The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-02-10

~S>S~~0~Ass s>s
When Evelyn Lane refused to mar
ry him, Dan Kennett quietly pulled
up stakes and got as far away from
New York as his limited supply Of
money would take him. That is how
he happened to be in charge OF the
survey of the government tract near
Horse Lick Springs, Mont.
He had worked of the first bitter
sting Of disappointment, but there
still remained the heartache and the
growing conviction that there never
could be another girl in the world for
him.
In May the surveying party was
within stones throw of the rail-
road whose shining rails flashed from
east to west across the fiat, gray
prairie. Each day at noon the steel
rails quivered under the thunder
ing burden Of the express train be-
hind whose plate glass windows there
was fleeting glimpse of faces before
the train became a mere speck in the
distance again.
Dan Kennett had learned to long
for its coming; there was always the
possibility-a foolish and vain one,
1ndeed-that some day it might come
flying out OF the east bearing the girl
he loved to some other destination;
his dreams were always that he
might catch glance Of her eye or
see her face-just once. And yet 1t
never had happened, but there was al
ways the hope!
All things are probable when one
Is thousands of miles from home and
surrounded by fiat stretches of gray
prairie. But several weeks ago he
had read in the society columns Of a
Sunday paper paragraph about
Evelyn Lane. She was preparing to
go to California to be gone a year
among friends.
So Kennett had watched the trains
now with some real hope that he
might see her passing, and he had
calculated to a pitiful nicely the
chances that she might, after all,
have a chair on the opposite side of
the train.
Today was hot and close; the sun
shone mercilessly down on the little
camp; the sagebrush cracked crlsply
under foot and great and undying
thirst seized the whole crew.
Were going to give up for the rest
Of the day, Dan." said one OF the
boys about ten o'clock; cts too
10 I'D IN ~ -
work."
Very WELL" returned Dan, listless-
ly; Pm pretty well done up myself
Guess I'll turn in for WHILE"
Were going to ride over to the
Springs and load in some water-the
casks are getting low; it's lots cool
er fussing around the water than rus
Ting around here. Better come
along"
perhaps I'll ride over little
tent.
Browning smiled skeptically. wait.
ing for the express, I'll bet a cookie!
If you were a girl, Dan, I'd say you
had crush on the conductor OF that
train, the hungry way you look at
it,"
You'd be hungry looking, too, II
you were looking for your rich
uncle" retorted Dan, coolly.
Get out!" shifted Browning
striding off, We'll expect you after
your uncle arrives, eh?"
Dan did not reply. He stood in the
doorway of the tent tingling with an
anticipation that he could not under
stand. Perhaps it was because Brown
ing had put some Of his thoughts into
words Orwell, nothing would happen
today. Probably Evelyn had gone by
another route-it would be just his
luck
AS noon drew near he wandered
about the deserted camp and along
the railroad, with his watch in his
hand And then, just on time, he
heard the distant humming that an
nounced the coming of the train. 1t
grew louder and changed to roar
and then to thunder.
He stepped back. the better tc
watch the windows when they should
flash past and then-wonder Of won
ders-as it approached the camp the
train slowed down almost to a stand
STILL A man dropped down from the
engine and ran to the forward driv.
ing wheels and the clank of ham
mer on metal rang through the noon
stiffness.
Kennett walked eagerly along, look
ing up at the windows where stranger
faces peered curiously down at the
tall, strong figure clad in khaki with
a broad hat pulled over his forehead
so eagerly inspecting the passengers
When he reached the open door OF
the baggage car the engine was ut
tering preliminary grunts and thick
black smoke drifted back, half OBJ
securing the doorway. There was the
barking Of several dogs and amona
them a sharp insistent yelp that
seemed vaguely familiar
The smoke swirled aside and he