The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-01
Fpy~ f1ARY NOBFRIc INEEEART


that he thought | had been drinking.
drew a long breath. OF course,
that was the explanation. This was
number seven's berth, that was his
soft hat, this his umbrella, his coat,
his bag Ny rage turned to irritation
at myself.
The porter went to the next berth
and could hear his softly insinuat-
ing voice. Time to get up. sir, Are
you awake? Time to get up
There was no response from num-
Der nine. | guessed that he had
opened the curtains and was looking
in. Then he came back.
Number nine's empty he said.
Empty, DO you mean my clothes
aren't there?" | demanded My va
lise? Why don't you answer me?"
You doan give me time, he retort-
ed There amt nothin there But
it's been slept in"
The disappointment was the greater
for my few moments of hope, sat
up In a white fury and put on the
clothes that had been left me Then,
still raging, sat on the edge of the
berth and put on the obnoxious tan
shoes The porter. called to his du-
ties, made little excursions back to
me. to offer assistance and to chuckle
at my discontinue. He stood by, out
wardly decorous, but with little rri-
tating grins OF amusement around his
mouth. when finally emerged with
the red tie In my hand.
Bet the owner of those clothes did
not become them any more than you
do," he said, as ne piled the ubiquitous
whisk broom.
when | get the owner of these
clothes" retorted grimly, me will
need shroud Where's the con-
ductor?"
The conductor was coming, he as
sured me; also that there was no bag
answering the description of mine on
the car. slammed my way to the
dressing room, washed, choked my
fifteen and half neck into a fifteen
collar, and was back again in less
than five minutes. The car, as well as
its occupants, was gradually taking
on q daylight appearance. / hobbled
in. for one of the shoes was abomin-
ably tight, and found myself facing q
young woman in blue with an unfor-
getable face. ("Three women already"
Mcknight says: That's going some,
even if you don't count the Gilmore
nurse") She steod, half.turned to-
ward me, one hand idly dropping. the
other steadying her as she gazed out
at the flying landscape. had an in
stant impression that had met her
somewhere, under different circum-
stances, more cheerful ones, thought,
for the girls detection now was evi-
dent Beside her, sitting down, small
dark woman, considerably older, was
talking in rapid undertone. The
girl nodded indifferently now and then.
! fancied although | was not sure.
that my appearance brought startled
look into the young woman's face. I
sat down, and, hands thrust deep into
the other mans pockets, stared rue
fully at the other mans shoes.
The stage was set In moment
the curtain was going up on the first
act OF the play. And for while we
would all say our little speeches and
sing our little songs, and |, the vii
lain, would hold center stage while the
gallery hissed.
The porter was standing beside low
er ten. He had reached in and was
knocking valiantly. But his efforts
met with no response. He winked at
ne over his shoulder then he unfast-
ened the curtains and bent forward
Behind him. | saw him stiifen, heard
his muttered exclamation, saw the
blush pailor that spread over his
face and neck AS he retreated
step the interior OF lower ten lay open
TO the day.
The man in II was on his back, the
early morning sun striking full on
his upturned face, BIT the light did
not disturb him. A small stain OF red
dyed the front of his night clothes
and trailed across the sheet. his half
open eyes were fixed. without seeing,
on the shining wood above.
| grasped the porter's shaking shoul.
ders and stared down to where the
train impaired to the body a grlsly
suggestion of motion. Good Lord"
gasped, "the mans been murdered"