girl opposite. and there was, he
felt, look of appeal in them. The
discussion distressed her. just as the
kilograms from New Orleans in the
afternoon papers had distressed her
and Griswold began at once to enter
tain his table companions with his
views on number of national polit
ical issues that were as vital to Ari
zona or Wyoming as to the Carolinas
When he went back into the car al
II o'clock he found the girl and her
maid still sitting in their sections
though most of the other berths. in
cluding his own. had been made up
The train was slowing down. and
wishing breath of air before retir-
ing, he went to the rear platform oil
the sleeper. which was the last car
OF the train. The porter had opened
the door in the vestibule to allow the
brakeman to run back with his tor
pedoes. The baggage car had deyel.
oped hot box. and, jumping out
Griswold saw lanterns flashing ahead
where the trainmen labored with the
sick wheel. The porter vanished
leaving Griswold alone. The train
had stopped at the edge of a small