Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-11-11
CHAPTER VI--Continued.

SisFR'
Then you haven't heard the rest of
40 tragedy?" | asked, holding out the
.oSo "Tts frightfully bad luck for
~ hnt it makes a good story. You
see"
A. that moment the conductor and
,,rter ceased their collOquy. The con-
tnctor came directly toward me, tug
oJnp as he came at his bristling gray
nustaChe.
q would like to talk to you in the
oar" he said to me, with curious
lance at the young lady.
Cant it waltz" l objected. I'VE
are on our way to cup of coffee and
slice of bacon. Be merciful as you
are powerful
I'm afraid the breakfast will have
IN wait" he replied. Il won't keep
,ou long" There was note of au-
tbority in his voice which l resented;
III, after all, the circumstances were
unusual.
Well have to defer that cup of
ooTee for a. WHILE" said to the girl;
but don't despair; there's breakfast
somewhere
As we entered the car, she stood
aside. but I felt rather than saw that
she followed us. | was surprised to
see half dozen men gathered around
The berth in which l had wakened,
number seven. 1t had not yet been
made up.
As we passed along the aisle, / was
onsci@ts of new expression on the
ces OF the passengers. The tall wOm-
an who had tainted was searching my
face with narrowed eyes, while the
stout woman of the kindly heart
avoided my gaze, and pretended to
lOOk out of the window.
As we pushed our way through the
group | fancied that it closed around
me OminOusly. The conductor said
nothing but led the way without cere-
mOny to the side of the berth.
What's the matter?" l inquired.
vas puzzled, but not apprehensive.
Have you some of my things? I'd be
thankful even for my shoes; these are
conioundedly tight"
Nobody spoke, and / fell silent, too.
For one Of the pillows had been turned
over, and the under side of the white
case was streaked with brownish
stains / think it was a perceptihle
'lme before I realized that the stains
were blood, and that the faces around
we're filled with suspicion and dis
rust.
Why, it-that looks like blood" l
said yaCuOusly. There was an inces-
SAINT pounding in my ears, and the
'onductOr's voice came from far Off.
1t IS blood" he asserted grimly.
looked around with a dizzy at
empt at nonChalance. Even if it is
demonstrated, surely you don't sup
pose for a moment that l know any
hing about it,"
The amateur detective elbowed his
way in. He had a scrap of transpar-
eht paper in his hand, and pencil.
would like permission to trace
Tie stains, he began eagerly. also"
TO me-''if you will kindly jab your
niger with pin-needle-anything-
Ii you don't keep out of this" the
CONDUCTOR said savagely, Il will do
some Jahbing myself. AS for you,
ST. he turned to me. 1 was alb
NoiuteIy innocent, but | knew that l
presented typical picture of guilt;
was covered with cold sweat, and the
Poundlng in my ears kept up dizzily.
As for you, sir"
The irrepressible amateur detective
"aae quick pounce at the pillow and
'uShed back the cover. Before our in
Ieduloua eyes he drew out a narrow
N'eei dirk which had been buried to
'0e small cross that served as head.
mere was chorus of voices
round a quick surging forward of
~"e crowd. So that was what had
@cEatched my hand! I buried the
"Vuhd IN my coat pocket.
Well, I said, trying to speak natur-
'l'y' doesn't that prove what 1 have
0een telling you? The man who COM
"I''ed the murder belonged to this
~9IIn' and made an exchange in some
H"y after the crime. How do you
NOV he didn't change the tags so l
'0u'a come back to this BERTH" This
&S an Inspiration; | was pleased
e'A It. That's what he did, he
~.,ansed the tags" l reiterated.
1AeFe WAS a murmur of assent
,-o0ha. The doctor, who was stand
.oS beside me, put his hand on my
III. I'll If this gentleman committed
LUIS crime, and for one feel sure he
wa not, then who is the fellow who
~, away? And why did he go?"
p. we nave only one mans word for
sa,' the conductor snarled. Eve trav-
''1 some in these cars myself, and