Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-03-09
CHAPTER vi.
rhs eirI in RIue.


I was growing more and more IT.
ritable. The thought of what the
loss of the notes meant was tasi
erowding the murder to the back OF
nv mind. The forced inaction was
intolerable. The porter had reported
no bag answering the description OF
mine on the train, but was disposed
to make my own investigation. made
a tour of the cars, scrutinizing every
variety of hand luggage, ranging from
luxurious English bags with gold
mountings to the wicker nondescript
of the day coach at the rear. l was
not alone in my quest, for the girl IL
blue was just ahead of me. Car by
car she preceded me through the train
unconscious that / was behind her.
looking at each passenger as she
passed. L IanCIeu\ the proceeding was
distasteful, but that she had determin.
ed on a course and was carrying it
through, We reached the end of the
train almost together-empty-han0ed,
both of us.
The girl went out to the platform.
When she saw me she moved aside,
and 1 stepped out beside her. Behind
Us the track curved sharply; the early
sunshine threw the train, in long black
shadow, over the hot earth. Forward
somewhere they were hammerlng.
The girl said nothing, but her profile
was strained and anxious.
IF you have lost anything, L
began, 'T wish you would let me try to
help. Not that my own success is any
thing to boast Of.
She hardly glanced at me. 1t was
not fattering.
Il have not been robbed, if that is
what you mean" she replied quietly
Il am-perplexed. That is al"
There was nothing to say to that
/ lifted my hat-the other fellows
hat-and turned to go back to my car
Two or three members of the train
crew, including the conductor, were
standing in the shadow talking. And
at that moment, from a farmhouse
near came the swift clang of the
breakfast bell, calling in the hands
from barn and pasture. l turned back
to the girl.
I'VE may be here for an hour" L
said, "and there is no buffet car on.
If remember my youth, that bell
means ham and eggs and country but
ter and coffee. If you care to run
the risk"
Z am not hungry" She said. ''but
perhaps a cup of coffee-dear me- L
believe l am hungry" she finished
Only She glanced back of her.
I can bring your companion" | sug-
gested, without enthusiasm. But the
young woman shook her head.
"She is not hungry" she objected,
"and she is very-well. | know she
wouldn't come. Do you suppose we
could make it if we run?"
81 haven't any idea" said cheer
fully. ANY old train would be better
than this one, il it does leave us be-
hind
YES. Any train would be better
than this one" she repeated gravely.
/ found myself watching her changing
expression. had spoken two dozen
words to her and already l felt that
I knew the lights and shades in her
voice., who had always known how
a woman rode to hounds. and who
never could have told the color OF
her hair.
1 stepped down on the ties and
turned to assist her, and together we
walked back to where the conductor
and the porter from our car were in
close conversation. Instinctively my
hand went TO my cigarette pocket and
came out empty. She saw the ges-
ture.
eff you want to smoke. you may"
she said. 81 have a big cousin who
smokes all the time. He says | am
kippered.'
l drew out the gun-metal cigarette
case and opened it. But this most
commonplace action had an extraor-
binary result: The girl beside me
stopped dead still and stood staring
at it with fascinated eyes.
"Is-where did you get that?" she
demanded, with a catch in her voice;
her gaze still fixed on the cigarette
case.
"Then you haven't heard the rest of
the tragedy" / asked. holding out the