Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-03

least LOT some pledge on the part OF the ROAD
with which he could reassure the banks.
They were poweress, they said.
There was only one thing left to do, and
that was to finish the Shortline and put it
into operation. Then perhaps the courts
would uphold him and force the ID. & c. to
live up to its contracts, no matter who was
in control. But how was he to redeem the
eight hundred thousand in stock! He had
enough available capital to finish the Short
line; but not enough to redeem the stock
too
He got on the Denver & Western sleeper
for Kinney that night sore in mind and body.
THE arrival of the morning train from
Saguache was an event In Mesa City.
Most of the travellers were men, and de-
scended from the combination baggage
smoker; but this morning Bill Weatherby,
the conductor (and brakeman, person by
| nature taclturn, appeared upon the platform
of the rear coach bearing womans English
travelling bag, and winked actually winked
at Ike Matthews, the station master, who
was waiting for his envelop from headquar-
tiers.
At least eight people saw that wink and
fully eighteen the handbag, and when a
pretty woman in dove-gray travelling suit
appeared in the car doorway to be helped
down tremendously to the station platform,
| thirtysix eyes were agog and thirty-six ears
| were open to learn the meaning of the I'M
usual occurrence; for it was plainly to be
| seen that the visitor bore every mark of con-
sequence and came from the East-surely
| from Denver possibly from Chicago.
They saw her smile her thanks to Wealth
erby; but when she looked rather helplessv
about her and asked for "coups" or a "sta-
ton wagon" smoker, Immediately sup
pressed, arose from the younger persons in
| the audience. The firm hand of Ike Mat
| thews now took control of the situation.
DO you want the hotel, Ma ann he said.
Eyes, | think So, she said; "but first
want to find MIR. Jeff Wray. Can you tell
| me where can see him?"
yes, Ma am, if you'll come with me"
| Ike took up the bag and led the way round
the corner of the building into Main-st
A clerk in the outer room of the Develop
ment Company's office building received
the queer pair. 3Mr. Wray is in, Ma am;
but he's very busy. | don't know whether
he'll see you or not. Who shall l say?'
The woman handed him card, and as he
disappeared she fingered in her pocketbook
| for change; then, after glance at the station
master, smiled at him instead.
I'm much obliged to you, she said CRATE
fully. Il think Ill stay here now. Ill find
my way to the hotel
Matthews put the bag on a desk, awk-
wardly removed his hat, and departed, while
the woman sat and waited.
Chapter XIX. The Lady In Gray
TN the inner Office, his head in his hands, his
elbows on his desk, his brows bent over
some papers, sat Jeff, trying to bring cosmos
out of the chaos of his affairs. His clerk
entered with the card in his hand, wonder
ing if he had made a mistake.
well, what is it?'
"A lady to see you.
Jeff's head sank into his papers again
Tell her I'm busy then he looked up rri-
tably. what lady? Who is shee | can't
see anybody today"
Il don't know. She doesn't belong around
here And he dropped the card on the
desk
Jeff picked it up and looked at it with a
scowl; then stared in amazement. He rose
slowly his brows perplexed. "Tell her to
come in, he said.
He was still standing in the middle of the
room looking at her card when Mrs. Cheyne
entered She was frankly amused at his be-
widerment.
We'll, she said, with smile, "you don't
seem very pleased to see me-
"I-it's rather sudden. | wasn't exactly
certain it was you. He took her hand me-